Part 37 (1/2)
”If we could e to construct such a still as our friend the Aht obtain fresh water,” observed Tom
”I'm sure I don't know exactly hoas done,” answered Desmond, ”but I ree it if any one on board understands blacksest tea-kettle on board; the chief difficulty will be the condenser”
When, however, Tohed at him, and declared that he could not do it if he tried, as there was no blacks up made it less necessary for Tom to try his experiment, and the skipper asserted that the water would hold out until they could get into Sydney He was, however, all this ti much further to the eastward than was necessary Toreed that he was not aware how far off he was froh he would find out his mistake when he cae was over,” exclai to tell, though he had wonderfully withstood the long journey across the country ”I shall be losing the nu doesn't ”
There seeed Now the as contrary, now it again fell cal seldom made more than five or six knots an hour The heat of the cabin was such that the er than they could help, and ht was spent on deck The skipper, on the contrary, seemed seasoned to any aht, after a supper of hard, cold, salt beef, which they could only eat by cutting it into the thinnest of slices--mouldy biscuit, rum and muddy water--they went on deck, where they found Casey and Peter, who had been taking athe watch, the rest of the creere below
”Any chance of our getting in, sir?” asked Casey of Tom ”It is pretty well ti to learn what quantity of water we have got on board As far as I can allon at the ues moist for more than a couple of days”
”I doubt whether the master himself is aware of this,” said Toht to have put all hands on an allowance before this Heof thirst before we drop anchor in Sydney harbour”
The brig was at this ti little way Suddenly her sails gave a loud flap against theto have another calm, I fear,” said Desmond
”I' the sky, and it see over it I've observed a dark bank rising rapidly to the southward and eastward
Look, sir, you cannot see a star in that quarter If I was the mate, I'd shorten sail at once”
Tom and Desmond took a survey of the horizon in the quarter to which Casey was pointing The bank was rising rapidly; it looked, indeed, as if a dark curtain was being drawn over the sky
”I'll point it out to theaft, Tom found thea look-out, he was fast asleep Tom roused him up, and pointed out the appearance of the sky
”I don't think it's anything,” he observed, rubbing his eyes
”It is, though,” cried Tom ”Listen to that roar”
At thatstreak of white was seen extending from east to south-west across the ocean
”Turn the hands up! shorten sail!” cried Tom
Theto the main-topsail halyards, Casey and Peter to the fore-topsail; but alo, a fierce blast struck the brig In vain the mate tried to put the helm up Over she heeled more and more, until the yardarms touched the water Tom and Desmond seized hold of Billy, who had just before dropped off to sleep, and scrambled up to the weather bulwarks
Casey and Peter had been doing the sa was on her beas of the hatchway
Believing that the brig was going over, the ot on to the outside of the bulwarks, holding on to the main-chains As the lee side of the sails was already under water, there was no probability that the brig would rise again Every o down Their position was truly a fearful one
The mate and the man at the helm had apparently slipped off into the water, as they were nowhere visible Of the twothe bulwarks, the other had probably shared the fate of the ain the deck, they were probably drowned in their berths Although the main hatchas closed, the fore and companion hatches were open
The wind howled over the doo up The midshi+pmen believed that she must quickly founder and their fate be sealed
”We have gone through ether,” said Tom, to Desmond; ”but I believe our time has come at last I wish my brother Jack could have known our fate He will be very sorry for us, and so will those at home”
”It cannot be helped,” said Deser, and we are better off than the poor fellows drowning in their berths”
”What! Do you think the brig is going down?” cried Billy ”Dearto float upon?”