TEN DAYS IN THE BOATS. 
397 
1852.] 
masts, and rigged our sails, and, bidding adieu to the 
still burning wreck of our ship, went gaily bounding 
along before a light east wind. And then pencils and 
books were hunted out, and our course and distance to 
Bermuda calculated ; and we found that this, the near- 
est point of land in the vast waste of waters round us, 
was at least seven hundred miles away. But still we 
went on full of hope, for the wind was fair, and we 
! reckoned that, if it did not change, we might make a 
hundred miles a day, and so in seven days reach the 
longed-for haven. 
: As we had supped but scantily the night before, we 
I had now good appetites, and got out our ham and pork, 
i biscuit and wine and water, and made a very hearty 
' meal, finding that even uncooked meat was not to be 
despised where no fire could be got to cook it with. 
I The day was fine and warm, and the floating seaweed 
called Gulf-weed was pretty abundant. The boats still 
: required almost incessant baling, and though we did 
: not ship many seas, yet there was quite enough spray 
I to keep us constantly wet. At night we got a rope fas- 
1 
tened to the long-boat, for her to tow^s, in order that 
we might not get separated; but as we sailed pretty 
equally, we kept both sails up. We passed a tolerable 
night under the circumstances. The next day, the 8th, 
was fine, gulf-weed still floated plentifully by us, and 
there were numerous flying-fish, some of which fell into 
our boats, and others flew an immense distance over the 
waves. 1 now found my hands and face very much blis- 
tered by the sun, and exceedingly sore and painful. At 
night two boobies, large dusky sea-birds with very long 
