very sure we shall be back there one of these days. I
don't think, after we have been preserved so long, we shall be left to
perish; though how we are to get away is more than I can say."

On examining the cask, Jack Windy discovered, however, on that very day,
that scarcely two quarts of water remained.

"Sam Grimshaw," he said, addressing old Grim, as he pointed to the cask,
"this is a bad job, but we must not let the lieutenant know of it. It
will not do to give him less than his usual quantity; and you and I and
the others must manage to go on still shorter commons."

Old Grim readily agreed to this, as did Bill and Tommy--the latter,
perhaps, somewhat unwillingly. For several days, whenever the
lieutenant, who was suffering from fever, asked for water, it was
brought to him, though the brave fellows felt their own throats parched
and dry, and would only allow themselves just enough to wet their lips
whenever they could no longer bear the thirst.

At length but a pint remained; and with heavier hearts than usual they
went to bed, feeling almost as if they could not hold out more than
another day. Several times during the night, Bill got up to give Mr
Collinson the water he asked for. It was a sore trial to him, yet he
would not put the cup to his own lips, though, if his pocket had been
full of gold, he would have given the whole of it for a draught of
water. By daylight they were up as usual, and Tommy Rebow, who was
out-of-doors the first, came rushing back, singing out--

"Look there! Look there!"

They hurried to the door, expecting to see a vessel; but no sail was in
sight. There was, however, in the horizon, a dark cloud, which, though
small, was, after they had watched it for some time, evidently
increasing in size. On it came, others following, till at length the
whole horizon was dark with clouds. Eagerly they rushed forth to put
out everything which could hold water, and then rolled up their casks to
the side of the tank which they had formed. The whole sky, in the mean
time, was overcast with dark clouds.

"There it is! There it is!" cried Jack, pointing to the sea, on which
the rain was now pouring down.

On it came, like a wall of water. In a few minutes they were all soaked
to the skin, while they lifted up their open mouths to catch the
refreshing liquid. Several sails had been washed on shore, and one of
these Grimshaw had employed himself in mending. He now brought it up
with