Indian Ocean, and then to sink to rest, setting, as it seemed, in the
waste of waters. Soon the stars would peep forth, and the gentle breeze
which had prevailed during the day, die away into calm; no sound
disturbing the stillness, except the occasional spouting of a whale near
the raft, the whish of the breaking wave, and the creak of the spars as
they worked together.

At first the men bore this well, for there were no watches to keep, no
sails to tend, and provisions of all kinds were plentiful. Calm weather
was to be expected after the late series of heavy gales, and they were
sure to be picked up. They must be rapidly nearing the shores of
Madagascar, too, and the men amused themselves by spinning long yarns
about the savage inhabitants of the island, between the intervals of
smoking, eating, and drinking. The dawning of daylight was ever an
anxious moment for all, and every eye eagerly scanned the limited
horizon in quest of the coming ship. The light grew gradually stronger;
the wing of a gull was taken for a sail. A feeling of delight, of hope,
spread through the hearts of all. The delusion was exposed as the sun
tipped the tops of the waves with its light, and, do what they would,
despondency took the place of hope. At first none would acknowledge
this feeling, each trying to cheer up the other; but the men became
gradually restless and uneasy, the tale and the laugh were less
frequent; the few orders which were given them were obeyed, it is true,
but slowly and listlessly, and it became evident that the confinement to
so limited a space was telling, and that the crew were becoming
demoralised.

The morning of the third day since the loss of the "Halcyon" had dawned,
and the raft still rose and fell on the gentle swell of the ocean. The
studding sail was brailed up, and Isabel was seated at the open
entrance. Captain Hughes was lying on the spars at her feet, while
close by Weber and his mate were endeavouring to prick off their
position on a chart, which was spread on a barrel. The men were just
finishing their twelve o'clock dinner, and the raft was slowly driving
through the water before a gentle westerly breeze.

On a box between the two at the entrance of the improvised cabin stood a
chess-board. The pieces were ranged in position, but the interest of
the game seemed languishing.

"You might have checkmated me, last move, Enrico," said Isabel. "Either
you did not care to do so, or you a