s waters, and not
a sail in eight. Jack, at Colley's bidding, tied his shirt to the oar,
in the hopes that, fluttering in the breeze, it might attract the
notice of some passing vessels. But although several sail were seen on
the horizon, none seemed to come across the track of the little lonely
boat. The scorching sun of noon beat on their unprotected heads, and
poor little Peter cried and moaned with a pain in his head. Hunger
too, and thirst, began to be unbearable; and Colley had some difficulty
in preventing Jack from drinking the sea-water, and giving it to little
Peter.

"Don't you do it, boy; it will drive you mad, and you will repent it if
you touch it."

Towards evening the air became cooler, and Peter, pulling at Jack's
trousers, said--

"There is something hard under my head, and Toby is sniffing at it."

Oh, how untold was the thankfulness with which Colley pulled out a
canvas bag of sea biscuits, which had been stowed away under one of the
seats, with a stone jar in which was a little rum!

"Thank the Lord, you won't starve, you young ones; there's enough to
keep you alive."

"Enough to keep us all alive!" Jack said; "and I shan't touch a crumb
unless you eat the same quantity as I do."

The boy lying at their feet had already set his teeth into a biscuit
like a hungry dog, and was putting his mouth to the stone bottle.

"Gently, now, gently," Colley said, trying to take the bottle away from
the child. But he did not succeed till he had swallowed a considerable
quantity, and lay in a kind of stupor.

Another night closed in, and the stillness and darkness were acceptable
after the burning heat of noon. At day-dawn Jack saw a ship. Surely
it was coming nearer and nearer. He stood up and called "Ahoy!" with
all his might, and poor Toby whined and barked. Colley, awakened from
a light dose, stood up also, and joined in the cry. But, alas! there
was no answer, and the white sails, glistening in the level rays of the
rising sun, vanished like a bird taking flight.

"It is no use hoping for help," Jack said, sinking down. "I say,
Colley, are we to go on floating over the wide sea for ever?"

"Nay, lad, nay; it won't be for ever. Please the Lord, He'll put an
end to these long watches in His own time."

"Colley," Jack said, "do you think I am being punished for my sins? I
ran away in a fit of temper, and I know how my mother is waiting and
watching for me, as she did for my father, and