hen they cut off some good-sized junks, and divided
it up. It was not half bad; and as we chewed on the tough black fibre,
I could hardly help smiling as I thought how queer a Christmas dinner
we were having. But eating soon heightened our thirst, and our real
sufferings then began. We could eat very little once the want of drink
made itself felt. Hardly two hours had elapsed, though, before one
of the big-bellied clouds which bad been keeping the sun off us most
considerately emptied out upon us a perfect torrent of rain. It filled
the cavity in the whale's side in a twinkling; and though the water was
greasy, stained with blood, and vilely flavoured, it was as welcome a
drink as I have ever tasted. Thus fed, and with our thirst slaked, we
were able to take a more hopeful view of things while the prospect of
our being found seemed much more probable than it had done before the
rain fell.

Still, we had to endure our pillory for a long while yet. The sharks and
birds began to worry us, especially the former, who in their eagerness
to get a portion of the blubber, fought, writhed and tore at the carcass
with tireless energy. Once, one of the smaller ones actually came
sliding up right into our hollow; but Samuela and Polly promptly
dispatched him with a cut throat, sending him back to encourage the
others. The present relieved us of most of their attentions for a short
time at least, as they eagerly divided the remains of their late comrade
among them.

To while away the time we spun yarns--without much point, I am afraid;
and sung songs, albeit we did not feel much like singing--till after a
while our poor attempts at gaiety fizzled out like a damp match, leaving
us silent and depressed. The sun, which had been hidden for some time,
now came out again, his slanting beams revealing to us ominously the
flight of time and the near approach of night. Should darkness overtake
us in our present position, we all felt that saving us would need
the performance of a miracle; for in addition to the chances of the
accumulated gases within the carcass bursting it asunder, the unceasing
assault of the sharks made it highly doubtful whether they would not in
a few hours more have devoured it piecemeal. Already they had scooped
out some deep furrows in the solid blubber, making it easier to get hold
and tear off more, and their numbers were increasing so fast that the
surrounding sea was fairly alive with them. Lower and lower sank th