us sea as was then running, the horizon of a
person in a boat is naturally very restricted, and I knew that, although
I had failed to catch a glimpse of either the wreck or the raft, the
latter at least might be afloat, and my plain duty was to remain in the
neighbourhood so long as there was any chance of falling in with it; I
therefore watched my opportunity and, seizing a favourable moment, wore
the boat round on the other tack and, again bringing her to the wind,
went back as nearly over the ground I had already traversed as was
possible. But although I kept a sharp look-out, and wore round every
half-hour, I saw nothing, no, not even so much as a fragment of floating
wreckage, to indicate what had actually happened; nor did I ever hear of
any of my late crew being picked up.

It was about four bells--two o'clock--in the afternoon watch when I last
saw the wreck; and I beat about, remaining as near the spot as I could,
until sunset. Then, having failed to fall in with or sight either the
wreck or the raft, I came to the conclusion that I had seen the last of
my mutinous crew, and that the time had arrived when I was quite
justified in abandoning any further effort to find them, and might look
after my own safety.

The weather, by this time, had improved very considerably; the wind had
been slowly but steadily moderating, and the sea, although still
tremendously high, was not now breaking dangerously; the sky also had
cleared and was without a cloud; there was therefore every prospect of a
fine night, with a further steady improvement of the weather; the boat
was no longer dangerously pressed by the amount of canvas that she was
carrying, and I felt that I need be under no immediate apprehension
regarding the future. Moreover my clothes had by this time dried upon
my body, and I felt quite warm and comfortable. But I was both hungry
and thirsty, for the so-called dinner that I had snatched aboard the
_Dolphin_ had been a very hasty and meagre meal. I therefore hove the
boat to, by lashing the tiller hard down and hauling the staysail sheet
to windward, and then, finding that she rode quite comfortably and was
taking care of herself, I proceeded to rummage among my stock of
provisions, and soon had a hearty meal set out before me on the after
thwart.

By the time that I had finished my supper night had fallen, the stars
were shining with the brilliance that they only display in the tropics,
and I was beginning