hat Curtis insisted upon the raft being made with
proper care to insure its strength; we were still several hundred miles
from the coast of Guiana, and for so long a voyage it was indispensable
to have a structure of considerable solidity. The reasonableness of this
was self-apparent, and as the crew had recovered their assurance they
spared no pains to accomplish their work effectually.

Of all the number, there was but one, an Irishman, named O'Ready, who
seemed to question the utility of all their toil. He shook his head with
an oracular gravity. He is an oldish man, not less than sixty, with his
hair and beard bleached with the storms of many travels. As I was making
my way towards the poop, he came up to me and began talking.

"And why, bedad, I'd like to know, why is it that they'll all be afther
lavin' of the ship?"

He turned his quid with the most serene composure, and continued,--

"And isn't it me myself that's been wrecked nine times already? and
sure, poor fools are they that ever have put their trust in rafts or
boats sure and they found a wathery grave. Nay, nay; while the ould ship
lasts, let's stick to her, says I."

Having thus unburdened his mind he relapsed, into silence, and soon went
away.

About three o'clock I noticed that Mr. Kear and Silas Huntly were
holding an animated conversation in the fore top. The petroleum merchant
had evidently some difficulty in bringing the ex-captain round to his
opinion, for I, saw him several times shake his head as he gave long and
scrutinizing looks at the sea and sky. In less than an hour afterwards
I saw Huntly let himself down by the forestays and clamber along to the
forecastle where he joined the group of sailors, and I lost sight of
him.

I attached little importance to the incident, and shortly afterwards
joined the party in the main-top, where we continued talking for some
hours. The heat was intense, and if it had not been for the shelter'
afforded by the sail-tent, would have been unbearable. At five o'clock
we took as refreshment some dried meat and biscuit, each individual
being also allowed half a glass of water. Mrs. Kear, prostrate with
fever, could not touch a mouthful; and nothing could be done by Miss
Herbey to relieve her, beyond occasionally moistening her parched lips.
The unfortunate lady suffers greatly, and sometimes I am inclined to
think that she will succumb to the exposure and privation. Not once had
her husband troubled himse