"Our disappointment at this failure was as great as the Dean's hopes had
been high. The Dean felt it most, for he was, at the very outset,
perfectly confident of success. Neither of us, however, wished to own
how much we felt the failure, so we spoke very little more together, but
made, almost in silence, another meal off the raw eggs, and, being now
quite worn out and weary with the labors and anxieties of the day, we
passed the next twelve hours in watching and sleeping alternately in the
bright sunshine, lying as before on the green grass, covered with the
overcoat. We did not even dare hope for better fortune on the morrow. We
had, however, made up our minds to struggle in the best manner we could
against the difficulties which surrounded us, and mutually to sustain
each other in the hard battle before us. Whether we should live or die
was known but to God alone, and to his gracious protection we once more
commended ourselves; the Dean repeating a prayer which he had learned
from a pious and careful mother, who had brought him up in the fear of
Heaven, and taught him, at a very early age, to have faith in God's
endless watchfulness.

"And now, my children," concluded the Captain, "I have some work to do
in my garden, to-day, so we must cut our story short this time. When you
come to-morrow, I will tell you what next we did towards raising a fire,
besides many other things for our safety and comfort."

* * * * *

So the party scattered from the "cabin,"--the Captain to his work, and
the children to play for a while with the Captain's dogs, Port and
Starboard, out among the trees; and to talk with Main Brace, whom they
found to be the most singular boy they had ever seen; after which they
went to the Captain to say "Good evening" to him, and then ran briskly
home,--William eager to write down what he had heard, while it was yet
fresh upon his memory, and all of them to relate to their parents, over
and over again, what this wonderful old man had been telling them, and
what a dear old soul he was.

CHAPTER X.

Shows how Some Things may be done as well as Others,
with God's Help and with much Perseverance.

[Illustration]

When the children next went to the "Mariner's Rest," it was unanimously
agreed that they should go back again to the Captain's "cabin,"--there
were so many things that they had not seen, and which they wished to
look at. Alice wanted to see the