d no fishing lines or hooks on board; a
bit of an old file was, however, discovered, and with it and a hammer
Jacotot undertook to make some hooks, while Kelson spun some fine yarn
for lines.

"I shall have plenty of time," observed the Frenchman, with a wan smile
and a shrug of the shoulders, "for without the fish I shall have nothing
to cook."

Two days passed, and though the hooks were in use we caught nothing, and
some of the party began to wish that the pirate had picked us up. Two
days more passed: matters had become very serious. Hunger was gnawing
at our insides, and what seemed even worse, thirst was parching our lips
and throats. With the intense heat we were enduring, gallons of water
would scarcely have satisfied us, and we each had but a small wineglass
full three times a day. When that was gone, as long as our fuel lasted
we could get a little water by condensing the steam from our kettle.
Our thirst became intolerable; yet the few drops, we did get kept us, I
believe, alive. I do not wish to dwell on that time. My own sufferings
were great, but they were increased by seeing those of my young brother
and his lighthearted companion, both of them about, as I feared, to pass
away from the world they had found so enjoyable. The sun rose, and set,
and rose again, and each day it appeared to send down its heat with an
increased intensity of strength as we grew weaker and weaker. A new
danger threatened us: we could even now scarcely keep the boat clear of
water; should our strength fail altogether, as seemed but too probable,
she would sink below us. Our lot was that which many poor seamen have
endured, but that did not make it more supportable to us.

Our last particle of food had been eaten, the last drop of water nearly
exhausted. The strongest might endure for a day or two, the weakest
ones must sink within a few hours. Even O'Carroll, strong as he seemed,
was giving way. He sat dull and unconscious, his eyes meaningless, only
arousing himself by a great effort. My brother's head rested on my arm,
and I was moistening his lips with the few drops obtained from the cask.
Suddenly Kelson, who had been gazing round the horizon, started up,
crying out, "A breeze! a breeze! I see it coming over the water!"

I turned my eyes to the west, the direction to which he pointed. There
I saw a dark-blue line quickly advancing towards us. Even already, on
either side, cat's-paws were to be seen just touch