we saw the ship wear round, and stand back again nearly across the
spot where Tom had fallen overboard; but she kept too far to windward.
Though we could not row with any effect, we determined to try and sail.
Happily, Jack Ivyleaf and Tom Loftus had in the morning been reclining
at their ease in the boat to smoke their cigars, and, to make themselves
comfortable, had thrown in some rugs and blankets. With these we
devised some sails, the broken oar was fitted as a bowsprit, and two
other oars were stepped as masts. Some of the emigrants had,
fortunately for us, also left a child's mattress in the boat. This,
split open, formed a jib and fore-staysail We had a coil of rope, with
which we fitted the stays and sheets. Our sails answered better than we
expected; but we found that we could not lie sufficiently close to the
wind to get up to the ship. Our disappointment was great when we saw
her again standing on her course. Night was approaching, and we were by
this time some five miles away; still, while the light lasted, we could
clearly trace the rise and fall of her bowsprit with the swell of the
sea. Bill Windy, however, did his best to keep up our spirits. `Never
fear, lads,' he exclaimed, `we are slipping along at a good rate through
the water, and we shall not be so very far astern of the old ship after
all; perhaps at daylight, when the sea goes down, as it is doing fast,
she will catch sight of us, and we shall be aboard again for breakfast.'
The word `breakfast' made us think of food, for we were feeling
somewhat hungry; but not a particle could be found in the boat. The
mate now divided us into two watches; he was in the one, I in the other.
While one of us steered, another kept a look-out, and the rest slept.
I confess that I felt from the first that the chance of catching the
ship was but small; still I hoped that we might do so, and hope kept up
my spirits during that long night. Sleep I could not for thinking of
you both, and what would become of you should I be lost. I knew we were
a long, long way from any land, without a drop of water or a particle of
food. We could scarcely, therefore, expect to survive till we should
reach even the nearest point. While I sat alongside the mate, talking
of the possibility of overtaking the ship, I asked him whether he really
thought we could do so.

"`That depends whether during the night she carries much sail or not.
The captain believes that the boat was s