Herefollowswhathetoldme：
'AlongtimeagoIwasayoungartist——averyyoungartist，infact——andIwanderedaboutthecountrypartsofFrance，sketchinghereandsketchingthere，andwaspresentlyjoinedbyacoupleofdarlingyoungFrenchmenwhowereatthesamekindofthingthatIwasdoing。Wewereashappyaswewerepoor，oraspooraswewerehappy——phraseittosuityourself。ClaudeFrereandCarlBoulanger——thesearethenamesofthoseboys；dear，dearfellows，andthesunniestspiritsthateverlaughedatpovertyandhadanoblegoodtimeinallweathers。
'AtlastweranhardagroundinaBretonvillage，andanartistaspoorasourselvestookusinandliterallysavedusfromstarving——FrancoisMillet——'
'What！thegreatFrancoisMillet？'
'Great？Hewasn'tanygreaterthanwewere，then。Hehadn'tanyfame，eveninhisownvillage；andhewassopoorthathehadn'tanythingtofeedusonbutturnips，andeventheturnipsfailedussometimes。Wefourbecamefastfriends，dotingfriends，inseparables。Wepaintedawaytogetherwithallourmight，pilingupstock，pilingupstock，butveryseldomgettingridofanyofit。Wehadlovelytimestogether；but，Omysoul！howwewerepinchednowandthen！
'Foralittleovertwoyearsthiswenton。Atlast，oneday，Claudesaid：
'"Boys，we'vecometotheend。Doyouunderstandthat？——absolutelytotheend。Everybodyhasstruck——there'saleagueformedagainstus。I'vebeenallaroundthevillageandit'sjustasItellyou。Theyrefusetocreditusforanothercentimeuntilalltheoddsandendsarepaidup。"
'Thisstruckusascold。Everyfacewasblankwithdismay。Werealisedthatourcircumstancesweredesperate，now。Therewasalongsilence。
Finally，Milletsaidwithasigh：
'"Nothingoccurstome——nothing。Suggestsomething，lads。"
'Therewasnoresponse，unlessamournfulsilencemaybecalledaresponse。Carlgotup，andwalkednervouslyupanddownawhile，thensaid：
'"It'sashame！Lookatthesecanvases：stacksandstacksofasgoodpicturesasanybodyinEuropepaints——Idon'tcarewhoheis。Yes，andplentyofloungingstrangershavesaidthesame——ornearlythat，anyway。"
'"Butdidn'tbuy，"Milletsaid。
'"Nomatter，theysaidit；andit'strue，too。Lookatyour'Angelus'
there！Willanybodytellme——"
'"Pah，Carl——My'Angelus！'Iwasofferedfivefrancsforit。"
'"When？"
'"Whoofferedit？"
'"Whereishe？"
'"Whydidn'tyoutakeit？"
'"Come——don'tallspeakatonce。Ithoughthewouldgivemore——Iwassureofit——helookedit——soIaskedhimeight。"
'"Well——andthen？"
'"Hesaidhewouldcallagain。"
'"Thunderandlightning！Why，Francois——"
'"Oh，Iknow——Iknow！Itwasamistake，andIwasafool。Boys，Imeantforthebest；you'llgrantmethat，andI——"
'"Why，certainly，weknowthat，blessyourdearheart；butdon'tyoubeafoolagain。"
'"I？Iwishsomebodywouldcomealongandofferusacabbageforit——
you'dsee！"
'"Acabbage！Oh，don'tnameit——itmakesmymouthwater。Talkofthingslesstrying。"
'"Boys，"saidCarl，"dothesepictureslackmerit？Answermethat。"
'"No！"
'"Aren'ttheyofverygreatandhighmerit？Answermethat。"
'"Yes。"
'"Ofsuchgreatandhighmeritthat，ifanillustriousnamewereattachedtothemtheywouldsellatsplendidprices。Isn'titso？"
'"Certainlyitis。Nobodydoubtsthat。"
'"But——I'mnotjoking——isn'titso？"
'"Why，ofcourseit'sso——andwearenotjoking。Butwhatofit。Whatofit？Howdoesthatconcernus？"
'"Inthisway，comrades——we'llattachanillustriousnametothem！"
'Thelivelyconversationstopped。ThefaceswereturnedinquiringlyuponCarl。Whatsortofriddlemightthisbe？Wherewasanillustriousnametobeborrowed？Andwhowastoborrowit？
'Carlsatdown，andsaid：
'"Now，Ihaveaperfectlyseriousthingtopropose。Ithinkitistheonlywaytokeepusoutofthealmshouse，andIbelieveittobeaperfectlysureway。Ibasethisopinionuponcertainmultitudinousandlong-establishedfactsinhumanhistory。Ibelievemyprojectwillmakeusallrich。"
'"Rich！You'velostyourmind。"
'"No，Ihaven't。"
'"Yes，youhave——you'velostyourmind。Whatdoyoucallrich？"
'"Ahundredthousandfrancsapiece。"
'"Hehaslosthismind。Iknewit。"
'"Yes，hehas。Carl，privationhasbeentoomuchforyou，and——"
'"Carl，youwanttotakeapillandgetrighttobed。"
'"Bandagehimfirst——bandagehishead，andthen——"
'"No，bandagehisheels；hisbrainshavebeensettlingforweeks——I'venoticedit。"
'"Shutup！"saidMillet，withostensibleseverity，"andlettheboyhavehissay。Now，then——comeoutwithyourproject，Carl。Whatisit？"
'"Well，then，bywayofpreambleIwillaskyoutonotethisfactinhumanhistory：thatthemeritofmanyagreatartisthasneverbeenacknowledgeduntilafterhewasstarvedanddead。ThishashappenedsooftenthatImakeboldtofoundalawuponit。Thislaw：thatthemeritofeverygreatunknownandneglectedartistmustandwillberecognisedandhispicturesclimbtohighpricesafterhisdeath。Myprojectisthis：wemustcastlots——oneofusmustdie。"
'Theremarkfellsocalmlyandsounexpectedlythatwealmostforgottojump。Thentherewasawildchorusofadviceagain——medicaladvice——forthehelpofCarl'sbrain；buthewaitedpatientlyforthehilaritytocalmdown，andthenwentonagainwithhisproject：
'"Yes，oneofusmustdie，tosavetheothers——andhimself。Wewillcastlots。Theonechosenshallbeillustrious，allofusshallberich。
Holdstill，now——holdstill；don'tinterrupt——ItellyouIknowwhatIamtalkingabout。Hereistheidea。Duringthenextthreemonthstheonewhoistodieshallpaintwithallhismight，enlargehisstockallhecan——notpictures，no！skeletonsketches，studies，partsofstudies，fragmentsofstudies，adozendabsofthebrushoneach——meaningless，ofcourse，buthis，withhiscipheronthem；turnoutfiftyaday，eachtocontainsomepeculiarityormannerismeasilydetectableashis——they'rethethingsthatsell，youknow，andarecollectedatfabulouspricesfortheworld'smuseums，afterthegreatmanisgone；we'llhaveatonofthemready——aton！Andallthattimetherestofuswillbebusysupportingthemoribund，andworkingParisandthedealers——preparationsforthecomingevent，youknow；andwheneverythingishotandjustright，we'llspringthedeathonthemandhavethenotoriousfuneral。
Yougettheidea？"
'"N-o；atleast，notqu——"
'"Notquite？Don'tyousee？Themandoesn'treallydie；hechangeshisnameandvanishes；weburyadummy，andcryoverit，withalltheworldtohelp。AndI——"
'Buthewasn'tallowedtofinish。Everybodybrokeoutintoarousinghurrahofapplause；andalljumpedupandcaperedabouttheroomandfelloneachother'snecksintransportsofgratitudeandjoy。Forhourswetalkedoverthegreatplan，withouteverfeelinghungry；andatlast，whenallthedetailshadbeenarrangedsatisfactorily，wecastlotsandMilletwaselected——electedtodie，aswecalledit。Thenwescrapedtogetherthosethingswhichoneneverpartswithuntilheisbettingthemagainstfuturewealth——keepsaketrinketsandsuchlike——andthesewepawnedforenoughtofurnishusafrugalfarewellsupperandbreakfast，andleaveusafewfrancsoverfortravel，andastakeofturnipsandsuchforMillettoliveonforafewdays。
'Nextmorning，early，thethreeofusclearedout，straightwayafterbreakfast——onfoot，ofcourse。EachofuscarriedadozenofMillet'ssmallpictures，purposingtomarketthem。CarlstruckforParis，wherehewouldstarttheworkofbuildingupMillet'snameagainstthecominggreatday。ClaudeandIweretoseparate，andscatterabroadoverFrance。
'Now，itwillsurpriseyoutoknowwhataneasyandcomfortablethingwehad。IwalkedtwodaysbeforeIbeganbusiness。ThenIbegantosketchavillaintheoutskirtsofabigtown——becauseIsawtheproprietorstandingonanupperveranda。Hecamedowntolookon——Ithoughthewould。Iworkedswiftly，intendingtokeephiminterested。Occasionallyhefiredoffalittleejaculationofapprobation，andby-and-byhespokeupwithenthusiasm，andsaidIwasamaster！
'Iputdownmybrush，reachedintomysatchel，fetchedoutaMillet，andpointedtothecipherinthecorner。Isaid，proudly：
'"Isupposeyourecognisethat？Well，hetaughtme！IshouldthinkI
oughttoknowmytrade！"
'Themanlookedguiltilyembarrassed，andwassilent。Isaidsorrowfully：
'"Youdon'tmeantointimatethatyoudon'tknowthecipherofFrancoisMillet！"
'Ofcoursehedidn'tknowthatcipher；buthewasthegratefullestmanyoueversaw，justthesame，forbeingletoutofanuncomfortableplaceonsucheasyterms。Hesaid：
'"No！Why，itisMillet's，sureenough！Idon'tknowwhatIcouldhavebeenthinkingof。OfcourseIrecogniseitnow。"
'Next，hewantedtobuyit；butIsaidthatalthoughIwasn'trichI
wasn'tthatpoor。However，atlast，Ilethimhaveitforeighthundredfrancs。'
'Eighthundred！'
'Yes。Milletwouldhavesolditforaporkchop。Yes，Igoteighthundredfrancsforthatlittlething。IwishIcouldgetitbackforeightythousand。Butthattime'sgoneby。Imadeaverynicepictureofthatman'shouseandIwantedtoofferittohimfortenfrancs，butthatwouldn'tanswer，seeingIwasthepupilofsuchamaster，soIsoldittohimforahundred。IsenttheeighthundredfrancsstraighttoMilletfromthattownandstruckoutagainnextday。
'ButIdidn'twalk——no。Irode。Ihaveriddeneversince。Isoldonepictureeveryday，andnevertriedtoselltwo。Ialwayssaidtomycustomer：
'"IamafooltosellapictureofFrancoisMillet'satall，forthatmanisnotgoingtolivethreemonths，andwhenhedieshispicturescan'tbehadforloveormoney。"
'ItookcaretospreadthatlittlefactasfarasIcould，andpreparetheworldfortheevent。
'Itakecredittomyselfforourplanofsellingthepictures——itwasmine。Isuggesteditthatlasteveningwhenwewerelayingoutourcampaign，andallthreeofusagreedtogiveitagoodfairtrialbeforegivingitupforsomeother。Itsucceededwithallofus。Iwalkedonlytwodays，Claudewalkedtwo——bothofafraidtomakeMilletcelebratedtooclosetohome——butCarlwalkedonlyhalfaday，thebright，consciencelessrascal，andafterthathetravelledlikeaduke。
'Everynowandthenwegotinwithacountryeditorandstartedanitemaroundthroughthepress；notanitemannouncingthatanewpainterhadbeendiscovered，butanitemwhichletonthateverybodyknewFrancoisMillet；notanitempraisinghiminanyway，butmerelyawordconcerningthepresentconditionofthe"master"——sometimeshopeful，sometimesdespondent，butalwaystingedwithfearsfortheworst。Wealwaysmarkedtheseparagraphs，andsentthepaperstoallthepeoplewhohadboughtpicturesofus。
'CarlwassooninParisandheworkedthingswithahighhand。Hemadefriendswiththecorrespondents，andgotMillet'sconditionreportedtoEnglandandalloverthecontinent，andAmerica，andeverywhere。
'Attheendofsixweeksfromthestart，wethreemetinParisandcalledahalt，andstoppedsendingbacktoMilletforadditionalpictures。Theboomwassohigh，andeverythingsoripe，thatwesawthatitwouldbeamistakenottostrikenow，rightaway，withoutwaitinganylonger。SowewroteMillettogotobedandbegintowasteawayprettyfast，forweshouldlikehimtodieintendaysifhecouldgetready。
'Thenwefiguredupandfoundthatamonguswehadsoldeighty-fivesmallpicturesandstudies，andhadsixty-ninethousandfrancstoshowforit。
Carlhadmadethelastsaleandthemostbrilliantoneofall。Hesoldthe"Angelus"fortwenty-twohundredfrancs。Howwedidglorifyhim！——
notforeseeingthatadaywascomingby-and-bywhenFrancewouldstruggletoownitandastrangerwouldcaptureitforfivehundredandfiftythousand，cash。
'Wehadawind-upchampagnesupperthatnight，andnextdayClaudeandI
packedupandwentofftonurseMilletthroughhislastdaysandkeepbusybodiesoutofthehouseandsenddailybulletinstoCarlinParisforpublicationinthepapersofseveralcontinentsfortheinformationofawaitingworld。Thesadendcameatlast，andCarlwasthereintimetohelpinthefinalmournfulrites。
'Yourememberthatgreatfuneral，andwhatastiritmadeallovertheglobe，andhowtheillustriousoftwoworldscametoattenditandtestifytheirsorrow。Wefour——stillinseparable——carriedthecoffin，andwouldallownonetohelp。Andwewererightaboutthat，becauseithadn'tanythinginitbutawaxfigure，andanyothercoffin-bearerswouldhavefoundfaultwiththeweight。Yes，wesameoldfour，whohadlovinglysharedprivationtogetherintheoldhardtimesnowgoneforever，carriedthecof——'
'Whichfour？'
'Wefour——forMillethelpedtocarryhisowncoffin。Indisguise，youknow。Disguisedasarelative——distantrelative。'
'Astonishing！'
'Buttruejustthesame。Well，yourememberhowthepictureswentup。
Money？Wedidn'tknowwhattodowithit。there'samaninParisto-daywhoownsseventyMilletpictures。Hepaidustwomillionfrancsforthem。AndasforthebushelsofsketchesandstudieswhichMilletshovelledoutduringthesixweeksthatwewereontheroad，well，itwouldastonishyoutoknowthefigurewesellthematnowadays——thatis，whenweconsenttoletonego！'
'Itisawonderfulhistory，perfectlywonderful！'
'Yes——itamountstothat。'
'WhateverbecameofMillet？'
'Canyoukeepasecret？'
'Ican。'
'DoyourememberthemanIcalledyourattentiontointhediningroomto-day？ThatwasFrancoisMillet。'
'Great——'
'Scott！Yes。Foroncetheydidn'tstarveageniustodeathandthenputintootherpocketstherewardsheshouldhavehadhimself。Thissong-birdwasnotallowedtopipeoutitsheartunheardandthenbepaidwiththecoldpompofabigfuneral。Welookedoutforthat。'
MYDEBUTASALITERARYPERSON
InthoseearlydaysIhadalreadypublishedonelittlething'TheJumpingFrog'inanEasternpaper，butIdidnotconsiderthatthatcounted。Inmyview，apersonwhopublishedthingsinamerenewspapercouldnotproperlyclaimrecognitionasaLiteraryPerson：hemustriseawayabovethat；hemustappearinamagazine。HewouldthenbeaLiteraryPerson；also，hewouldbefamous——rightaway。Thesetwoambitionswerestronguponme。Thiswasin1866。Ipreparedmycontribution，andthenlookedaroundforthebestmagazinetogouptogloryin。IselectedthemostimportantoneinNewYork。Thecontributionwasaccepted。Isignedit'MARKTWAIN；'forthatnamehadsomecurrencyonthePacificcoast，anditwasmyideatospreaditallovertheworld，now，atthisonejump。ThearticleappearedintheDecembernumber，andIsatupamonthwaitingfortheJanuarynumber；forthatonewouldcontaintheyear'slistofcontributors，mynamewouldbeinit，andIshouldbefamousandcouldgivethebanquetIwasmeditating。
Ididnotgivethebanquet。Ihadnotwrittenthe'MARKTWAIN'
distinctly；itwasafreshnametoEasternprinters，andtheyputit'MikeSwain'or'MacSwain，'Idonotrememberwhich。Atanyrate，IwasnotcelebratedandIdidnotgivethebanquet。IwasaLiteraryPerson，butthatwasall——aburiedone；buriedalive。
Myarticlewasabouttheburningoftheclipper-ship'Hornet'ontheline，May3，1866。Therewerethirty-onemenonboardatthetime，andI
wasinHonoluluwhenthefifteenleanandghostlysurvivorsarrivedthereafteravoyageofforty-threedaysinanopenboat，throughtheblazingtropics，ontendays'rationsoffood。Averyremarkabletrip；butitwasconductedbyacaptainwhowasaremarkableman，otherwisetherewouldhavebeennosurvivors。HewasaNewEnglanderofthebestsea-goingstockoftheoldcapabletimes——CaptainJosiahMitchell。
IwasintheislandstowritelettersfortheweeklyeditionoftheSacramento'Union，'arichandinfluentialdailyjournalwhichhadn'tanyuseforthem，butcouldaffordtospendtwentydollarsaweekfornothing。Theproprietorswerelovableandwell-belovedmen：longagodead，nodoubt，butinmethereisatleastonepersonwhostillholdsthemingratefulremembrance；forIdearlywantedtoseetheislands，andtheylistenedtomeandgavemetheopportunitywhentherewasbutslenderlikelihoodthatitcouldprofittheminanyway。
Ihadbeenintheislandsseveralmonthswhenthesurvivorsarrived。I
waslaidupinmyroomatthetime，andunabletowalk。Herewasagreatoccasiontoservemyjournal，andInotabletotakeadvantageofit。
NecessarilyIwasindeeptrouble。ButbygoodluckhisExcellencyAnsonBurlingamewasthereatthetime，onhiswaytotakeuphispostinChina，wherehedidsuchgoodworkfortheUnitedStates。Hecameandputmeonastretcherandhadmecarriedtothehospitalwheretheshipwreckedmenwere，andIneverneededtoaskaquestion。Heattendedtoallofthathimself，andIhadnothingtodobutmakethenotes。Itwaslikehimtotakethattrouble。HewasagreatmanandagreatAmerican，anditwasinhisfinenaturetocomedownfromhishighofficeanddoafriendlyturnwheneverhecould。
Wegotthroughwiththisworkatsixintheevening。Itooknodinner，fortherewasnotimetospareifIwouldbeattheothercorrespondents。
Ispentfourhoursarrangingthenotesintheirproperorder，thenwroteallnightandbeyondit；withthisresult：thatIhadaverylonganddetailedaccountofthe'Hornet'episodereadyatnineinthemorning，whiletheothercorrespondentsoftheSanFranciscojournalshadnothingbutabriefoutlinereport——fortheydidn'tsitup。Thenow-and-thenschoonerwastosailforSanFranciscoaboutnine；whenIreachedthedockshewasfreeforwardandwasjustcastingoffherstern-line。Myfatenvelopewasthrownbyastronghand，andfellonboardallright，andmyvictorywasasafething。AllinduetimetheshipreachedSanFrancisco，butitwasmycompletereportwhichmadethestirandwastelegraphedtotheNewYorkpapers，byMr。Cash；hewasinchargeofthePacificbureauofthe'NewYorkHerald'atthetime。
WhenIreturnedtoCaliforniaby-and-by，IwentuptoSacramentoandpresentedabillforgeneralcorrespondenceattwentydollarsaweek。Itwaspaid。ThenIpresentedabillfor'special'serviceonthe'Hornet'
matterofthreecolumnsofsolidnonpareilatahundreddollarsacolumn。
Thecashierdidn'tfaint，buthecamerathernearit。Hesentfortheproprietors，andtheycameandneverutteredaprotest。Theyonlylaughedintheirjollyfashion，andsaiditwasrobbery，butnomatter；
itwasagrand'scoop'thebillormy'Hornet'report，Ididn'tknowwhich：'Payit。It'sallright。'Thebestmenthateverownedanewspaper。
The'Hornet'survivorsreachedtheSandwichIslandsthe15thofJune。
Theyweremereskinnyskeletons；theirclotheshunglimpaboutthemandfittedthemnobetterthanaflagfitstheflag-staffinacalm。Buttheywerewellnursedinthehospital；thepeopleofHonolulukeptthemsuppliedwithallthedaintiestheycouldneed；theygatheredstrengthfast，andwerepresentlynearlyasgoodasnew。WithinafortnightthemostofthemtookshipforSanFrancisco；thatis，ifmydateshavenotgoneastrayinmymemory。Iwentinthesameship，asailing-vessel。
CaptainMitchellofthe'Hornet'wasalong；alsotheonlypassengersthe'Hornet'hadcarried。TheseweretwoyoungmenfromStamford，Connecticut——brothers：SamuelandHenryFerguson。The'Hornet'wasaclipperofthefirstclassandafastsailer；theyoungmen'squarterswereroomyandcomfortable，andwerewellstockedwithbooks，andalsowithcannedmeatsandfruitstohelpouttheship-farewith；andwhentheshipclearedfromNewYorkharbourinthefirstweekofJanuarytherewaspromisethatshewouldmakequickandpleasantworkofthefourteenorfifteenthousandmilesinfrontofher。Assoonasthecoldlatitudeswereleftbehindandthevesselenteredsummerweather，thevoyagebecameaholidaypicnic。Theshipflewsouthwardunderacloudofsailwhichneedednoattention，nomodifyingorchangeofanykind，fordaystogether。Theyoungmenread，strolledtheampledeck，restedanddrowsedintheshadeofthecanvas，tooktheirmealswiththecaptain；
andwhenthedaywasdonetheyplayeddummywhistwithhimtillbed-time。
AfterthesnowandiceandtempestsoftheHorn，theshipbowlednorthwardintosummerweatheragain，andthetripwasapicniconcemore。
Untiltheearlymorningofthe3rdofMay。Computedpositionoftheship112degrees10minuteslongitude，latitude2degreesabovetheequator；
nowind，nosea——deadcalm；temperatureoftheatmosphere，tropical，blistering，unimaginablebyonewhohasnotbeenroastedinit。Therewasacryoffire。Anunfaithfulsailorhaddisobeyedtherulesandgoneintothebooby-hatchwithanopenlighttodrawsomevarnishfromacask。
Theproperresultfollowed，andthevessel'shourswerenumbered。
Therewasnotmuchtimetospare，butthecaptainmadethemostofit。
Thethreeboatswerelaunched——long-boatandtwoquarter-boats。Thatthetimewasveryshortandthehurryandexcitementconsiderableisindicatedbythefactthatinlaunchingtheboatsaholewasstoveinthesideofoneofthembysomesortofcollision，andanoardriventhroughthesideofanother。Thecaptain'sfirstcarewastohavefoursicksailorsbroughtupandplacedondeckoutofharm'sway——amongthema'Portyghee。'Thismanhadnotdoneaday'sworkonthevoyage，buthadlaininhishammockfourmonthsnursinganabscess。WhenweweretakingnotesintheHonoluluhospitalandasailortoldthistoMr。Burlingame，thethirdmate，whowaslyingnear，raisedhisheadwithaneffort，andinaweakvoicemadethiscorrection——withsolemnityandfeeling：
'Raisingabscesses！Hehadafamilyofthem。Hedoneittokeepfromstandinghiswatch。'
Anyprovisionsthatlayhandyweregatheredupbythemenandtwopassengersandbroughtanddumpedonthedeckwherethe'Portyghee'lay；
thentheyranformore。ThesailorwhowastellingthistoMr。
Burlingameadded：
'Wepulledtogetherthirty-twodays'rationsforthethirty-onementhatway。'
Thethirdmateliftedhisheadagainandmadeanothercorrection——withbitterness：
'The"Portyghee"ettwenty-twoofthemwhilehewassoldieringthereandnobodynoticing。Adamnedhound。'
Thefirespreadwithgreatrapidity。Thesmokeandflamedrovethemenback，andtheyhadtostoptheirincompleteworkoffetchingprovisions，andtaketotheboatswithonlytendays'rationssecured。
Eachboathadacompass，aquadrant，acopyofBowditch's'Navigator，'
andaNauticalAlmanac，andthecaptain'sandchiefmate'sboatshadchronometers。Therewerethirty-onemenalltold。Thecaptaintookanaccountofstock，withthefollowingresult：fourhams，nearlythirtypoundsofsaltpork，half-boxofraisins，onehundredpoundsofbread，twelvetwo-poundcansofoysters，clams，andassortedmeats，akegcontainingfourpoundsofbutter，twelvegallonsofwaterinaforty-
gallon'scuttle-butt'，fourone-gallondemijohnsfullofwater，threebottlesofbrandythepropertyofpassengers，somepipes，matches，andahundredpoundsoftobacco。Nomedicines。Ofcoursethewholepartyhadtogoonshortrationsatonce。
Thecaptainandthetwopassengerskeptdiaries。OnourvoyagetoSanFranciscoweranintoacalminthemiddleofthePacific，anddidnotmovearodduringfourteendays；thisgavemeachancetocopythediaries。SamuelFerguson'sisthefullest；Iwilldrawuponitnow。
Whenthefollowingparagraphwaswrittenthedoomedshipwasaboutonehundredandtwentydaysoutfromport，andallhandswereputtinginthelazytimeaboutasusual，asnoonewasforecastingdisaster。
[Diaryentry]May2。Latitude1degree28minutesN。，longitude111
degrees38minutesW。Anotherhotandsluggishday；atonetime，however，thecloudspromisedwind，andtherecameaslightbreeze——
justenoughtokeepusgoing。Theonlythingtochronicleto-dayisthequantitiesoffishabout；ninebonitoswerecaughtthisforenoon，andsomelargealbacoresseen。Afterdinnerthefirstmatehookedafellowwhichhecouldnothold，soheletthelinegotothecaptain，whowasonthebow。He，holdingon，broughtthefishtowithajerk，andsnapwenttheline，hookandall。Wealsosawastern，swimminglazilyafterus，anenormousshark，whichmusthavebeennineortenfeetlong。Wetriedhimwithallsortsoflinesandapieceofpork，buthedeclinedtotakehold。Isupposehehadappeasedhisappetiteontheheadsandotherremainsofthebonitoswehadthrownoverboard。
Nextday'sentryrecordsthedisaster。Thethreeboatsgotaway，retiredtoashortdistance，andstopped。Thetwoinjuredoneswereleakingbadly；someofthemenwerekeptbusybaling，otherspatchedtheholesaswellastheycould。Thecaptain，thetwopassengers，andelevenmenwereinthelong-boat，withashareoftheprovisionsandwater，andwithnoroomtospare，fortheboatwasonlytwenty-onefeetlong，sixwide，andthreedeep。Thechiefmateandeightmenwereinoneofthesmallboats，thesecondmateandsevenmenintheother。Thepassengershadsavednoclothingbutwhattheyhadon，exceptingtheirovercoats。Theship，clothedinflameandsendingupavastcolumnofblacksmokeintothesky，madeagrandpictureinthesolitudesofthesea，andhourafterhourtheoutcastssatandwatchedit。Meantimethecaptaincipheredontheimmensityofthedistancethatstretchedbetweenhimandthenearestavailableland，andthenscaledtherationsdowntomeettheemergency；
halfabiscuitfordinner；onebiscuitandsomecannedmeatfordinner；
halfabiscuitfortea；afewswallowsofwaterforeachmeal。Andsohungerbegantognawwhiletheshipwasstillburning。
[Diaryentry]May4。Theshipburnedallnightverybrightly，andhopesarethatsomeshiphasseenthelightandisbearingdownuponus。Noneseen，however，thisforenoon，sowehavedeterminedtogotogethernorthandalittlewesttosomeislandsin18degreesor19
degreesnorthlatitudeand114degreesto115degreeswestlongitude，hopinginthemeantimetobepickedupbysomeship。Theshipsanksuddenlyatabout5A。M。Wefindthesunveryhotandscorching，butalltrytokeepoutofitasmuchaswecan。
Theydidaquitenaturalthingnow：waitedseveralhoursforthatpossibleshipthatmighthaveseenthelighttoworkherslowwaytothemthroughthenearlydeadcalm。Thentheygaveitupandsetabouttheirplans。Ifyouwilllookatthemapyouwillsaythattheircoursecouldbeeasilydecided。AlbemarleIslandGalapagosgroupliesstraighteastwardnearlyathousandmiles；theislandsreferredtointhediaryas'someislands'RevillagigedoIslandslie，astheythink，insomewidelyuncertainregionnorthwardaboutonethousandmilesandwestwardonehundredoronehundredandfiftymiles。Acapulco，ontheMexicancoast，liesaboutnorth-eastsomethingshortofonethousandmiles。Youwillsayrandomrocksintheoceanarenotwhatiswanted；letthemstrikeforAcapulcoandthesolidcontinent。Thatdoeslookliketherationalcourse，butonepresentlyguessesfromthediariesthatthethingwouldhavebeenwhollyirrational——indeed，suicidal。IftheboatsstruckforAlbemarletheywouldbeinthedoldrumsalltheway；andthatmeansawateryperdition，withwindswhicharewhollycrazy，andblowfromallpointsofthecompassatonceandalsoperpendicularly。IftheboatstriedforAcapulcotheywouldgetoutofthedoldrumswhenhalf-waythere——incasetheyevergothalf-way——andthentheywouldbeinlamentablecase，fortheretheywouldmeetthenorth-easttradescomingdownintheirteeth，andtheseboatsweresoriggedthattheycouldnotsailwithineightpointsofthewind。Sotheywiselystartednorthward，withaslightslanttothewest。Theyhadbuttendays'shortallowanceoffood；thelong-boatwastowingtheothers；theycouldnotdependonmakinganysortofdefiniteprogressinthedoldrums，andtheyhadfourorfivehundredmilesofdoldrumsinfrontofthemyet。Theyaretherealequator，atossing，roaring，rainybelt，tenortwelvehundredmilesbroad，whichgirdlestheglobe。
Itrainedhardthefirstnightandallgotdrenched，buttheyfilleduptheirwater-butt。Thebrotherswereinthesternwiththecaptain，whosteered。Thequarterswerecramped；noonegotmuchsleep。'Keptonourcoursetillsquallsheadedusoff。'
Stormyandsquallythenextmorning，withdrenchingrains。Aheavyanddangerous'cobbling'sea。Onemarvelshowsuchboatscouldliveinit。
IsitcalledafeatofdesperatedaringwhenonemanandadogcrosstheAtlanticinaboatthesizeofalong-boat，andindeeditis；butthislong-boatwasoverloadedwithmenandotherplunder，andwasonlythreefeetdeep。'Wenaturallythoughtoftenofallathome，andweregladtorememberthatitwasSacramentSunday，andthatprayerswouldgoupfromourfriendsforus，althoughtheyknownotourperil。'
Thecaptaingotnotevenacat-napduringthefirstthreedaysandnights，buthegotafewwinksofsleepthefourthnight。'Theworstseayet。'Abouttenatnightthecaptainchangedhiscourseandheadedeast-north-east，hopingtomakeClippertonRock。Ifhefailed，nomatter；hewouldbeinabetterpositiontomakethoseotherislands。I
willmentionherethathedidnotfindthatrock。
OnMay8nowindallday；sunblisteringhot；theytaketotheoars。
Plentyofdolphins，buttheycouldn'tcatchany。'Ithinkweareallbeginningtorealisemoreandmoretheawfulsituationwearein。''Itoftentakesashipaweektogetthroughthedoldrums；howmuchlonger，then，suchacraftasours？''Wearesocrowdedthatwecannotstretchourselvesoutforagoodsleep，buthavetotakeitanywaywecangetit。'
Ofcoursethisfeaturewillgrowmoreandmoretrying，butitwillbehumannaturetoceasetosetitdown；therewillbefiveweeksofityet——wemusttrytorememberthatforthediarist；itwillmakeourbedsthesofter。
May9thesungiveshimawarning：'Lookingwithbotheyes，thehorizoncrossedthus。''Henrykeepswell，butbroodsoverourtroublesmorethanIwishhedid。'Theycaughttwodolphins；theytastedwell。'Thecaptainbelievedthecompassoutoftheway，butthelong-invisiblenorthstarcameout——awelcomesight——andendorsedthecompass。'
May10，'latitude7degrees0minutes3secondsN。，longitude111degrees32minutesW。'Sotheyhavemadeaboutthreehundredmilesofnorthinginthesixdayssincetheylefttheregionofthelostship。'Driftingincalmsallday。'Andbakinghot，ofcourse；Ihavebeendownthere，andIrememberthatdetail。'Evenasthecaptainsays，allromancehaslongsincevanished，andIthinkthemostofusarebeginningtolookthefactofourawfulsituationfullintheface。''Wearemakingbutlittleheadwayonourcourse。'Badnewsfromtherearmostboat：themenareimprovident；'theyhaveeatenupallofthecannedmeatsbroughtfromtheship，andarenowgrowingdiscontented。'Notsowiththechiefmate'speople——theyareevidentlyundertheeyeofaman。
UnderdateofMay11：'Standingstill！orworse；welostmorelastnightthanwemadeyesterday。'Infact，theyhavelostthreemilesofthethreehundredofnorthingtheyhadsolaboriouslymade。'Thecockthatwasrescuedandpitchedintotheboatwhiletheshipwasonfirestilllives，andcrowswiththebreakingofdawn，cheeringusagooddeal。'
Whathashebeenlivingonforaweek？Didthestarvingmenfeedhimfromtheirdirepoverty？'Thesecondmate'sboatoutofwateragain，showingthattheyover-drinktheirallowance。Thecaptainspokeprettysharplytothem。'Itistrue：Ihavetheremarkinmyoldnote-book；I
gotitofthethirdmateinthehospitalatHonolulu。Butthereisnotroomforithere，anditistoocombustible，anyway。Besides，thethirdmateadmiredit，andwhatheadmiredhewaslikelytoenhance。
Theywerestillwatchinghopefullyforships。Thecaptainwasathoughtfulman，andprobablydidnotdiscloseonthemthatthatwassubstantiallyawasteoftime。'Inthislatitudethehorizonisfilledwithlittleuprightcloudsthatlookverymuchlikeships。'Mr。Fergusonsavedthreebottlesofbrandyfromhisprivatestoreswhenhelefttheship，andtheliquorcamegoodinthesedays。'Thecaptainservesouttwotablespoonfulsofbrandyandwater——halfandhalf——toourcrew。'Hemeansthewatchthatisonduty；theystoodregularwatches——fourhoursonandfouroff。Thechiefmatewasanexcellentofficer——aself-
possessed，resolute，fine，all-roundman。Thediaristmakesthefollowingnote——thereischaracterinit：'Iofferedonebottleofbrandytothechiefmate，buthedeclined，sayinghecouldkeeptheafter-boatquiet，andwehadnotenoughforall。'
HENRYFERGUSON'SDIARYTODATE，GIVENINFULL：
May4，5，6，doldrums。May7，8，9，doldrums。May10，11，12，doldrums。Tellsitall。Neversaw，neverfelt，neverheard，neverexperiencedsuchheat，suchdarkness，suchlightningandthunder，andwindandrain，inmylifebefore。
Thatboy'sdiaryisoftheeconomicalsortthatapersonmightproperlybeexpectedtokeepinsuchcircumstances——andbeforgivenfortheeconomy，too。Hisbrother，perishingofconsumption，hunger，thirst，blazingheat，drowningrains，lossofsleep，lackofexercise，waspersistentlyfaithfulandcircumstantialwithhisdiaryfromthefirstdaytothelast——aninstanceofnoteworthyfidelityandresolution。Inspiteofthetossingandplungingboathewroteitcloseandfine，inahandaseasytoreadasprint。Theycan'tseemtogetnorthof7degreesN。；theyarestilltherethenextday：
[Diaryentry]May12。Agoodrainlastnight，andwecaughtagooddeal，thoughnotenoughtofillupourtank，pails，&c。Ourobjectistogetoutofthesedoldrums，butitseemsasifwecannotdoit。
To-daywehavehaditveryvariable，andhopeweareonthenorthernedge，thoughtwearenotmuchabove7degrees。Thismorningweallthoughtwehadmadeoutasail；butitwasoneofthosedeceivingclouds。Rainedagooddealto-day，makingallhandswetanduncomfortable；wefilledupprettynearlyallourwater-pots，however。Ihopewemayhaveafinenight，forthecaptaincertainlywantsrest，andwhilethereisanydangerofsqualls，ordangerofanykind，heisalwaysonhand。Ineverwouldhavebelievedthatopenboatssuchasours，withtheirloads，couldliveinsomeoftheseaswehavehad。
Duringthenight，12th-13th，'thecryofASHIP！broughtustoourfeet。'
Itseemedtobetheglimmerofavessel'ssignal-lanternrisingoutofthecurveofthesea。Therewasaseasonofbreathlesshopewhiletheystoodwatching，withtheirhandsshadingtheireyes，andtheirheartsintheirthroats；thenthepromisefailed：thelightwasarisingstar。Itisalongtimeago——thirty-twoyears——anditdoesn'tmatternow，yetoneissorryfortheirdisappointment。'Thoughtoftenofthoseathometo-day，andofthedisappointmenttheywillfeelnextSundayatnothearingfromusbytelegraphfromSanFrancisco。'Itwillbemanyweeksyetbeforethetelegramisreceived，anditwillcomeasathunderclapofjoythen，andwiththeseemingofamiracle，foritwillraisefromthegravemenmournedasdead。'To-dayourrationswerereducedtoaquarterofabiscuitameal，withabouthalfapintofwater。'ThisisonMay13，withmorethanamonthofvoyaginginfrontofthemyet！However，astheydonotknowthat，'weareallfeelingprettycheerful。'
Intheafternoonofthe14ththerewasathunderstorm，'whichtowardnightseemedtocloseinaroundusoneveryside，makingitverydarkandsqually。''Oursituationisbecomingmoreandmoredesperate，'fortheyweremakingverylittlenorthing'andeverydaydiminishesoursmallstockofprovisions。'Theyrealisethattheboatsmustsoonseparate，andeachfightforitsownlife。Towingthequarter-boatsisahinderingbusiness。
Thatnightandnextday，lightandbafflingwindsandbutlittleprogress。Hardtobear，thatpersistentstandingstill，andthefoodwastingaway。'Everythinginaperfectsop；andallsocramped，andnochangeofclothes。'Soonthesuncomesoutandroaststhem。'Joecaughtanotherdolphinto-day；inhismawwefoundaflying-fishandtwoskipjacks。'Thereisanevent，now，whichrousesanenthusiasmofhope：
aland-birdarrives！Itrestsontheyardforawhile，andtheycanlookatitalltheylike，andenvyit，andthankitforitsmessage。Asasubjectoftalkitisbeyondprice——afreshnewtopicfortonguestiredtodeathoftalkinguponasingletheme：Shallweeverseethelandagain；andwhen？IsthebirdfromClippertonRock？Theyhopeso；andtheytakeheartofgracetobelieveso。Asitturnedoutthebirdhadnomessage；itmerelycametomock。
May16，'thecockstilllives，anddailycarolsforthhispraise。'Itwillbearainynight，'butIdonotcareifwecanfillupourwater-butts。'
Onthe17thoneofthosemajesticspectresofthedeep，awater-spout，stalkedbythem，andtheytrembledfortheirlives。YoungHenrysetitdowninhisscantyjournalwiththejudiciouscommentthat'itmighthavebeenafinesightfromaship。'
FromCaptainMitchell'slogforthisday：'Onlyhalfabushelofbread-crumbsleft。'Andamonthtowandertheseasyet。'
Itrainedallnightandallday；everybodyuncomfortable。Nowcameasword-fishchasingabonito；andthepoorthing，seekinghelpandfriends，tookrefugeundertherudder。Thebigsword-fishkepthoveringaround，scaringeverybodybadly。Themen'smouthswateredforhim，forhewouldhavemadeawholebanquet；butnoonedaredtotouchhim，ofcourse，forhewouldsinkaboatpromptlyifmolested。Providenceprotectedthepoorbonitofromthecruelsword-fish。Thiswasjustandright。Providencenextbefriendedtheshipwreckedsailors：theygotthebonito。Thiswasalsojustandright。Butinthedistributionofmerciesthesword-fishhimselfgotoverlooked。Henowwentaway；tomuseoverthesesubtleties，probably。Themeninalltheboatsseemprettywell；thefeeblestofthesickonesnotableforalongtimetostandhiswatchonboardtheship'iswonderfullyrecovered。'Thisisthethirdmate'sdetected'Portyghee'thatraisedthefamilyofabscesses。
Passedamostawfulnight。Rainedhardnearlyallthetime，andblewinsqualls，accompaniedbyterrificthunderandlightningfromallpointsofthecompass——Henry'sLog。
MostawfulnightIeverwitnessed——Captain'sLog。
Latitude，May18，11degrees11minutes。Sotheyhaveaveragedbutfortymilesofnorthingadayduringthefortnight。Furthertalkofseparating。'Toobad，butitmustbedoneforthesafetyofthewhole。'
'AtfirstIneverdreamed，butnowhardlyshutmyeyesforacat-napwithoutconjuringupsomethingorother——tobeaccountedforbyweakness，Isuppose。'ButfortheirdisastertheythinktheywouldbearrivinginSanFranciscoaboutthistime。'IshouldhavelikedtosendB——thetelegramforherbirthday。'Thiswasayoungsister。
Onthe19ththecaptaincalledupthequarter-boatsandsaidonewouldhavetogooffonitsownhook。Thelong-boatcouldnolongertowbothofthem。Thesecondmaterefusedtogo，butthechiefmatewasready；infact，hewasalwaysreadywhentherewasaman'sworktothefore。Hetookthesecondmate'sboat；sixofitscrewelectedtoremain，andtwoofhisowncrewcamewithhimnineintheboat，now，includinghimself。
Hesailedaway，andtowardsunsetpassedoutofsight。Thediaristwassorrytoseehimgo。Itwasnatural；onecouldhavebettersparedthe'Portyghee。'Afterthirty-twoyearsIfindmyprejudiceagainstthis'Portyghee'reviving。Hisverylookshavelongpassedoutofmymemory；
butnomatter，Iamcomingtohatehimasreligiouslyasever。'Waterwillnowbeascarcearticle，foraswegetoutofthedoldrumsweshallgetshowersonlynowandtheninthetrades。Thislifeistellingseverelyonmystrength。Henryholdsoutfirst-rate。'Henrydidnotstartwell，butunderhardshipsheimprovedstraightalong。
Latitude，Sunday，May20，12degrees0minutes9seconds。Theyoughttobewelloutofthedoldrumsnow，buttheyarenot。Nobreeze——thelonged-fortradesstillmissing。Theyarestillanxiouslywatchingforasail，buttheyhaveonly'visionsofshipsthatcometonaught——theshadowwithoutthesubstance。'Thesecondmatecatchesaboobythisafternoon，abirdwhichconsistsmainlyoffeathers；'butastheyhavenoothermeat，itwillgowell。'
May21，theystrikethetradesatlast！Thesecondmatecatchesthreemoreboobies，andgivesthelong-boatone。Dinner'halfacanofmincemeatdividedupandservedaround，whichstrengthenedussomewhat。'
Theyhavetokeepamanbailingallthetime；theholeknockedintheboatwhenshewaslaunchedfromtheburningshipwasneverefficientlymended。'Headingaboutnorth-westnow。'Theyhopetheyhaveeastingenoughtomakesomeoftheseindefiniteisles。Failingthat，theythinktheywillbeinabetterpositiontobepickedup。Itwasaninfinitelyslenderchance，butthecaptainprobablyrefrainedfrommentioningthat。
Thenextdayistobeaneventfulone。
[Diaryentry]May22。Lastnightwindheadedusoff，sothatpartofthetimewehadtosteereast-south-eastandthenwest-north-
west，andsoon。Thismorningwewereallstartledbyacryof'SAILHO！'Sureenough，wecouldseeit！Andforatimewecutadriftfromthesecondmate'sboat，andsteeredsoastoattractitsattention。Thiswasabouthalf-pastfiveA。M。Aftersailinginastateofhighexcitementforalmosttwentyminuteswemadeitouttobethechiefmate'sboat。Ofcourseweweregladtoseethemandhavethemreportallwell；butstillitwasabitterdisappointmenttousall。Nowthatweareinthetradesitseemsimpossibletomakenorthingenoughtostriketheisles。Wehavedeterminedtodothebestwecan，andgetintherouteofvessels。Suchbeingthedetermination，itbecamenecessarytocastofftheotherboat，which，afteragooddealofunpleasantness，wasdone，weagaindividingwaterandstores，andtakingCoxintoourboat。Thismakesournumberfifteen。Thesecondmate'screwwantedtoallgetinwithus，andcasttheotherboatadrift。Itwasaverypainfulseparation。
Sotheseislesthattheyhavestruggledforsolongandsohopefullyhavetobegivenup。Whatwithlyingbirdsthatcometomock，andislesthatarebutadream，and'visionsofshipsthatcometonaught，'itisapathetictimetheyarehaving，withmuchheartbreakinit。Itwasoddthatthevanishedboat，threedayslosttosightinthatvastsolitude，shouldappearagain。ButitbroughtCox——wecan'tbecertainwhy。Butifithadn't，thediaristwouldneverhaveseenthelandagain。
[Diaryentry]Ourchancesaswegowestincreaseinregardtobeingpickedup，buteachdayourscantyfareissomuchreduced。Withoutthefish，turtle，andbirdssentus，Idonotknowhowweshouldhavegotalong。TheotherdayIofferedtoreadprayersmorningandeveningforthecaptain，andlastnightcommenced。Themen，althoughofvariousnationalitiesandreligions，areveryattentive，andalwaysuncovered。MayGodgrantmyweakendeavouritsissue！
Latitude，May24，14degrees18minutesN。Fiveoystersapiecefordinnerandthreespoonfulsofjuice，agillofwater，andapieceofbiscuitthesizeofasilverdollar。'Weareplainlygettingweaker——Godhavemercyuponusall！'Thatnightheavyseasbreakovertheweathersideandmakeeverybodywetanduncomfortablebesidesrequiringconstantbaling。
Nextday'nothingparticularhappened。'Perhapssomeofuswouldhaveregardeditdifferently。'Passedaspar，butnotnearenoughtoseewhatitwas。'Theysawsomewhalesblow；therewereflying-fishskimmingtheseas，butnonecameaboard。Mistyweather，withfinerain，verypenetrating。
Latitude，May26，15degrees50minutes。Theycaughtaflying-fishandabooby，buthadtoeatthemraw。'Themengrowweaker，and，Ithink，despondent；theysayverylittle，though。'Andso，toalltheotherimaginableandunimaginablehorrors，silenceisadded——themutenessandbroodingofcomingdespair。'Itseemsourbestchancetogetinthetrackofshipswiththehopethatsomeonewillrunnearenoughtoourspecktoseeit。'Hehopestheotherboardsstoodwestandhavebeenpickedup。Theywillneverbeheardofagaininthisworld。
[Diaryentry]Sunday，May27，Latitude16degrees0minutes5
seconds；longitude，bychronometer，117degrees22minutes。OurfourthSunday！Whenwelefttheshipwereckonedonhavingabouttendays'supplies，andnowwehopetobeable，byrigideconomy，tomakethemlastanotherweekifpossible。[1]Lastnighttheseawascomparativelyquiet，butthewindheadedusofftoaboutwest-north-
west，whichhasbeenaboutourcoursealldayto-day。Anotherflying-fishcameaboardlastnight，andonemoreto-day——bothsmallones。Nobirds。Aboobyisagreatcatch，andagoodlargeonemakesasmalldinnerforthefifteenofus——thatis，ofcourse，asdinnersgointhe'Hornet's'long-boat。Triedthismorningtoreadthefullservicetomyself，withtheCommunion，butfoundittoomuch；amtooweak，andgetsleepy，andcannotgivestrictattention；
soIputoffhalftillthisafternoon。ItrustGodwillheartheprayersgoneupforusathometo-day，andgraciouslyanswerthembysendingussuccourandhelpinthisourseasonofdeepdistress。
Thenextdaywas'agooddayforseeingaship。'Butnonewasseen。Thediarist'stillfeelsprettywell，'thoughveryweak；hisbrotherHenry'bearsupandkeepshisstrengththebestofanyonboard。''Idonotfeeldespondentatall，forIfullytrustthattheAlmightywillhearourandthehomeprayers，andHewhosuffersnotasparrowtofallseesandcaresforus，Hiscreatures。'
Consideringthesituationandcircumstances，therecordfornextday，May29，isonewhichhasasurpriseinitforthosedullpeoplewhothinkthatnothingbutmedicinesanddoctorscancurethesick。Alittlestarvationcanreallydomorefortheaveragesickmanthancanthebestmedicinesandthebestdoctors。Idonotmeanarestricteddiet；Imeantotalabstentionfromfoodforoneortwodays。Ispeakfromexperience；
starvationhasbeenmycoldandfeverdoctorforfifteenyears，andhasaccomplishedacureinallinstances。ThethirdmatetoldmeinHonoluluthatthe'Portyghee'hadlaininhishammockformonths，raisinghisfamilyofabscessesandfeedinglikeacannibal。Wehaveseenthatinspiteofdreadfulweather，deprivationofsleep，scorching，drenching，andallmannerofmiseries，thirteendaysofstarvation'wonderfullyrecovered'him。Therewerefoursailorsdownsickwhentheshipwasburned。Twenty-fivedaysofpitilessstarvationhavefollowed，andnowwehavethiscuriousrecord：'Allthemenareheartyandstrong；eventheonesthatweredownsickarewell，exceptpoorPeter。'WhenIwroteanarticlesomemonthsagourgingtemporaryabstentionfromfoodasaremedyforaninactiveappetiteandfordisease，Iwasaccusedofjesting，butI
wasinearnest。'Weareallwonderfullywellandstrong，comparativelyspeaking。'Onthisdaythestarvationregimedrewitsbeltacoupleofbuckle-holestighter：thebreadrationwasreducedfromtheusualpieceofcrackerthesizeofasilverdollartothehalfofthat，andonemealwasabolishedfromthedailythree。Thiswillweakenthemenphysically，butifthereareanydiseasesofanordinarysortleftinthemtheywilldisappear。
Twoquartsbread-crumbsleft，one-thirdofaham，threesmallcansofoysters，andtwentygallonsofwater——Captain'sLog。
Thehopefultoneofthediariesispersistent。Itisremarkable。Lookatthemapandseewheretheboatis：latitude16degrees44minutes，longitude119degrees20minutes。ItismorethantwohundredmileswestoftheRevillagigedoIslands，sotheyarequiteoutofthequestionagainstthetrades，riggedasthisboatis。ThenearestlandavailableforsuchaboatistheAmericangroup，sixhundredandfiftymilesaway，westward；still，thereisnonoteofsurrender，noneevenofdiscouragement！Yet，May30，'wehavenowleft：onecanofoysters；
threepoundsofraisins；onecanofsoup；one-thirdofaham；threepintsofbiscuit-crumbs。'
Andfifteenstarvedmentoliveonitwhiletheycreepandcrawlsixhundredandfiftymiles。'SomehowIfeelmuchencouragedbythischangeofcoursewestbynorthwhichwehavemadeto-day。'Sixhundredandfiftymilesonahatfulofprovisions。Letusbethankful，evenafterthirty-twoyears，thattheyaremercifullyignorantofthefactthatitisn'tsixhundredandfiftythattheymustcreeponthehatful，buttwenty-twohundred！
Isn'tthesituationromanticenoughjustasitstands？No。Providenceaddedastartlingdetail：pullinganoarinthatboat，forcommonseaman'swages，wasabanishedduke——Danish。Wehearnomoreofhim；
justthatmention，thatisall，withthesimpleremarkaddedthat'heisoneofourbestmen'——ahighenoughcomplimentforadukeoranyothermaninthosemanhood-testingcircumstances。Withthatlittleglimpseofhimathisoar，andthatfinewordofpraise，hevanishesoutofourknowledgeforalltime。Foralltime，unlessheshouldchanceuponthisnoteandrevealhimself。
ThelastdayofMayiscome。Andnowthereisadisastertoreport：
thinkofit，reflectuponit，andtrytounderstandhowmuchitmeans，whenyousitdownwithyourfamilyandpassyoureyeoveryourbreakfast-
table。Yesterdaytherewerethreepintsofbread-crumbs；thismorningthelittlebagisfoundopenandsomeofthecrumbsaremissing。'Wedisliketosuspectanyoneofsucharascallyact，butthereisnoquestionthatthisgravecrimehasbeencommitted。Twodayswillcertainlyfinishtheremainingmorsels。GodgrantusstrengthtoreachtheAmericangroup！'ThethirdmatetoldmeinHonoluluthatinthesedaysthemenrememberedwithbitternessthatthe'Portyghee'haddevouredtwenty-twodays'rationswhilehelaywaitingtobetransferredfromtheburningship，andthatnowtheycursedhimandsworeanoaththatifitcametocannibalismheshouldbethefirsttosufferfortherest。
[Diaryentry]Thecaptainhaslosthisglasses，andthereforehecannotreadourpocketprayer-booksasmuchasIthinkhewouldlike，thoughheisnotfamiliarwiththem。
Furtherofthecaptain：'Heisagoodman，andhasbeenmostkindtous——
almostfatherly。Hesaysthatifhehadbeenofferedthecommandoftheshipsoonerheshouldhavebroughthistwodaughterswithhim。'Itmakesoneshudderyettothinkhownarrowanescapeitwas。
Thetwomealsrationsadayareasfollows：fourteenraisinsandapieceofcrackerthesizeofapennyfortea；agillofwater，andapieceofhamandapieceofbread，eachthesizeofapenny，forbreakfast——Captain'sLog。
Hemeansapennyinthicknessaswellasincircumference。SamuelFerguson'sdiarysaysthehamwasshaved'aboutasthinasitcouldbecut。'
[Diaryentry]June1。Lastnightandto-dayseaveryhighandcobbling，breakingoverandmakingusallwetandcold。Weathersqually，andthereisnodoubtthatonlycarefulmanagement——withGod'sprotectingcare——preservedusthroughboththenightandtheday；andreallyitismostmarvelloushoweverymorselthatpassesourlipsisblessedtous。Itmakesmethinkdailyofthemiracleoftheloavesandfishes。Henrykeepsupwonderfully，whichisagreatconsolationtome。Isomehowhavegreatconfidence，andhopethatourafflictionswillsoonbeended，thoughwearerunningrapidlyacrossthetrackofbothoutwardandinwardboundvessels，andawayfromthem；ourchiefhopeisawhaler，man-of-war，orsomeAustralianship。TheisleswearesteeringforareputdowninBowditch，butonmymaparesaidtobedoubtful。Godgranttheymaybethere！
Hardestdayyet——Captain'sLog。
Doubtful！Itwasworsethanthat。Aweeklatertheysailedstraightoverthem。
[Diaryentry]June2。Latitude18degrees9minutes。Squally，cloudy，aheavysea……Icannothelpthinkingofthecheerfulandcomfortabletimewehadaboardthe'Hornet。'
Twodays'scantysuppliesleft——tenrationsofwaterapieceandalittlemorselofbread。BUTTHESUNSHINESANDGODISMERCIFUL——
Captain'sLog。
[Diaryentry]Sunday，June3。Latitude17degrees54minutes。
Heavyseaallnight，andfrom4A。M。verywet，theseabreakingoverusinfrequentsluices，andsoakingeverythingaft，particularly。Alldaytheseahasbeenveryhigh，anditisawonderthatwearenotswamped。Heavengrantthatitmaygodownthisevening！Oursuspenseandconditionaregettingterrible。I
managedthismorningtocrawl，morethanstep，totheforwardendoftheboat，andwassurprisedtofindthatIwassoweak，especiallyinthelegsandknees。Thesunhasbeenoutagain，andIhavedriedsomethings，andhopeforabetternight。
June4。Latitude17degrees6minutes，longitude131degrees30
minutes。Shippedhardlyanyseaslastnight，andto-daytheseahasgonedownsomewhat，althoughitisstilltoohighforcomfort，aswehaveanoccasionalreminderthatwateriswet。Thesunhasbeenoutallday，andsowehavehadagooddrying。Ihavebeentryingforthelasttenortwelvedaystogetapairofdrawersdryenoughtoputon，andto-dayatlastsucceeded。Imentionthistoshowthestateinwhichwehavelived。Ifourchronometerisanywherenearright，weoughttoseetheAmericanIslesto-morrowornextday。Iftherearenotthere，wehaveonlythechance，forafewdays，ofastrayship，forwecannotekeouttheprovisionsmorethanfiveorsixdayslonger，andourstrengthisfailingveryfast。Iwasmuchsurprisedto-daytonotehowmylegshavewastedawayabovemyknees：theyarehardlythickerthanmyupperarmusedtobe。Still，ItrustinGod'sinfinitemercy，andfeelsurehewilldowhatisbestforus。Tosurvive，aswehavedone，thirty-twodaysinanopenboat，withonlyabouttendays'fairprovisionsforthirty-onemeninthefirstplace，andthesedividedtwicesubsequently，ismorethanmereunassistedHUMANartandstrengthcouldhaveaccomplishedandendured。
Breadandraisinsallgone——Captain'sLog。
Mengrowingdreadfullydiscontented，andawfulgrumblingandunpleasanttalkisarising。Godsaveusfromallstrifeofmen；andifwemustdienow，takeushimself，andnotembitterourbitterdeathstillmore——Henry'sLog。
[Diaryentry]June5。Quietnightandprettycomfortableday，thoughoursailandblockshowsignsoffailing，andneedtakingdown——whichlatterissomethingofajob，asitrequirestheclimbingofthemast。Wealsohadnewsfromforward，therebeingdiscontentandsomethreateningcomplaintsofunfairallowances，etc。，allasunreasonableasfoolish；still，thesethingsbidusbeonourguard。Iamgettingmiserablyweak，buttrytokeepupthebestIcan。Ifwecannotfindthoseisleswecanonlytrytomakenorth-westandgetinthetrackofSandwichIsland-boundvessels，livingasbestwecaninthemeantime。To-daywechangedtoonemeal，andthatataboutnoon，withasmallrationorwaterat8or9
A。M。，anotherat12A。M。，andathirdat5or6P。M。
Nothingleftbutalittlepieceofhamandagillofwater，allaround——Captain'sLog。
Theyaredowntoonemealadaynow——suchasitis——andfifteenhundredmilestocrawlyet！Andnowthehorrorsdeepen，and，thoughtheyescapedactualmutiny，theattitudeofthemenbecamealarming。Nowweseemtoseewhythatcuriousincidenthappened，solongago；ImeanCox'sreturn，afterhehadbeenfarawayandoutofsightseveraldaysinthechiefmate'sboat。Ifhehadnotcomebackthecaptainandthetwoyoungpassengersmighthavebeenslain，now，bythesesailors，whowerebecomingcrazedthroughtheirsufferings。
NOTESECRETLYPASSEDBYHENRYTOHISBROTHER：
Coxtoldmelastnightthatthereisgettingtobeagooddealofuglytalkamongthemenagainstthecaptainandusaft。Theysaythatthecaptainisthecauseofall；thathedidnottrytosavetheshipatall，nortogetprovisions，andthatevenwouldnotletthemenputinsometheyhad；andthatpartialityisshownusinapportioningourrationsaft……askedCoxtheotherdayifhewouldstarvefirstoreathumanflesh。Coxansweredhewouldstarve……thentoldhimhewouldonlybekillinghimself。Ifwedonotfindthoseislandswewoulddowelltoprepareforanything……istheloudestofall。
REPLY：
Wecandependon……，Ithink，and……，andCox，canwenot？
SECONDNOTE：
Iguessso，andverylikelyon……；butthereisnotelling……andCoxarecertain。Thereisnothingdefinitesaidorhintedasyet，asIunderstandCox；butstarvingmenarethesameasmaniacs。Itwouldbewelltokeepawatchonyourpistol，soastohaveitandthecartridgessafefromtheft。
Henry'sLog，June5。Dreadfulforebodings。Godspareusfromallsuchhorrors！Someofthemengettingtotalkagooddeal。Nothingtowritedown。Heartverysad。
Henry'sLog，June6。Passedsomesea-weedandsomethingthatlookedlikethetrunkofanoldtree，butnobirds；beginningtobeafraidislandsnotthere。To-dayitwassaidtothecaptain，inthehearingofall，thatsomeofthemenwouldnotshrink，whenamanwasdead，fromusingtheflesh，thoughtheywouldnotkill。
Horrible！Godgiveusallfulluseofourreason，andspareusfromsuchthings！'Fromplague，pestilence，andfamine；frombattleandmurder，andfromsuddendeath，goodLord，deliverus！'
[Diaryentry]June6。Latitude16degrees30minutes，longitudechron。134degrees。Drynightandwindsteadyenoughtorequirenochangeinsail；butthisA。M。anattempttoloweritprovedabortive。Firstthethirdmatetriedandgotuptotheblock，andfastenedatemporaryarrangementtoreevethehalyardsthrough，buthadtocomedown，weakandalmostfainting，beforefinishing；thenJoetried，andaftertwiceascending，fixeditandbroughtdowntheblock；butitwasveryexhaustingwork，andafterwardhewasgoodfornothingallday。Theclue-ironwhichwearetryingtomakeserveforthebrokenblockworks，however，veryindifferently，andwill，Iamafraid，sooncuttherope。Itisverynecessarytogeteverythingconnectedwiththesailingoodeasyrunningorderbeforewegettooweaktodoanythingwithit。
Onlythreemealsleft——Captain'sLog。
[Diaryentry]June7。Latitude16degrees35minutesN。，longitude136degrees30minutesW。Nightwetanduncomfortable。To-dayshowsusprettyconclusivelythattheAmericanIslesarenotthere，thoughwehavehadsomesignsthatlookedlikethem。Atnoonwedecidedtoabandonlookinganyfartherforthem，andto-nighthaulalittlemorenortherly，soastogetinthewayofSandwichIslandvessels，whichfortunatelycomedownprettywellthisway——saytolatitude19degreesto20degreestogetthebenefitofthetrade-
winds。Ofcourseallthewestingwehavemadeisgain，andIhopethechronometeriswronginourfavour，forIdonotseehowanysuchdelicateinstrumentcankeepgoodtimewiththeconstantjarringandthumpingwegetfromthesea。Withthestrongtradewehave，IhopethataweekfromSundaywillputusinsightoftheSandwichIslands，ifwearenotsafebythattimebybeingpickedup。
ItistwelvehundredmilestotheSandwichIslands；theprovisionsarevirtuallyexhausted，butnottheperishingdiarist'spluck。
[Diaryentry]Mycoughtroubledmeagooddeallastnight，andthereforeIgothardlyanysleepatall。Still，Imakeoutprettywell，andshouldnotcomplain。Yesterdaythethirdmatemendedtheblock，andthisP。M。thesail，aftersomedifficulty，wasgotdown，andHarrygottothetopofthemastandrovethehalyardsthroughaftersomehardship，sothatitnowworkseasyandwell。Thisgettingupthemastisnoeasymatteratanytimewiththeseawehave，andisveryexhaustinginourpresentstate。WecouldonlyrewardHarrybyanextrarationofwater。Wehavemadegoodtimeandcourseto-day。Headingherup，however，makestheboatshipseasandkeepsusallwet；however，itcannotbehelped。Writingisaratherprecariousthingthesetimes。Ourmealto-dayforthefifteenconsistsofhalfacanof'soupandboullie'；theotherhalfisreservedforto-morrow。Henrystillkeepsupgrandly，andisagreatfavourite。Godgranthemaybespared。
Abetterfeelingprevailsamongthemen——Captain'sLog。
[Diaryentry]June9。Latitude17degrees53minutes。Finishedto-
day，Imaysay，ourwholestackofprovisions。[2]Wehaveonlyleftalowerendofaham-bone，withsomeoftheouterrindandskinon。
Inregardtothewater，however，Ithinkwehavegottendays'
supplyatourpresentrateofallowance。This，withwhatnourishmentwecangetfromboot-legsandsuchchewablematter，wehopewillenableustoweatheritouttillwegettotheSandwichIslands，or，sailinginthemeantimeinthetrackofvesselsthitherbound，bepickedup。Myhopeisinthelatter，forinallhumanprobabilityIcannotstandtheother。Still，wehavebeenmarvellouslyprotected，andGod，Ihope，willpreserveusallinHisowngoodtimeandway。Themenaregettingweaker，butarestillquietandorderly。
[Diaryentry]Sunday，June10。Latitude18degrees40minutes，longitude142degrees34minutes。Aprettygoodnightlastnight，withsomewettings，andagainanotherbeautifulSunday。Icannotbutthinkhowweshouldallenjoyitathome，andwhatacontrastishere！Howterribletheirsuspensemustbegintobe！Godgrantthatitmayberelievedbeforeverylong，andHecertainlyseemstobewithusineverythingwedo，andhaspreservedthisboatmiraculously；forsincewelefttheshipwehavesailedconsiderablyoverthreethousandmiles，which，takingintoconsiderationourmeagrestockofprovisions，isalmostunprecedented。AsyetIdonotfeelthestintoffoodsomuchasIdothatofwater。EvenHenry，whoisnaturallyagoodwater-drinker，cansavehalfofhisallowancefromtimetotime，whenIcannot。Mydiseasedthroatmayhavesomethingtodowiththat，however。
Nothingisnowleftwhichbyanyflatterycanbecalledfood。Buttheymustmanagesomehowforfivedaysmore，foratnoontheyhavestilleighthundredmilestogo。Itisaraceforlifenow。
Thisisnotimeforcommentsorotherinterruptionsfromme——everymomentisvaluable。Iwilltakeuptheboybrother'sdiaryatthispoint，andcleartheseasbeforeitandletitfly。
HENRYFERGUSON'SLOG：
Sunday，June10。Ourham-bonehasgivenusatasteoffoodto-day，andwehavegotleftalittlemeatandtheremainderofthebonefortomorrow。Certainly，neverwastheresuchasweetknuckle-one，oronethatwassothoroughlyappreciated……IdonotknowthatI
feelanyworsethanIdidlastSunday，notwithstandingthereductionofdiet；andItrustthatwemayallhavestrengthgivenustosustainthesufferingsandhardshipsofthecomingweek。WeestimatethatwearewithinsevenhundredmilesoftheSandwichIslands，andthatouraverage，daily，issomewhatoverahundredmiles，sothatourhopeshavesomefoundationinreason。Heavensendwemayalllivetoseeland！
June11。Atethemeatandrindofourham-bone，andhavetheboneandthegreasyclothfromaroundthehamlefttoeatto-morrow。Godsendusbirdsorfish，andletusnotperishofhunger，orbebroughttothedreadfulalternativeoffeedingonhumanflesh！AsI
feelnow，Idonotthinkanythingcouldpersuademe；butyoucannottellwhatyouwilldowhenyouarereducedbyhungerandyourmindwandering。Ihopeandpraywecanmakeouttoreachtheislandsbeforewegettothisstrait；butwehaveoneortwodesperatemenaboard，thoughtheyarequietenoughnow。ITISMYFIRMTRUSTAND
BELIEFTHATWEAREGOINGTOBESAVED。