it
will be seen, evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as incredible as his
present childlike supineness and imbecility--the mental condition made
the difference.

The overturning of the brig, even with the consequent loss of the
wine and turtle, would not, in fact, have rendered our situation more
deplorable than before, except for the disappearance of the bedclothes
by which we had been hitherto enabled to catch rainwater, and of the jug
in which we had kept it when caught; for we found the whole bottom, from
within two or three feet of the bends as far as the keel, together with
the keel itself, thickly covered with large barnacles, which proved
to be excellent and highly nutritious food. Thus, in two important
respects, the accident we had so greatly dreaded proved to be a benefit
rather than an injury; it had opened to us a supply of provisions which
we could not have exhausted, using it moderately, in a month; and it had
greatly contributed to our comfort as regards position, we being much
more at ease, and in infinitely less danger, than before.

The difficulty, however, of now obtaining water blinded us to all the
benefits of the change in our condition. That we might be ready to avail
ourselves, as far as possible, of any shower which might fall we took
off our shirts, to make use of them as we had of the sheets--not hoping,
of course, to get more in this way, even under the most favorable
circumstances, than half a gill at a time. No signs of a cloud appeared
during the day, and the agonies of our thirst were nearly intolerable.
At night, Peters obtained about an hour's disturbed sleep, but my
intense sufferings would not permit me to close my eyes for a single
moment.

August 5. To-day, a gentle breeze springing up carried us through a vast
quantity of seaweed, among which we were so fortunate as to find eleven
small crabs, which afforded us several delicious meals. Their shells
being quite soft, we ate them entire, and found that they irritated our
thirst far less than the barnacles. Seeing no trace of sharks among the
seaweed, we also ventured to bathe, and remained in the water for four
or five hours, during which we experienced a very sensible diminution
of our thirst. Were greatly refreshed, and spent the night somewhat more
comfortably than before, both of us snatching a little sleep.

August 6. This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain,
lasting from about noon until after dark. Bitterly