PEBILO US CONDITION OF THE SUM VIVORS 181 



and fatigued: they looked around themj an unbroken 

 ocean, a cloudless sky, and a burning sun were all that were 

 within their view. They began to think of the only re- 

 source remaining for either — to kill his comrade and devour 

 his flesh. They were men of equal strength, and both had 

 knives. Each, however, seemed unwilling to resort to this 

 horrible expedient except in the last extremity. The man 

 at the stern (for they had separated from each other, in mu- 

 tual apprehension, by nearly the whole length of the keel) 

 knelt down and prayed, and his comrade followed his ex- 

 ample. 



As the morning went on they suffered intensely from 

 thirst, and aggravated their sufferings by attempting to 

 allay it with salt water. The madness of despair was begin- 

 ning to develop itself in one of them when a sail appeared 

 in sight, which afterwards proved to be a brig steering 

 towards them. One flung his jacket in the air, while the 

 other hailed again and again, and sometimes both hailed 

 together, although the brig was at such a distance that it 

 was not possible their cries would be heard. She approached 

 nearer and nearer, and so riveted were their minds on the 

 brig that hunger and thirst were forgotten in the excite- 

 ment of hope. The people on board the ship appeared to 

 notice them, but just as they had reason to think that such 

 was the case, she changed her course and hoisted additional 

 sail. Still they attempted to gain their attention, and at- 

 tempted to propel the boat with their hands; but all was in 

 vain; the ship was becoming every moment more distant, 

 and their chance of release from such a horrible condition, 

 'of course, fainter. 



At this moment one of the sailors conceived the bold 

 project of swimming to the brig, which was by this time 

 two miles and a half from them. His comrade remonstrated 

 with him, so wild and hopeless did the undertaking appear 

 to him,' especially as the fins of sharks were seen here and 



