138

THE HOUR OF REST.

we will go and look for a place to lie down and pass the night."

They returned to the high ground where the cocoa-nut grove ended, and collecting together several branches and piles of leaves, made a good soft bed under the trees.

"And now we'll have a little water, and go to bed. Look, Master William, at the long shadow of the trees! the sun has nearly set."

"Shall I give the dogs some water now, Ready? see, poor Remus is licking the sides of the bottles."

No, do not give them any it appears to be cruel, but I want the intelligence of the poor animals to-morrow, and the want of water will make them very keen, and we shall turn it to good account. So now, William, we must not forget to return thanks to a merciful God, and to beg His care over us for this night we little know what the day may bring forth. Could you ever have imagined, a month back, that you would be on this island in company with an old man like me, sleeping in the open air? If any one had told you so, you would never have believed it yet here you are, William, and you see how He disposeth of us as He thinks proper. Good night, sir!"

WILLIAM slept as sound as if he had been on shore in England upon a soft bed in a warm roomso did old Ready, and when they awoke the next morning it was broad daylight. The poor dogs were suffering for want of water, and it pained William very much to see them with their tongues out, panting and whining as they looked up to him. "Now, Master William," said Ready, "shall

140

SEARCH FOR WATER.

we take our breakfast before we start, or have a walk first?"

Ready, I cannot really drink a drop of water myself, and I am thirsty, unless you give a little to these poor dogs."

"I pity the poor dumb creatures as much as you do, Master Willy; depend upon it, it's not out of unkindness; on the contrary, it is kindness to ourselves and them too, which makes me refuse it to them; however, if you like, we will take a walk first, and see if we can find any water. Let us first go to the little dell to the right, and if we do not succeed, we will try farther on where the water has run down during the rainy season." William was very glad to go, and away they went, followed by the dogs, Ready having taken up the spade, which he carried on his shoulder. They soon came to the dell, and the dogs put their noses to the ground, and snuffed about; Ready watched them; at last they lay down panting.

"Let us go on, sir," said Ready thoughtfully; they went on to where the run of water appeared to have been the dogs snuffed about more eagerly than before.

"You see, Master William, these poor dogs are now so eager for water, that if there is any, they

SAGACITY OF DOGS.

141

will find it out where we never could. I don't expect water above ground, but there may be some below it. This beach is hardly far enough from the water's edge, or I should try in the sand for it." but would it not be salt?"

"In the sand! replied William.

No, not if at a good distance from the seabeach, for you see, William, the sand by degrees filters the sea-water fresh, and very often when the sand runs in a long way from the high-water mark, if you dig down, you will find good fresh water, at other times it is a little brackish, but still fit for use. I wish that this fact were better known among seamen than it is, it would have saved many a poor fellow from a great deal of agony. There's nothing so dreadful as being without water, Master William. I know what it is to be on an allowance of half a pint a day, and I assure you it is cruel work."

"Look, Ready, at Romulus and Remus how hard they are digging with their paws there in the hollow."

"Thanks to Heaven that they are, Master William ; you don't know how happy you have made me feel; for, to tell you the truth, I was beginning to be alarmed."

appear to me that the water was not broken close to this point; and should there be a passage we shall be very fortunate."

They soon arrived at the end of the point of land, and found that Ready was not wrong in his supposition; the water was deep, even close to the beach, and there was a passage of many yards wide. The sea was so smooth, and the water so clear, that they could see down to the rocky bottom, and watched the fish as they darted along. "Look there," said Willy, pointing out, about fifty yards from the beach, “a great shark, Ready."

"Yes, I see him, sir," replied Ready: "there's plenty of them here, depend upon it; and you must be very careful how you get into the water here: the sharks always keep to the leeward of the island, and for one you'll find where Juno bathed your little brother, you will find fifty here. I'm quite satisfied now, William, we shall do very well, and all we have now to think of is moving away from the other side of the island as fast as possible."

"Shall we go back to-day?"

"Yes, I think so, for we shall only be idle here, and your mother is anxious about you, depend upon it. It is not twelve o'clock, I should think,