as just about to rise, Morton stepped the mast and climbed
to the top, in the hope that from that additional elevation, slight as
it was, he might catch a glimpse of land. There was by this time light
enough, as he admitted, to see any thing that could be seen at all, and
after making a deliberate survey of our whole horizon, he was fully
convinced that we had drifted completely away from the island. "I give
it up," he said, as he slid down the mast, "we are at sea, beyond all
question."

Presently Max awoke. He cast a quick, surprised look around, and at
first seemed greatly shocked. He speedily recovered himself, however,
and after another, and closer, scrutiny of the horizon, thought that he
detected an appearance like that of land in the south. For a moment
there was again the flutter of excited hope, as every eye was turned
eagerly in that direction; but it soon subsided. A brief examination
satisfied us all, that what we saw, was but a low bank of clouds lying
against the sky.

"This really begins to look serious," said I; "what are we to do?"

"It strikes me," replied Morton, "that we are pretty much relieved from
the necessity of considering that question; our only part for the
present seems to be a passive one."

"I can't fully persuade myself that this is real," said Max; "it half
seems like an ugly dream, from which we should awake by-and-by, and draw
a long breath at the relief of finding it no more than a dream."

"We are miserably provisioned for a sea voyage," said Morton; "but I
believe the breaker is half full of water; without that we should indeed
be badly off."

"There is not a drop in it," said Arthur, shaking his head, and he
lifted the breaker and shook it lightly--it was quite empty.

He now proceeded to force open the locker, in the hope of finding them
something that might be serviceable to us; but its entire contents
consisted of a coil of fine rope, some pieces of rope-yarn, an empty
quart-bottle, and an old and battered hatchet-head.

Meanwhile, Browne, without a trace of anxiety upon his upturned
countenance, and Johnny, who nestled close beside him, continued to
sleep soundly, in happy unconsciousness of our alarming situation.

"Nothing ever interferes with the soundness of Browne's sleep, or the
vigour of his appetite," said Max, contemplating his placid slumbers
with admiration. "I should be puzzled to decide whether sleeping,
eating, or dramatic recitation, is his fort