The first thought that flashed through my mind with returning
consciousness, in the morning, was, "This is the last day for hope--
unless relief comes to-day in some shape, we must perish." I was the
first awake, and glancing at the faces of my companions lying about in
the bottom of the boat, I could not help shuddering. They had a strange
and unnatural look--a miserable expression of pain and weakness. All
that was familiar and pleasant to look upon, had vanished from those
sharpened and haggard features. Their closed eyes seemed singularly
sunken; and their matted hair, sunburned skin, and soiled clothing,
added something of wildness to the misery of their appearance.

Browne, who had slept beside me, was breathing hard, and started every
now and then, as if in pain. Johnny slumbered so peacefully, and
breathed so gently, that for a moment I was alarmed, and doubted whether
he was breathing at all, until I stooped down and watched him closely.
There were still no indications of a breeze. A school of whales was
visible about a quarter of a mile to the westward, spouting and pursuing
their unwieldy sport; but I took no interest in the sight, and leaning
over the gunwale, commenced bathing my head and eyes with the sea-water.
While thus engaged I was startled by seeing an enormous cachelot, (the
sperm-whale), suddenly break the water within fifteen yards of the boat.
Its head, which composed nearly a third of its entire bulk, seemed a
mountain of flesh. A couple of small calves followed it, and came
swimming playfully around us. For a minute or two, the cachelot floated
quietly at the surface, where it had first appeared, throwing a slender
jet of water, together with a large volume of spray and vapour into the
air; then rolling over upon its side, it began to lash the sea with its
broad and powerful tail, every stroke of which produced a sound like the
report of a cannon. This roused the sleepers abruptly, and just as they
sprang up, and began to look around in astonishment, for the cause of so
startling a commotion, the creature cast its misshapen head downwards,
and, throwing its immense flukes high into the air, disappeared. We
watched anxiously to see where it would rise, conscious of the perils of
such a neighbourhood, and that even a playful movement, a random sweep
of the tail, while pursuing its gigantic pastime, would be sufficient to
destroy us. It came to the surface at about the same distance as