roughout the 12th no drain of moisture crossed our lips, and not
a cloud arose to warrant the expectation of a passing shower; in
the shade, if shade it might be called, the thermometer would have
registered at least 100deg., and, perhaps, considerably more.

No change next day. The salt water began to chafe my legs, but although
the smarting was at times severe, it was an inconvenience to which I
gave little heed; others who had suffered from the same trouble had
become no worse. Oh! if this water that surrounds us could be reduced to
vapour or to ice! its particles of salt extracted, it would be available
for drink. But no! we have no appliances, and we must suffer on.

At the risk of being devoured by the sharks, the boatswain and two
sailors took a morning bath, and as their plunge seemed to refresh them,
I and three of my companions resolved to follow their example. We had
never learnt to swim, and had to be fastened to the end of a rope and
lowered into the water; while Curtis during the half-hour of our bath,
kept a sharp look-out to give warning of any danger from approaching
sharks. No recommendation, however, on our part, nor any representation
of the benefit we felt we had derived, could induce Miss Herbey to allay
her sufferings in the same way.

At about eleven o'clock, the captain came up to me, and whispered in my
ear,--

"Don't say a word, Mr. Kazallon; I do not want to raise false hopes, but
I think I see a ship."

It was as well that the captain had warned me; otherwise, I should
have raised an involuntary shout of joy; as it was, I had the greatest
difficulty in restraining my expressions of delight.

"Look behind to larboard," he continued in an undertone.

Affecting an indifference which I was far from feeling, I cast an
anxious glance to that quarter of the horizon of which he spoke, and
there, although mine is not a nautical eye, I could plainly distinguish
the outline of a ship under sail.

Almost at the same moment the boatswain who happened to be looking in
the same direction, raised the cry, "Ship ahoy!"

Whether it was that no one believed it, or whether all energies were
exhausted, certain it is that the announcement produced none of
the effects that might have been expected. Not a soul exhibited the
slightest emotion, and it was only when the boatswain had several times
sung out his tidings that all eyes turned to the horizon. There, most
undeniably, was the ship, and the question