oubtful whether the light
breeze that had been passing over our heads had reached her at all. I
fancied, too, that her sails were no longer filled, but were hanging
loose against her masts. Turning to the direction of the wind I tried to
make out some chance of a rising breeze; but no, the waves were calm and
torpid, and the little puff of air that had aroused our hopes had died
away across the sea.

I stood aft with M. Letourneur, Andre and Miss Herbey, and our glances
perpetually wandered from the distant ship to our captain's face. Curtis
stood leaning against the mast, with the boatswain by his side; their
eyes seemed never for a moment to cease to watch the brig, but their
countenances clearly expressed the varying emotions that passed through
their minds. Not a word was uttered, nor was the silence broken, until
the carpenter exclaimed, in accents of despair,--

"She's putting about!"

All started up: some to their knees, others to their feet, The boatswain
dropped a frightful oath. The ship was still nine miles away, and at
such a distance it was impossible for our signal to be seen; our
tiny raft, a mere speck upon the waters, would be lost in the intense
irradiation of the sunbeams. If only we could be seen, no doubt all
would be well; no captain would have the barbarous inhumanity to leave
us to our fate; but there had been no chance; only too well we knew that
we had not been within the range of sight.

"My friends," said Curtis, "we must make a fire; it is our last and only
chance."

Some planks were quickly loosened and thrown into a heap upon the fore
part of the raft. They were damp and troublesome to light; but the very
dampness made the smoke more dense, and ere long a tall column of dusky
fumes was rising straight upwards in the air. If darkness should come
on before the brig was completely out of view, the flames we hoped might
still be visible. But the hours passed on; the fire died out; and yet no
signs of help.

The temper of resignation now deserted me entirely; faith, hope,
confidence--all vanished from my mind, and like the boatswain, I swore
long and loudly. A gentle hand was laid upon my arm, and turning round I
saw Miss Herbey with her finger pointing to the sky. I could stand it
no longer, but gliding underneath the tent I hid my face in my hands and
wept aloud.

Meanwhile the brig had altered her tack, and was moving slowly to the
east. Three hours later and the keenest eye could n