erwhelm them. The gale raged as fiercely as at first. The
rain, so unusual in that latitude, came down in torrents. Had they
prepared anything for catching it, it would have proved of the greatest
benefit. Owen recollected the bale of cotton cloth. He called Nat and
Mike to undo it. They cut off a couple of lengths, which they held over
the empty fish-kettle, and by stretching it tightly the rain ran off it
into the fish-kettle, which was quickly filled. Two of the casks, out
of which Owen had emptied the spirits they had contained, lay near the
tent. He immediately brought one of them and filled it with the
precious fluid which had been obtained.

"Quick--quick," he cried, as he replaced the fish kettle; "let us have
the other cask, not a drop of water must be lost if we can help it."
Bill Pratt, the carpenter's mate, who, seeing what they were about? had
joined them, rolled up the cask, and that also was nearly filled when
the rain ceased.

"That cask has had better stuff in it than water not long ago," observed
Bill, putting his nose to the bung-hole.

"It was the stuff which caused the death of so many of our poor
shipmates, and has brought thousands and tens of thousands of others to
ruin and death," answered Owen. "Before long, you would thankfully
exchange a dozen casks of spirits, if you had them, for one cup of such
pure water as we have just obtained. If we are wise we shall collect
all the empty casks we can find, and be ready to fill them should
another shower fall."

"Ah, sir, I believe you are right; and I wish that others had had as
little love for liquor as you have, and we shouldn't have been where we
now are, with our stout ship knocked to pieces," said Bill, glancing at
the mate who lay asleep in the tent.

"We have now to do our best, and pray to God for deliverance," observed
Owen. "Perhaps we shall be blessed with another shower, and be able to
fill up this cask, and any others we can find."

Although the rain had ceased, the wind blew as hard as ever. Still the
water rose until the white foam reached almost close up to the spot on
which their tent stood. A few minutes more might decide their fate.
Owen felt deeply the awfulness of their situation. Ere long he and his
companions might be standing in the presence of their Maker.

Throughout that live-long night the shipwrecked group sat beneath their
tent on that narrow strip of sand. Its length they had not ascertained,
but i