it which had been reserved for her. Walter
then climbed up again and joined the party on the whale's back.

The skin and blubber affording ample fuel, they were able to keep up
their fire and cook a considerable quantity of blubber; for to eat it
raw in its present condition they felt would be impossible, but toasted
in thin slices it would, they hoped, keep for some time. They tried
several portions, and agreed that the most eatable were those on either
side of the hump. As the chest and casks did not appear to be drifting
away from the whale, they agreed that it was not necessary to put off
expressly to get hold of them. Having cooked as much blubber as was
likely to keep till it was consumed, they carried it down to the raft,
where it was stowed away in the hen-coop, which was considered cooler
than any other place. The mate proposed that while they were alongside
the whale they should take the opportunity of more firmly securing the
fresh part of the raft, as they had now a favourable opportunity for
doing so. This took them some time, but they were well satisfied when
the work was done.

"And now, my lad, we must not go away, without the harpoons and spears,
for I have hopes, by their means, of getting a good supply of food. We
may catch bonitoes and other big fish with the harpoons; and with the
spears we may strike any smaller ones which come within reach."

"I have been thinking, Mr Shobbrok, that if we could manage a lamp, we
might, on a calm evening, attract the fish to the side of the raft, as
is often done, I have read, by savages, who then spear them; and the
blubber will afford us oil for the purpose."

"Bery bright idea, Massa Walter," exclaimed Nub. "De hole where we made
de fire is full of oil, and me fill up two of de empty bottles with it;
den, as we have no saucer for de lamp, suppose you take one of your
shoes,--it will hold de oil for de purpose."

"I will gladly give up both my shoes," said Walter.

"So will I mine," exclaimed Alice; "if they are of any use."

"We need not deprive you of yours, Miss Alice," said the mate; "I must
insist rather on mine being taken. And for a wick, we have only to pick
a rope to pieces and twist it up lightly."

Nub, taking the two empty bottles, climbed up again on the whale's back.
He found even more oil than he had expected, and filling the bottles,
lowered them on the raft. He was about to descend, when he was seen
looking eagerly out on the ot