of them had stabbed him, so suddenly did he fall.

"The others gave me none of the fish: indeed, my portion would have been
so small that I did not miss it, though for the moment I would have been
thankful for the merest scrap of food.

"I still endeavoured to keep up my spirits, and prayed for strength from
above. I am sure it was given me, or I should have sunk. I did not
like even to think of the pain I suffered. The Frenchmen, too, were
growing ravenous, and I heard them talking together, and looking at me
as if meditating mischief.

"I thought over the means by which I could best preserve my life. I
knew that it would not do to show the slightest fear, so arousing
myself, I said, `My friends, you are hungry, so am I, but we can endure
another day without eating. Now I want you to understand that we are
more likely to be saved by an English vessel than by one of any other
nation, as there are three times as many English cruisers in these seas
as there are French, and ten times as many merchantmen. If we are
picked up by an English vessel, you are sure to be well treated for my
sake, but if any accident were to happen to me--if I were to fall
overboard, for instance--there would be no one to say a word in your
favour. Remember that I was the means of saving the lives of two of
you, although, when I plunged into the water and swam to you at the risk
of being caught by a shark, or sinking myself from fatigue, I did not
expect any return. I suppose that you do not wish to be ungrateful.'

"This address seemed to have some effect on the men I had saved. Each
of them uttered an exclamation of approval, while the two others, who
still retained some little strength, turned aside their heads, not
daring to look at me. I did not move until night came on, when I
crawled from the place I had occupied, and lay down between the two men
who seemed most disposed to befriend me. In the middle of the night I
awoke, and finding that there was a light breeze. I endeavoured to
kneel up and ascertain if providentially any vessel were approaching.

"I was raising myself on my elbow when I saw one of the men who had
threatened me by their words creeping towards me. I instantly awoke my
two friends, for so I will call them, by exclaiming, `There is a breeze.
Perhaps a vessel is approaching us. We should not be sleeping;' while
the man whom I suspected of a design against my life drew back and lay
perfectly still. I deter