hope for the best. If we pray to God, He will
hear us, and if He sees fit, He will save us. Now, my lads, let us
pray." On this the lieutenant offered up a sincere prayer for their
preservation, and all who could understand him joined in it. Even the
benighted blacks comprehended that he was performing some rite by which
they were to benefit. After it, Hemming again got up, "I told you, my
lads, we must husband our resources. Till we see what progress we make,
it will be wise to take only one biscuit a day. That will support life
for some days, and if we take more our stock will soon be exhausted."
The men replied cheerfully that they would limit themselves to any
quantity he thought best. Poor fellows, they were to be sorely tried;
the sun went down, and an easterly wind blew, and not only prevented
them from approaching the coast, but again drove them slowly off it.
When the sun rose the wind fell altogether, and they lay exposed to the
full fury of its scorching rays. A thirst, which the small quantity of
water served out in a teacup during the day could in no way assuage, now
attacked them. Jack and Adair felt their spirits sinking lower than
they had ever gone before. They could scarcely eat their small
allowance of biscuit. They knew too that in another day the bottom of
the cask would be reached. Still they tried to imitate Hemming in
keeping up a cheerful countenance. Many of the people complained
bitterly of their sufferings. The poor blacks said nothing, but three
of them, almost at the same moment, sank back on the raft, and when
those near them tried to lift them up, they were found to be dead. They
were speedily lowered into the water.

"Adair, what is that?" asked Jack, as a dark fin was seen gliding round
the raft.

"A shark," answered Adair. "See, there are two, three, four of them.
We must have one of those fellows. They will eat us if we don't eat
them, that is very certain. Here, Needham, have a running bowline ready
to slip over the head of the first who comes near enough." The idea was
taken up eagerly by the men; there being plenty of line on board,
several of them sat ready with the bight of a rope in hand, hoping to
catch one of those evil-disposed monsters of the deep. But death in the
meantime was busy among their companions. One by one the blacks dropped
off, till one only remained. He was a fine-looking, intelligent young
man, of great muscular strength, and evidently