ast?" asked Mr Haliday.

"Four hundred miles at the nearest," was the answer. "It is true, my
friends," said the master, "but half-a-mile off there is a sand-bank.
We will make for that, and there pray that God will give us the means of
escape." The grey dawn broke soon after we reached the bank, where we
landed in safety. "Now, my friends," said the master, as we stood
grouped around him, "let us lift up our hearts in thankfulness to that
merciful God who has thus far preserved us." Hearty and sincere was, I
feel assured, the prayer that rose from that barren sand-bank. We
thanked God for preserving us, and we prayed that He might yet watch
over us, and carry us in safety to land.

The bank was scarcely more than a hundred and fifty yards long, and
about a third of the width. Still we had reason to be thankful. Not a
life had been lost, in spite of the fearful risk we had run. Had a gale
been blowing, however, not one of us could have escaped. As the sun
rose our clothes quickly dried, but its rays soon became fearfully hot,
and beat down upon our unprotected heads. The master was suffering all
this time from the injury he had received, and was obliged to lie down.
He, however, first directed the two mates to return with the boats to
the wreck, to bring off whatever they could find likely to be of use,
and anxiously we watched them as they pulled away. Our lives depended
upon the success of their expedition. Meantime, the hot sun increased,
and we all began to suffer from thirst. It was sad to see the poor
little children crying for water when there was none to give them. Some
of us, with pieces of board, began to dig in the sand, hoping to find
water, but after making several deep holes we came each time to the
coral rock. That, however, was moist and free from salt. Though the
amount of fluid we could obtain was trifling, it afforded us some slight
relief to lick the bare rock, and helped to cool our tongues. At length
the boats returned. Eagerly we all hurried down to welcome them, and
haul them up on the beach. A shout of joy arose when we found that the
jolly-boat had a cask of water on board, besides some provisions--a
cheese, some potted meat, and some biscuit. How thankfully we poured
the sweet liquid down our throats. Captain Johns, however, would allow
only half-a-gill to each of us, all sharing alike. These things might
prolong our lives for a short time, but yet our hopes of escaping w