g we have got
enough in our pockets to last us for the whole of to-morrow."

As Bill could not well manage to steer and tend the sheet and eat his
supper, too, he let Jack finish his; after which they changed places,
and Bill fell to with a good appetite on some of the old Frenchwoman's
provisions.

"I hope the kind old creature won't get into any scrape for supplying
us," said Bill.

"I don't see how it will be found out that she gave us so much," said
Jack. "When she finds that we are gone, she'll keep her own counsel,
depend on that."

"We must not expend the food too fast, though," remarked Bill. "It will
take us several days to get across Channel; and it won't do to run short
of provisions."

"You forget those we have in the chest," said Jack.

"Are you certain that the Frenchmen allowed them to remain there," asked
Bill, opening the lid of one of them, and feeling about. "Yes! here's a
piece of beef or pork and some biscuit. All right, we shall do now.
I'll take the helm again if you like; I feel more comfortable when I'm
at it, though you steer well enough, I dare say."

"As you like," said Jack. "I'd just as soon stand by the halyards."

They again changed places.

Bill kept his eye on the polar star, while Jack peered under the sail
ahead, that they might not, as he said, run down any craft.

Thus the night passed away. The breeze slightly increased, but Bill
considered that they might still carry their whole sail with safety.
Perhaps they did not move along quite so fast as he supposed. He told
Jack that he thought they were running through the water at five knots
an hour; but four, or even three, knots was a good deal for a raft to
make, with flat bows, light and well put together as it was.

They were too much excited to feel the slightest inclination to sleep,
and being both in capital spirits, did not trouble themselves with
thinking of the possibility that the weather might change before they
could get across to the English coast. A fast lugger would take nearly
two days to do the distance.

The dawn now broke, and they eagerly looked out on every side for a
sail. As the light increased they were greatly disappointed, on gazing
astern, to discover the French coast still in sight, though blue and
indistinct, like a cloud rising out of the water. No sail, however, was
to be seen in that direction. That was a comfort; they were not pursued
by any large craft, and could certainly not