and, being divided equally, were eagerly devoured. How
delicious they tasted!

"Never fear, lads, but what assistance will be sent us in some way or
other which we don't expect, if we trust in God," said Paul. "We didn't
expect to get these onions a minute ago, and we shall have more before
long, I daresay."

Nothing else, however, was found to eat during the rest of the day, and
another tempestuous night closed in on them.

Even in the darkness a gleam of hope burst on them; the wind sensibly
fell, and the clouds opening, exhibited a bright star above their heads.
Again the morning came.

"Lads, we must try and pump the vessel out!" cried Paul, rousing himself
with the first gleam of light.

The pumps without another word were manned; all hands set to work, and
in an hour a sensible diminution of the water in the vessel had taken
place. This encouraged them to persevere; but at length, overcome with
fatigue, they had to throw themselves on their backs on the deck, to
regain their strength. True Blue was the last to give in; but even he
had more than once to stop. By and by they divided into two gangs, one
relieving the other at the pumps, while they alternately bailed with
buckets. From sheer exhaustion they were compelled, after a time, to
knock off altogether; but they had so far rid the vessel of water that
there was no immediate fear of her sinking.

Before even they made a search for food, with considerable difficulty
they got up from below the bodies of their late shipmates, and, with a
sigh for their fate, launched them overboard. Already they were no
longer to be distinguished by their features.

While getting up the dead bodies, a prize had been discovered. It was a
small keg of water; it seemed to give, new life to all the party. This
encouraged them to hunt for other things. Some more onions and some
shaddocks were discovered, and in a tureen with the top on, a piece of
boiled beef. They had now no fear of dying of starvation or thirst for
some time, at all events.

True Blue's chief anxiety was about Paul, who suffered far more than the
rest, on account of his wound; still nothing would induce him not to
exert himself as far as his strength would possibly allow. The next day
after these occurrences, the sea went down so much that Paul determined
to get some sail on the vessel.

"How is it to be done, though?" asked Tom. "We've no spars, sails, or
rigging."

"Hunt about, and let us