A CRUISE IN A WHALEBOAT. 235 



of Madagascar, which would be visible at day- 

 light. But to make our escape doubly secure, we 

 continued pulling for some hours longer, not 

 knowing but that our captain would pursue us 

 with the ship. 



" Daylight disclosed to us the land of Madagas- 

 jur ahead, and as no pursuers appeared, we ship- 

 ped in our oars, and stood along under sail 

 pleasantly enough. The morning was bright a ad 

 calm, with a good breeze, and as we skimmd 

 along over the water, and began to realize that 

 after two years of subjection we were once more 

 our own masters, we felt light-hearted and equal 

 to any emergency. The wound of our steersman 

 proved to be slight, a mere scratch, which would 

 not trouble him. 



" It now became necessary to take a cool survey 

 of our position and resources. It had been deter- 

 mined beforehand, that we should sail along the 

 western shore of Madagascar until we judged our- 

 selves abreast of Mozambique, and then bold'y 

 stand across the channel, which is just there at 

 the narrowest, being not more than two hundred 

 miles wide. By actual count of our biscuits, we 

 found that we had sufficient to last us, on a mode- 

 rate allowance, for three weeks. Of water we had 

 enough for ten days, we judged, but of this, as we 

 were to sail along shore, we hoped to procure a 

 supply before we were entirely destitute. 



"Two of our number could navigate, and we 

 bad with us a quadrant, a Bowditch, and a sraaiJ 



