nally put back into the bag. The meal was then eaten with
much display of satisfaction by father and son, (a blessing having been
first asked on it), and it was prolonged as much as possible in order to
encourage the idea that it was not such a small one after all.

Billy had not been particular as to his crusts and fragments of victuals
in days of yore, but it was wonderful how sharp his eye was on this
occasion to note and pick up every minute crumb, and transfer it to his
hungry mouth.

"Now, daddy, I'm ready."

He swelled out his little chest, and gave it a sounding thump as he
rose, and, rolling up his shirt-sleeves to the shoulder, seized an oar.
Gaff took the other, and both sat down to the slow, dreary, monotonous
toil of another day.

At first the Bu'ster was chatty, but by degrees his tongue flagged, and
ere long it became quite silent.

For six or eight hours they pulled without intermission, except for a
few minutes at a time, every hour or so, and Gaff directed the boat's
head in the direction to which the captain had pointed when he said the
land might be about five hundred miles off.

When the sun was getting low on the horizon, Billy stopped with a sigh--

"Ain't it time for dinner, daddy, d'ye think?"

"Hold on a bit, lad, I'm goin' to let ye tak' a sleep soon, an' it'll be
best to eat just afore lyin' down."

No more was said, and the rowing was continued until the sun had set,
and the shades of night were beginning to descend on the sea.

"Now, lad, we'll sup," said Stephen, with a hearty air, as he pulled in
his oar.

"Hooray!" cried Billy faintly, as he jumped up and went to the stern,
where his father soon produced the biscuit-bag and measured out the two
small portions.

"Cheatin' again, daddy," cried the Bu'ster with a remonstrative tone and
look.

"No, I ain't," said Gaff sharply, "eat yer supper, you scamp."

Billy obeyed with alacrity, and disposed of his portion in three
mouthfuls. There was a small quantity of rain-water--about half a
pint--which had been collected and carefully husbanded in the
baling-dish. It was mingled with a little spray, and was altogether a
brackish and dirty mixture, nevertheless they drank it with as much
relish as if it had been clear spring water.

"Now, boy, turn in," said Gaff earnestly; "you'll need all the sleep ye
can git, for, if I know the signs of the sky, we'll have more wind afore
long."

Poor Billy was too tired to make any objec