e, we'll reach some part of South Africa at all
events--that is, if we don't come across the track of a ship, and get
picked up before then."

"But even eight days, David. What shall we do for food all that time?"
said Jonathan, who was by no means of so hopeful a disposition as his
friend.

"Don't you recollect, old fellow," rejoined David, "what you said just
now, of God watching over us? As He has done so up to now, don't you
think He'll look after us still, and provide some means by which we
shall not starve?"

"Yes," said the other, feeling the rebuke, "you are quite right, David;
and I was wrong to doubt His mercy. But, oh, I do feel so hungry!"

"So do I," replied David. "But we'll have to grin and bear it for a
while, old chap, as we are not near old Slush's caboose, on board the
_Sea Rover_, and I don't see any grub anywhere in sight. However,
Jonathan, we haven't felt the pangs of real hunger yet, and needn't
begin to shout out before we're hurt. Let us do something--make sail on
the boat and abandon our old raft, which has served us a good turn--and
we'll wear off the edge of our appetites."

David's advice was followed. Taking only the life-buoy with them, they
cast loose from the raft almost with feelings of regret, for it had
saved their lives, and it seemed like ingratitude to leave it there
tossing alone on the surface of the deep now that they had no further
service for it; and, hoisting the cutter's "leg-of-mutton" sail, and
steering with an oar, as the boat's rudder was missing, they ran before
the wind, David directing their course, as nearly as he could possibly
guess to the north-east, by the sun, which had now passed the meridian.

"I say, Jonathan," said David, after a time, when they had quite lost
sight of the raft, and must have run some miles, "just rummage in the
locker again, and see if their is anything else we passed over in our
first search?"

"No," said Jonathan, after going down on his knees and looking into
every corner of the receptacle with his fingers, so that not a crevice
was left unsearched, "nothing but the fishing-lines."

"Well, let us have them out and see if we can catch anything."

"But we've got no bait."

"Oh, we can tie a bit of my red flannel shirt or your white one to the
hooks. Fish bite at anything at sea, if they can only see it. Hullo!"
added David, "I didn't see that before."

"What?" exclaimed Jonathan.

"Why, the name of the vessel to wh