All in the rowboat were exceedingly thirsty and would have given much for a drink of water. Crouched on the seats, with poor Bob and Pat Stoodles beside them, Dave, the captain, and the doctor talked the situation over. "We are certainly in a pickle," said Dave. "If we can't find the ship, what then?" "We must find the _Swallow_," declared Captain Broadbeam. "Unless we do, we'll starve to death." "We might return to the island at nightfall," said the doctor. "Remember, we need water and so do these poor sufferers." And he pointed to Bob and the Irishman. "That's a scheme," cried Dave. "We might land under cover of darkness and hide somewhere until we can locate the ship." Slowly the day wore away. Towards nightfall the wind began to blow strongly, sending the spray flying in all directions. "We can't stand this," was Dave's comment. "If it blows any harder, we'll be swamped." "We must take to the oars and keep the boat up to the seas," said the captain, and this was done. A little later it began to rain. At first it did not amount to much, but presently it began to pour. As best they could, they gathered a small quantity of the water and drank it greedily. They also gave Bob and Stoodles a drink, which did the injured much good. At last night was upon them, black and threatening. The rowboat was drifting in the wind and the rain, but where to none could tell. "We must take what comes," said Captain Broadbeam, gravely. "We are in the hands of Providence." Dave was so exhausted he could not keep his eyes open and soon he went sound asleep, and not long after this the doctor followed his example. Only the captain remained awake and he was so exhausted he could do absolutely nothing. It was about three o'clock in the morning when the wind began to blow a regular hurricane. The mad plunging and pitching of the rowboat aroused Dave. "What's up?" he cried. "The storm is increasing," answered the captain. "Are we still out on the ocean?" "Yes." Captain Broadbeam had scarcely spoken when there came a shock that almost turned the rowboat over. "We have struck!" "We are going to the bottom!" The shock aroused all but Pat Stoodles. Bob would have gone overboard had it not been for Dave, who caught the unconscious man by the shoulder and held him. "Don't--don't hurt me!" groaned Bob. "Oh!" A moment later came another shock. Then the rowboat appeared to slide over a sand bar, and of a sudden Captain Broadbeam felt the limb of a tree brush his side. "Hullo! what's this?" he ejaculated. "A tree limb--and here's another! Can it be a floating tree----" "Hurrah! Here's land!" burst out Dave, peering into the darkness. "A shore of some kind." "Beware of the savages," cautioned Doctor Barrell. "They may be close at hand." "I'd rather meet the savages than drown in this storm," came bluntly from Captain Broadbeam.