nwhile, there was no concealing the truth that we were ourselves
dying of starvation, whilst our eight companions would probably, by
their loathsome diet, escape that frightful destiny. Owing to his secret
hoard of provisions Hobart had been by far the strongest amongst us; he
had been supported, so that no organic disease had affected his tissues,
and really might be said to be in good health when his chagrin drove him
to his desperate suicide. But what was I thinking of! whither were
my meditations carrying me away? was it not coming to pass that the
cannibals were rousing my envy instead of exciting my horror?

Very shortly after this I heard Dowlas talking about the possibility
of obtaining salt by evaporating sea-water in the sun; "and then," he
added, "we can salt down the rest."

The boatswain assented to what the carpenter had said, and probably the
suggestion was adopted.

Silence, the most profound, now reigns upon the raft. I presume that
nearly all have gone to sleep. One thing I do know, that they are no
longer hungry!

CHAPTER XLVIII.

JANUARY 19th.--All through the day the sky remained unclouded and
the heat intense; and night came on without bringing much sensible
moderation in the temperature. I was unable to get any sleep, and,
towards morning, was disturbed by hearing an angry clamour going on
outside the tent; it aroused M. Letourneur, Andre and Miss Herbey,
as much as myself, and we were anxious to ascertain the cause of the
tumult.

The boatswain, Dowlas, and all the sailors were storming at each other
in frightful rage; and Curtis, who had come forward from the stern, was
vainly endeavouring to pacify them.

"But who has done it? we must know who has done it," said Dowlas,
scowling with vindictive passion on the group around him.

"There's a thief," howled out the boatswain, "and he shall be found!
Let's know who has taken it."

"I haven't taken it!" "Nor I!" "Nor I!" cried the sailors one after
another.

And then they set to work again to ransack every quarter of the raft;
they rolled every spar aside, they overturned everything on board,
and only grew more and more incensed with anger as their search proved
fruitless.

"Can YOU tell us," said the boatswain, coming up to me, "who is the
thief?"

"Thief!" I replied. "I don't know what you mean."

And while we were speaking the others all came up together, and told me
that they had looked everywhere else, and that they were go