ome more wine and water restored the strength of
all the party, but poor Nub wanted something besides food. For many a
long hour he had not closed his eyes. He told the mate so, and asking
his leave, threw himself down on the deck. Almost before his head
reached the piece of wood Walter had placed for a pillow, he was fast
asleep. Alice was very nearly as sleepy as poor Nub; and the mate
saying he would steer, Walter sat down on the deck, and taking her in
his arms, she also in less than a minute closed her eyes, feeling far
happier than she had done since she had left the burning ship. Having
perfect confidence in the mate, it seemed to her that they had now only
to sail on till they reached the shore. Happily, she little thought of
the dangers before them, or knew that the scanty stock of provisions
they possessed would not last long, and that before many days were over
famine must overtake them.

The wind remained light but variable, and now coming from the southward,
they could only steer a north-westerly course. The mate feared that it
might shift to the west; if so, they would have to lower the sail and
trust to their oars. Their progress in that case would be very slow, as
neither Walter nor Nub had much strength for rowing. As before, he
himself intended to steer during the night; so, on the approach of
evening, telling Walter to take the helm, he lay down, making his arm
serve as a pillow for Alice. Before closing his eyes, he gave the usual
charge to Walter to call him should there be any alteration in the wind;
which, of course, Walter faithfully promised to do. Walter stood
bravely to his post till he found his head nodding, and the stars at
which he was gazing dancing before his eyes; and reluctantly he was on
the point of calling Mr Shobbrok, when the mate, lifting up his head,
told him to take charge of Alice, while he resumed his place at the
helm.

All night long the old sailor stood steering the raft, allowing his
young charges and Nub to sleep on.

"The black deserves his rest," he said to himself; "and it's much better
that those two dear young ones should forget their sorrow and troubles;
they will have enough of them, I am afraid, before long."

Again the sun rose--another day, which promised to be like the last.
The remainder of the flying-fish was eaten in the same manner as before.
Alice could not manage to get down the unsavoury compound, and
contented herself with some hard bisc