breeze, will be easy sailing."

To this all assented, and the sail was hoisted, and the boat's head put
in the direction agreed upon, each of us, except Johnny, sailing and
steering her in turn. There was quite as much wind as our little craft
could sail with to advantage, and without danger. As it filled her bit
of canvass, she careered before it, leaping and plunging from wave to
wave, in a manner that sometimes seemed perilous. The bright sky above
us, the blue sea gleaming in the light of morning, over which we sped;
the dry, clear atmosphere, (now that the sun was up, and the mist
dissipated), the fresh breeze, without which we must have suffered
intensely from the heat; together with our rapid and bounding motion,
had an exhilarating effect, in spite of the gloomy anticipations that
suggested themselves.

"After all," said Max, "why need we take such a dismal view of the
matter? We have a fine staunch little boat, a good breeze, and islands
all around us. Besides, we are in the very track of the beche de mer,
and sandal-wood traders. It would be strange indeed, if we should fail
to meet some of them soon. In fact, if it were not for thinking of poor
Frazer, and of the horrible events of yesterday, (which, to be sure, are
enough to make one sad), I should be disposed to look upon the whole
affair; as a sort of holiday adventure--something to tell of when we get
home, and to talk over pleasantly together twenty years hence."

"If we had a breaker of water, and a keg of biscuit," said Morton, "and
could then be assured of fair weather for a week, I might be able to
take that view of it; as it is, I confess, that to me, it has any thing
but the aspect of a holiday adventure."

When Johnny awoke, Arthur endeavoured to soothe his alarm, by explaining
to him that we had strong hopes of being able to reach the island again,
and mentioning the various circumstances which rendered such a hope
reasonable. The little fellow, did not, however, seem to be as much
troubled as might have been expected. He either reposed implicit
confidence in the resources, or the fortunes, of his companions, or
else, did not at all realise the perils to which we were exposed. But
this could not last long.

That which I knew Arthur had been painfully anticipating, came at last.
Johnny, who had been asking Morton a multitude of questions as to the
events of the previous day, suddenly said that he was very thirsty, and
asked in the