DECEMBER 8 to 17.—When night came we wrapped ourselves in our sails. For my own part, worn out with the fatigue¹ of the long watch in the top-mast, I slept for several hours; M. Letourneur and Andre did the same, and Miss Herbey obtained sufficient rest to relieve the tired expression that her countenance² had lately being wearing. The night passed quietly. As the raft was not very heavily laden³ the waves did not break over it at all, and we were consequently able to keep ourselves perfectly⁴ dry. To say the truth, it was far better for us that the sea should remain somewhat boisterous⁵, for any diminution⁶ in the swell⁷ of the waves would indicate that the wind had dropped, and it was with a feeling of regret that when the morning came I had to note down "weather calm" in my journal.
 
In these low latitudes⁸ the heat in the day-time is so intense, and the sun burns with such an incessant⁹ glare, that the entire atmosphere becomes pervaded¹⁰ with a glowing vapor¹¹. The wind, too, blows only in fitful gusts¹², and through long intervals¹³ of perfect calm the sails flap idly and uselessly against the mast. Curtis and the boatswain, however, are of opinion that we are not entirely¹⁴ dependent on the wind. Certain indications, which a sailor's eye alone could detect, make them almost sure that we are being carried along by a westerly current, that flows at the rate of three or four miles an hour. If they are not mistaken, this is a circumstance that may materially assist our progress, and at which we can hardly fail to rejoice, for the high temperature often makes our scanty¹⁵ allowance of water quite inadequate¹⁷ to allay¹⁸ our thirst.
 
But with all our hardships I must confess that our condition is far preferable to what it was when we were still clinging to the Chancellor¹⁹. Here at least we have a comparatively solid platform beneath our feet, and we are relieved from the incessant dread²⁰ of being carried down with a foundering²¹ vessel²². In the day time we can move about with a certain amount of freedom, discuss the weather, watch the sea, and examine our fishing-lines; while at night we can rest securely under the shelter of our sails.
 
"I really think, Mr. Kazallon," said Andre Letourneur to me a few days after we had embarked²³, "that our time on board the raft passes as pleasantly as it did upon Ham Rock; and the raft has one advantage even over the reef, for it is capable of motion."
 
"Yes, Andre," I replied, "as long as the wind continues favorable the raft has decidedly the advantage; but supposing the wind shifts; what then?"
 
"Oh, we mustn't think about that," he said; "let us keep up our courage while we can."
 
I felt that he was right, and that the dangers we had escaped should make us more hopeful for the future; and I think that nearly all of us are inclined to share his opinion.
 
Whether the captain is equally sanguine²⁴ I am unable to say. He holds himself very much aloof²⁵, and as he evidently feels that he has the great responsibility of saving other lives than his own, we are reluctant to disturb his silent meditations²⁶.
 
Such of the crew as are not on watch spend the greater portion of their time in dozing²⁷ on the fore²⁸ part of the raft. The aft, by the captain's orders, has been reserved for the use of us passengers, and by erecting²⁹ some uprights we have

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