cast by the sail;
for the intense heat of the sun, which was striking down from an almost
cloudless sky, was almost insupportable. Mr Shobbrok constantly looked
around on every side.

"Any vessel in sight?" asked Walter, sitting up. A shake of the head
was the answer he received; and lying down again, he closed his eyes.
Once more he sat up, and seeing the mate casting an eager glance around,
he asked him what he saw.

"Dolphins or bonitoes playing about. If we had a harpoon, we might
chance to get hold of one."

"Could we manage to manufacture something that would answer the
purpose?" asked Walter.

"Nothing that would be of use, I am afraid," said the mate. "But see,
Walter, see! there comes what I have been praying for."

Walter looked in the direction the mate was pointing out, and saw a
large covey of flying-fish darting towards them. First a couple, then
three, then four more, fell directly on to the raft. Walter and the
mate quickly secured them. As most of them appeared to be directing
their course some way ahead, the mate allowed the raft to glide on, by
that means being able to knock down four more, which would otherwise
have flown over it--the remainder quickly disappearing beneath the
surface. The two voyagers collected the fish which lay on the raft.

"I wish we could keep them alive," said Walter.

"That's more than we can do. We must be thankful that we have got
these; and He who sent them to us may send us more when we require them.
And now, my lad, the sooner we get some of them down our throats the
better, for you want food, and so, I confess, do I."

"What! eat them raw?" exclaimed Walter.

"Ay, lad; and for my part I could almost eat them alive. But I will try
how I can make them more fit for you to swallow. Hand me that bit of
board and the axe. Now, just get out some biscuit and the oil."

Walter gave the articles to the mate, who, kneeling down, cut off the
heads and tails of the fish, and separated the flesh from the bones. He
then mashed it up with some biscuit, moistening it with some oil till he
had made a thick paste.

"Now, try this. But first let us thank God for sending us the food; and
may He feed our souls as well as He feeds our bodies." Saying this, he
put a large lump into his own mouth, and quickly swallowed it, adding
another portion in like haste, for he was in truth famishing. Walter
found the mixture far more tolerable than he had expected, for he had