“I have heard, before, of vessels being carried over reefs, and bars of rivers, into berths they could not quit,” answered Mark.  “But, reflect a moment, Bob, how much better our condition is, than if we had been washed down on this naked reef, with only such articles to comfort us, as could be picked up along shore from the wreck!”

“I’m glad to hear you talk in this rational way, Mr. Mark; for it’s a sign you do not give up, or take things too deeply to heart.  I was afeard that you might be thinking too much of Miss Bridget, and make yourself more unhappy than is necessary for a man who has things so comfortable around him.”

“The separation from my wife causes me much pain, Betts, but I trust in God.  It has been in his pleasure to place us in this extraordinary situation, and I hope that something good will come of it.”

“That’s the right sentiments, sir—­only keep such feelings uppermost, and we shall do right down well.  Why, we have water, in plenty, until after the rainy season shall be along, when we can catch a fresh supply.  Then, there is beef and pork enough betwixt decks to last you and me five or six years; and bread and flour in good quantities, to say nothing of lots of small stores, both forward and aft.”

“The ship is well found, and, as you say, we might live a long time, years certainly, on the food she contains.  There is, however, one thing to be dreaded, and to provide against which shall be my first care.  We are now fifty days on salted provisions, and fifty more will give us both the scurvy.”

“The Lord in his mercy protect me from that disease!” exclaimed Bob.  “I had it once, in an old v’y’ge round the Horn, and have no wish to try it ag’in, But there must be fish in plenty among these rocks, Mr. Mark, and we have a good stock of bread.  By dropping the beef and pork, for a few days at a time, might we not get shut of the danger?”

“Fish will help us, and turtle would be a great resource, could we meet with any of that.  But, man requires mixed food, meats and vegetables, to keep him healthy; and nothing is so good for the scurvy as the last.  The worst of our situation is a want of soil, to grow any vegetables in.  I did not see so much as a rush, or the coarsest sea-plant, when we were on the island yesterday.  If we had soil, there is seed in plenty on board, and this climate would bring forward vegetation at a rapid rate.”

“Ay, ay, sir, and I’ll tell you what I’ve got in the way of seeds, myself.  You may remember the delicious musk and watermelons we fell in with last v’y’ge, in the east.  Well, sir, I saved some of the seed, thinking to give it to my brother, who is a Jarsey farmer, you know, sir; and, sailor-like, I forgot it altogether, when in port.  If a fellow could get but a bit of earth to put them melon-seeds in, we might be eating our fruit like gentlemen, two months hence, or three months, at the latest.”