n,
utterly exhausted, sank into a fitful, troubled sleep.

The pangs of hunger and--still worse--of thirst again making themselves
felt, George once more put the fishing-line over the side, and, after
waiting patiently for nearly an hour, had the satisfaction of feeling a
smart tug at it. He gave a sharp jerk, to strike the hook firmly into
his fish, and at once began to haul smartly in, but he had only gathered
in a foot or so of the line when there came a terrific pull at it, which
sent the cord flying through his fingers in spite of all his efforts to
hold it. He promptly called Tom to his assistance, but even with this
aid he was unable to hold the fish; and, as a last resource, he threw a
couple of turns round one of the thowl-pins. The result was disastrous;
the line snapped short off at the pin, and when they came to investigate
further, they found that they had lost the whole of it, except a bare
fathom, which still remained in the boat.

This was a misfortune indeed, as it deprived them of their only means of
obtaining that sustenance which was now becoming so urgent a necessity
to them. But sailors are not easily disheartened, and they forthwith
set to work to manufacture a new line out of the rope which they still
had in the boat; Tom carefully unlaying the strands and jointing the
yarns, whilst George tried his best to manufacture a hook out of a nail
drawn from the gunwale of the boat. This task occupied them for the
remainder of the day, and when it was completed the hook and line
together constituted such a very make-shift, hopeless-looking affair
that George, in spite of his hunger, could not repress an incredulous
smile at the idea of any fish with his wits about him being beguiled by
it. They tried it, however, but it was an utter failure; they could not
secure even the barren encouragement of a nibble; and at last the
attempt was given up in despair.

Shortly before sunset Walford once more opened his eyes, and began to
stare blankly about him. For a minute or two there was a look in his
eyes which encouraged George to hope that reason was returning to her
abandoned throne, but the look quickly passed away, and the incoherent
mutterings recommenced. The sun went down, night's mantle of darkness
once more descended upon the sea, and then the full moon in all her
queenly beauty rolled slowly into view above the horizon, flooding the
scene with her silvery light, and investing it with a magical