Межзвёздный скиталец

           Sevenhadgoneinthetwinklingofaneye,consequentonJudHetchkins’attempttostealprovisions.Andtomeitseemedapitythatsomuchgoodwarmclothinghadbeenwastedthereinthesea.Therewasnotoneofuswhocouldnothavemanagedgratefullywithmore.

           CaptainNichollandthesurgeonweregoodmenandhonest.Oftenenough,whentwoofusslept,theoneawakeandsteeringcouldhavestolenfromthemeat.Butthisneverhappened.Wetrustedoneanotherfully,andwewouldhavediedratherthanbetraythattrust.

           Wecontinuedtocontentourselveswithhalfapoundofmeateachperday,andwetookadvantageofeveryfavouringbreezetoworktothenorth’ard.NotuntilJanuaryfourteenth,sevenweekssincethewreck,didwecomeupwithawarmerlatitude.Eventhenitwasnotreallywarm.Itwasmerelynotsobitterlycold.

           Herethefreshwesterliesforsookusandwebobbedandblobbedaboutindoldrummyweatherformanydays.Mostlyitwascalm,orlightcontrarywinds,thoughsometimesaburstofbreeze,aslikeasnotfromdeadahead,wouldlastforafewhours.Inourweakenedcondition,withsolargeaboat,itwasoutofthequestiontorow.WecouldmerelyhoardourfoodandwaitforGodtoshowamorekindlyface.ThethreeofuswerefaithfulChristians,andwemadeapracticeofprayereachdaybeforetheapportionmentoffood.Yes,andeachofusprayedprivately,oftenandlong.