238 TEE CRUISE OF TEE " CACEALOT." 



of rain. It filled the cavity in the whale's side in a 

 twinkling; and though the water was greasy, stained 

 with blood, and vilely flavoured, it was as welcome a drink 

 as I have ever tasted. Thus fed, and with our thirst 

 slaked, we were able to take a more hopeful view of 

 things, while the prospect of our being found seemed 

 much more probable than it had done before the rain fell. 



Still, we had to endure our pillory for a long while 

 yet. The sharks and birds began to worry us, especially 

 the former, who in their eagerness to get a portion of 

 the blubber fought, writhed, and tore at the carcass with 

 tireless energy. Once, one of the smaller ones actually 

 came sliding up right into our hollow ; but Samuela and 

 Polly promptly dispatched him with a cut throat, sending 

 him back to encourage the others. The present relieved 

 us of most of their attentions for a short time at least, as 

 they eagerly divided the remains of their late comrade 

 among them. 



To while away the time we spun yarns — without much 

 point, I am afraid ; and sung songs, albeit we did not feel 

 much like singing — till after a while our poor attempts 

 at gaiety fizzled out like a damp match, leaving us silent 

 and depressed. The sun, which had been hidden for 

 some time, now came out again, his slanting beams 

 revealing to us ominously the flight of time and the 

 near approach of night. Should darkness overtake us 

 in our present position, we all felt that saving us would 

 need the performance of a miracle ; for in addition to tho 

 chances of the accumulated gases within the carcass 

 bursting it asunder, the unceasing assault of the sharks 

 made it highly doubtful whether they would not in a 

 few hours more have devoured it piecemeal. Already 

 they had scooped out some deep furrows in the solid 



