and--
well, in short we--at least the boatswain, carpenter, sailmaker, and
myself--managed to eat nearly half of him. Cunningham had not yet
arrived at the starvation-point where raw fish could be devoured with a
relish, and he declined to share our banquet, for which I did not blame
him; but really, after I had succeeded in so far conquering my prejudice
against raw food as to nibble cautiously at my portion, I found that it
was by no means so repulsive as I had imagined. And although it was
certainly not at all inviting it was undoubtedly nutritious; and when at
length I finished my breakfast, not only was my hunger completely
satisfied, but I felt refreshed and invigorated after my meal.

Breakfast disposed of, Simpson once more shinned aloft and took another
look round; but there was still nothing in sight--indeed, how should
there be, seeing that there was no wind to fan anything into our ken?
He could not now even discern the faint appearance to the eastward which
he had imagined might indicate the position of the longboat, but that of
course might be due to the fact that, like ourselves, they had lowered
their now useless canvas. With not a breath of air stirring it was
intensely hot, the rays of the unclouded sun beating down upon us
fiercely as the breath of a furnace, and I inwardly execrated that
scoundrel Bainbridge and his lawless crew as I thought of the crowded
longboat and the hapless women and children--to say nothing of the
wounded skipper--pent up in her, with nothing to protect them from the
pitiless heat and glare.

"Well, shipmates," I said, "we shall do ourselves no good by lying here
idly sweltering. This calm may last for a week, for aught that we can
tell; there is not the slightest sign of a breeze springing up, so far
as I can see. I propose, therefore, that instead of doing nothing we
strike the mast, out oars, and go in search of a wind. There is no
need," I continued, seeing signs of a protest on the faces of my
companions, "for us to exert ourselves very greatly; and we can scarcely
make ourselves hotter than we are, do what we will. I therefore suggest
that we throw out the oars and paddle quietly ahead upon our proper
course. We ought to be able to get three knots out of the boat with
little exertion, and every mile of progress means so much to the good:
moreover, I want you all to remember that we cannot afford to lie idly
here; our stock of provisions will only last a certain