"The only chance is between that and the water."

"Dat's so," said Ike, solemnly.

"Too muchee watel, too lillee glub; no likee dis fix belly muchee," said Wah Shin.

"You must try and rest as best you can," said Sam. "Ulna and I will take turns in steering the raft."

"All night, Mistah Sam?"

"Yes, Ike, all night."

"Den you done lost faith in dis chile?"

"I have not. Why do you ask?"

"Coz, Mistah Sam, I ain't agoin' to sleep while you weah yorself out. I may be purty mean, but I ain't nigh so mean as dat. I ken steer in de dark as well as de next man, an' I'm agoin' fer to try, if so be you don't objeck."

"Me, too; allee same like Ike. Me no steels so well likee me cookee, but I tly, too," said Wah Shin.

"I am glad to see, boys," said Sam, feeling stronger for the spirit shown by his two most dependent companions, "that you are willing to do your part. If we come out all right, as I believe we shall, it will be because we never felt like giving up."

"Dem's my sentiments," said Ike, heartily.

"Me say allee same likee dat," joined in Wah Shin, who showed that he was coming out strong as their trials increased.

Ulna spoke not a word, but in the dim and fading light his dark face glowed with a pride and pleasure more eloquent in its expression than words.

To show that he appreciated their efforts, and with the belief that it would be better for all, if each was made to feel that he had an important share of the responsibility on his shoulders, Sam decided that they should take turns in steering during the night, in the same order that they would if on guard.

These arrangements were hardly completed when the impenetrable darkness, to which no mortal with eyes could ever grow accustomed, came down on the canon.

Sam had matches in a water-proof case, and with the help of these and his watch they were enabled to mark the hours during that long, dreary night.

During the watches of heavy, painful darkness, the raft swept swiftly and silently on, meeting with no mishap but giving to its occupants the impression that they were falling down, down through the depths of a rayless and fathomless s.p.a.ce.

When it became light enough to see the next morning, Sam noticed that all his companions looked older, and he reasoned that this was due to hunger, mental anxiety and want of sleep.

Even in the days of plenty, Ike was always ready to eat, and, as we have seen, the desire for more food was ever on his mind, from the hour when Sam thought it prudent to limit the rations.

From the moment it was light enough to see he kept his eyes fastened on the little bag containing their remaining stock of provisions. It was evident, from the expression of his mouth, that he was trying to restrain his feelings, but unable to resist, he at length exclaimed:

"See heah, Mistah Sam!"

"What is it, Ike?" asked Sam, who already guessed what was coming.

"How does yeh feel 'bout dis time?"

"Pretty well, Ike; how are you?"

"I'ze mighty holler!" groaned Ike, and he pressed his hand over his belt and bent himself forward in a most comical way.

"Hungry, Ike?"

"Hungry!" repeated Ike, "dat ar' word don't nigh begin foh to 'spress jest how I feel."

"Cheer up, Ike; we'll find a landing-place presently, and then we'll have something hot."

"W'en a feller's as holler an' hungry as I am, he ain't so mighty partickler whedder do grub's hot or cole. De question wif him is, is dar enough to fill up all de emptiness."

"Very true, Ike--"

Sam's sentence was cut short by an exclamation from Ulna, who had risen to his feet and was pointing to a line of sh.o.r.e on the left, where grew a cl.u.s.ter of stunted bushes.

They succeeded in getting the raft to this point and made a landing without any difficulty.

Here they found a great quant.i.ty of drift-wood, and Wah Shin and Ike started a fire while Sam and Ulna, with an eye to the future, selected some stout pieces of timber with which to strengthen their raft.

"Don't you t'ink," asked Ike as he pointed to their little stock of food, "dat dar ain't no use in makin' two bites ob a cherry?"

"Why do you ask that, Ike?"

"Coz, dar ain't more'n nuff grub dar foh one right-down, honest, squar meal, an' if us was to eat it, we'd all feel a heap sight bettah."

"But the future, Ike?"

"Wa'al, sah, I ain't hungry in de futah; Ize hungry right jest now at dis bressed minute."

"Me feel allee same like dat," said Wah Shin.

As this was exactly how Sam and the uncomplaining Ulna felt, the former gave orders to warm up all the food and divide it into five shares, one of which was to be for Maj.

They had a good supply of coffee left and a few pounds of bread with a like quant.i.ty of meat.

We shall not attempt to describe that feast. Only those who have long endured the pangs of hunger can appreciate it.

Each one rose from the banquet much relieved and refreshed, and in their enjoyment of the present they quite lost sight of the fact that their last particle of food was gone.

CHAPTER XVI.-DANGER AHEAD.

After their last hearty meal, which finished up the provisions, Sam Willett and his friends felt better, stronger and warmer than they had since the beginning of this wonderful voyage.

It is one of the blessings and charms of youth that while it enjoys the present and antic.i.p.ates the happiness of the future, it steadily ignores all thoughts of coming afflictions.

Ike was boisterous in his hilarity; he danced about the fire, as if "the squar meal" had had an intoxicating effect on him; and, at length, unable to restrain himself, he burst into the following s.n.a.t.c.h from an old plantation song: