es.

Another terrific crash, and then--ah, how earnestly we gave thanks to
God for His mercy--the raindrops came pattering to the deck, lightly at
first, lightly and softly, like scouts sent forward to spy out the
land, and afterwards the main body in a crowd beating fiercely, heavily
upon us. How we laughed as, making cups of our hands, we lapped the
welcome water greedily! What cries of delight ascended heavenward as
we filled our spare cask and every vessel that would hold water! The
rain came down in a steady torrent, soaking us through; but we felt no
discomfort, for it fed us with new life.

Presently the captain got some of the men to work, while the others ate
the food which had lain all day untasted, and then, doubly refreshed,
they relieved their comrades. Jose and I, too, ate sparingly of some
food; but even this little, with the water, made new beings of us.

As yet the wind was no more than a fair breeze, but by degrees it
became boisterous, and the crew, still weak and now short of three men,
could barely manage the schooner. Jose and I knew nothing of
seamanship, but we bore a hand here and there, straining at this rope
or that as we were bidden, and encouraging the crew to the best of our
ability.

As yet we gave little thought to the new danger that menaced us, being
full of thanks for our escape from a horrible death; but the fury of
the storm increased, the wind battered against the schooner in howling
gusts, and presently the topgallant mast fell with a crash to the deck.
Fortunately no one was hurt, and we quickly cut the wreckage clear; but
misfortune followed misfortune, and at length, with white, scared face,
the carpenter announced that water was fast rising in the hold.

Here, at least, Jose and I were of service. Taking our places at the
pumps, we toiled with might and main to keep the water down. Thus the
remainder of the night passed with every one working at the pumps or
assisting the captain to manage the vessel.

Morning brought no abatement of the storm, but the light enabled us to
realize more clearly how near we were, a second time, to death. The
rain still poured down in torrents, the wind leaped at us with
hurricane fury, the schooner tossed, a helpless wreck, in the midst of
a mountainous sea. The carpenter reported that, in spite of all our
labours, the water was fast gaining on us. The sailors now lost heart,
and one of them left his post, saying sullenly they migh