as long as possible. Tom's great difficulty was to find
occupation for all hands. Unfortunately they had no books except the
nautical almanac, which was not interesting reading. Yarn spinning is
very well in the evening when men have done their work, but few can go
on all day either as listeners or narrators. Even singing songs becomes
somewhat monotonous, especially when the list is small and the singers
have already trolled them forth over and over again. Their chief
amusement was watching the coveys of flying-fish which rose every now
and then from the ocean, and darted through the air, their bright scales
glittering in the sun. Occasionally a whale spouted forth a jet of
vapour and spray with a loud noise like that emitted by the safety valve
of a steam engine; while albicores, bonitos; and dolphins, with various
other fish, could be seen here and there, sporting and tumbling, as they
came to the surface, sending a circle of wavelets extending far and wide
around. Sea birds also flew through the blue ether, their wings
appearing of snowy whiteness as they caught the rays of the sun in their
rapid flight.

Jerry Bird proposed getting out the oars. "Maybe, sir, if we pull on
for a few hours we may fall in with some craft becalmed; and though we
may wish to continue the voyage in our boat, we may have a talk with her
people, hear the news, and maybe get a glass of grog."

"Or slice of plum pudding, or pot of jam," put in Billy.

As there appeared to be no signs of a breeze springing up, Tom agreed to
Jerry's proposal, and the oars were got out, Billy taking one of them,
at which Gerald promised to take a spell when he got tired. Heavily
laden, however, as the boat was, they could scarcely send her ahead at
the rate of two knots an hour; but even that was something; and
supposing they could row for fifteen hours, night and day, thirty miles
might be made good during the four and twenty.

Jerry, to keep up the spirits of his companions, led off with a song,
when Tim and Pat followed him; and thus they continued until Tom piped
to dinner. They indeed seemed much happier than when doing nothing. As
soon as dinner was over they again took to the oars, and pulled on
steadily until dark; but no land was seen, nor was a sail in sight.
Indeed, so limited was their horizon, that they were likely to pass low
islands without observing them. The night was as calm as the day; but,
as the men required sleep, Tom kept