ondition. He took off his jacket, spread
it out so as to form a basin, and eagerly watched the result. Alas! the
cloth was too soft. It acted like a sponge, into which the rain-drops
disappeared.

When it became evident that the coat was a failure--refusing even to
part with a single drop when wrung,--Watty chanced to cast down his
eyes, and they naturally fell on his trousers. They were stiff canvas
trousers, and very greasy from much service among the dishes. Instantly
he had them off, and spread out as the coat had been. Joy
inexpressible--they held water! To convert the body of them into a lake
and the legs into two water-courses was not difficult for one whose
ingenuity was beyond the average. But oh! the lake basin was slow to
gather the precious drops! He caused the two legs to debouch into the
baling-dish, and watched eagerly for half an hour, at the end of which
period about a wineglassful was collected. He sucked it in, to the last
drop, and waited for more. It seemed as if the very sky sympathised
with the boy's distress, for soon afterwards the rain increased, then it
poured, and finally, Watty Wilkins was more than satisfied, he was
drenched. Fortunately the downpour was short-lived. It ceased
suddenly; the clouds broke up, and the evening sun came out in full
splendour, enabling him to partially dry his garments.

In the Southern Seas at that time, the weather was particularly warm, so
that our castaway felt no inconvenience from his ducking, and spent the
second night in comparative comfort, his dreams--if he had any--being
untroubled with visions of food or drink. Once, indeed, he awoke, and,
looking up, recalled so vividly the fate of the man who had been cast
alone and dying on the Coral Island, that he became deeply depressed by
the thought of meeting a similar fate; but the text of the previous day
again recurred to him. Clinging to it, he again fell asleep, and did
not wake till morning.

Looking over the side, he saw what sent a gush of hope and joy to his
heart. A ship, under full sail, not half a mile off! He rubbed his
eyes and looked again. Was he dreaming? Could it be?

He sprang up with a cry of delight and gave vent to a long, loud cheer,
as much to relieve his feelings as to attract attention. It was almost
too good to be true, he thought. Then a voice within whispered, "Did
you not ask for deliverance?" and the boy mentally responded, "Yes,
thank God, I did."

Wh