ate society, he was quiet
and sedate.

Ben was, like many other British seamen, indifferent to danger, of a
cheerful disposition, and generous and self-sacrificing; always ready to
take a glass with an old messmate whenever an opportunity offered,--
though he seldom if ever got intoxicated, even on shore, and never on
duty.

I may be excused if I say but little about myself. I felt our position,
and could not hide from myself the fearful danger we were in, although I
did not altogether despair of escaping.

We had been silent for some time, when Halliday exclaimed,--"I could
stand the hunger, but this thirst is terrible. I must take a gulp of
the water alongside."

"On no account, my dear fellow, as you value your life," cried Boxall;
"it will only increase your thirst, and very probably bring on delirium.
Numbers have died in consequence of doing as you propose. Bear it
manfully. Providence may save us when we least expect it."

"You had better take a bite of my biscuit, sir," said Ben, turning
round; "it will give your mouth something to do. Chew it well, though.
I and four companions were once in the Pacific in a whale-boat for three
days, under the line, without a drop of water to cool our tongues; and
all we had to eat were some flying-fish which came aboard of their own
accord--or rather, it's my belief that Heaven sent them. Three of us
who stuck to the fish were taken aboard by our own ship on the fourth
day; and two who would drink the salt water sprang overboard raving mad
just before she hove in sight. It has been a lesson to me ever since."

"Thank you, Ben; we will profit by it," said Boxall.

We were paddling along as at first, all this time,--though, as we made
but slow progress towards the shore, Boxall began to suspect that the
current was carrying us to the southward. Still, we hoped that a breeze
would again spring up and send us along faster; at all events, should a
vessel appear in sight, our mast and sail, such as they were, would
afford us a better chance of being seen than would otherwise have been
the case. But hour after hour passed away, and still no sail hove in
sight; indeed, while the calm lasted we could not expect to see one.

"What sort of people are we likely to meet with on yonder shore, should
we ever get there?" asked Halliday. "Charlie, do you know?"

"Moors or Arabs; I don't suppose any black fellows are to be found so
far north," I answered.

"I would rather