ingness personally to make
the attempt, but so numerous were the sharks that we would not for one
moment hear of his risking his life in a venture of which the danger was
as great as the success was doubtful.

By plunging into the sea, or by gnawing at a piece of metal, we could
always, or at least often, do something that cheated us into believing
that we were mitigating the pains of thirst; but with hunger it was
different. The prospect, too, of rain seemed hopeful, whilst for getting
food there appeared no chance; and, as we knew that nothing could
compensate for the lack of nutritive matter, we were soon all cast down
again. Shocking to confess, it would be untrue to deny that we surveyed
each other with the eye of an eager longing; and I need hardly explain
to what a degree of savageness the one idea that haunted us had reduced
our feelings.

Ever since the storm-cloud brought us the too transient shower the
sky has been tolerably clear, and although at that time the wind had
slightly freshened, it has since dropped, and the sail hangs idly
against our mast. Except for the trifling relief it brings by modifying
the temperature we care little now for any breeze. Ignorant as we are as
to what quarter of the Atlantic we have been carried by the currents, it
matters very little to us from what direction the wind may blow if
only it would bring, in rain or dew, the moisture of which we are so
dreadfully in need.

The moon was entering her last quarter, so that it was dark till nearly
midnight, and the stars were misty, not glowing with that lustre which
is so often characteristic of cool nights. Half frantic with that sense
of hunger which invariably returns with redoubled vigour at the close of
every day, I threw myself, in a kind of frenzy, upon a bundle of sails
that was lying on the starboard of the raft, and leaning over, I tried
to get some measure of relief by inhaling the moist coolness that rarely
fails to circulate just above the water. My brain was haunted by the
most horrible nightmares; not that I suppose I was in any way more
distressed than my companions, who were lying in their usual places,
vainly endeavouring to forget their sufferings in sleep.

After a time I fell into a restless, dreamy doze. I was neither asleep
nor awake. How long I remained in that state of stupor I could hardly
say, but at length a strange sensation half brought me to myself. Was
I dreaming, or was there not really some unac