floating near us!

Whiskerandos saw this little island of hope. As for me, I was too much
frightened and confused to look around me; but I instinctively followed
where he led, and soon found myself, shivering, shaking, dripping with
wet, and looking as wretched as a rat can look, on the floating barrel
beside my friend!

How we shook our glistening sides, and shuddered and gazed
disconsolately round us on the wide waste of waters, lashed into long
streaks of angry foam! Alas! there was no land in sight; but then the
white mist rested on the horizon, which shut out the distant view.

"If we are not drowned we shall be starved!" exclaimed I, very
piteously, to Whiskerandos. Alas! our barrel was empty.

Oh! the misery endured that day, and the terrible night which succeeded!
We had no resource but to gnaw at the tasteless wood. We were surrounded
with water, yet perishing with thirst! pinched by hunger, without hope
of relief! Better to have been drowned at once; better to have fallen by
the paw of a mouser, or to have been caught like my brothers in a trap,
than to be dying thus by inches on a barrel, tossed in the midst of the
sea!

But with the gray morning hope dawned! We perceived that our little
island had drifted near to some shore. The waves were now much more
quiet, and leapt on the beach with a pleasant murmur, and strove to roll
on, each farther than the other, like children merrily racing together.

"Could we not swim to the shore?" said Whiskerandos.

But I recoiled from the dangerous attempt. "No, no; some wave will roll
the barrel on the beach," I replied; "no more struggling in the water
for me!"

And the waves, bearing the barrel on their green backs, seemed often
ready to land it safely on shore, but each time changed their minds,
and kept it bobbing up and down, while they retired back with a grating
noise over the pebbles, as if mocking our distress and impatience.

"We are farther off now than we were ten minutes ago," said
Whiskerandos. "Perhaps the tide is on the turn. Pluck up a brave heart,
and let's dash in like rats!" and he plunged fearlessly into the water.

But for the sharp spur of hunger, I fear that I should have left him to
make the bold attempt alone; but, famished as I was, I resolved to swim
for my life. With a sudden effort I sprang into the waves; and so,
following in the wake of my companion, I struggled in safety to the
shore!

Oh! the delight of feeling dry ground aga