LOSS OF THE MAGPIE. 215 
oy its side in seeming anxiety for their prey; but, after wait- 
ing some time, they separated — ^the two rescued seamen found 
themselves free from their insatiable enemies, and, by the 
blessing of God, saved. Tired as they were, they continued 
their labor until the boat was nearly dry, when both lay down 
to rest, the one forward, and the other aft. So completely had 
fear operated on their minds, that they did not dare even to 
move, dreading that an incautious step might again have cap- 
sized the boat. They soon, in spite of the horrors they had 
v/itnessed, fell into a sound sleep, and day had dawned before 
they awoke to horrible reflections, and apparently worse 
dangers. 
The sun rose clear and unclouded; the cool calm of the 
night was followed by the sultry calm of the morning ; and 
heat and hunger, thirst and fatigue, seemed to settle on the 
unfortunate men, rescued by Providence and their own exer- 
tions from the jaws of a horrible death. They awoke and 
looked at each other — the very gaze of despair was appalling. 
Far as the eye could reach, no object could be discerned ; 
the bright haze of the morning added to the strong refraction 
of light: one smooth interminable plain, one endless ocean, 
one cloudless sky, and one burning sun, were all they had to 
gaze upon. The boat lay like the ark — in a world alone ! 
The^f had no oar, no mast, no sail — nothing but the bare 
planks, and themselves, without provisions or water, food or 
raiment ; they lay upon the calm ocean, hopeless, friendless, 
miserable. It was a time of intense anxiety; their eyes rest- 
ed upon each other in silent pity, not unmixed with fear ; 
each knew the dreadful alternative to which nature would 
urge them : the cannibal u-as already in their looks, and fear- 
ful would have been the first attack on either side, for they 
were both brave and stout men, and equals in strength and 
courage. 
••'Tis a bad business this, Tom," said the man on the bow 
— ^'a very bad business, indeed; I think I am sorry I was 
not eaten by the sharks with the rest of the poor fellows, and 
then I should never have known the misery of this moment." 
" I have been," replied Jack, " in many a heavy squall be- 
fore now ; but I never felt such a gale as this ; no hope, Tom, 
none ! Here we are, doomed to die of thirst and hunger ! — 
nothing to eat, you know, Tom — nothing !" The word " no- 
thing" was repeated by Tom, who afterward continued the 
conversation : — " Well, bo}^ many's the ship that passes 
through the Gulf of Florida, and which must come nearly 
