So great had been the hurry of shoving off that they found themselves without chart, compass, or provisions, save a little keg of water and a small flask of brandy. However, judging by the direction of the wind, which the Captain had noted carefully before retiring, the boats’ heads were put in the direction of the island of Anticosti, and, keeping as nearly as possible together (there were three boats’ crews), they pulled hard all night for shore. When the morning broke they fancied they observed the loom of the land in the distance, and a shout of joy involuntarily burst from the whole company; they were doomed, however, to disappointment, for, on the mist clearing away, they could observe nothing but sky and sea for miles on every hand. The Captain was completely puzzled how to act, so, summoning a council of war in the gig, they came to the conclusion that, as they might, instead of pulling toward the land, pull farther away from it, there was no use wasting their strength pulling at all, and that they had better keep a careful look out for vessels either going to or coming from America, and trust in Providence. The water was served carefully out, and the Captain took the brandy into his own charge, the men encouraging each other with tales of their past experience in situations equally trying and still more dangerous. All day they bobbed about on the dancing waves, the oarsmen pulling just sufficiently to keep headway on their respective boats, but not a sign of either land or passing vessel was visible. The last round of water was served out, and the men tried hard to induce the Captain to hand them over the brandy, some of them sullenly, and intimating an inclination to take the bottle by force; but the Captain cocking his revolver, which he had fortunately retained, they subsided into silence, and lay moodily at the bottom of the boat. They passed the night with heavy hearts, and when morning dawned despair seized every man of them, for not a vestige of land was to be seen, neither was there a boat of any kind in sight. Fortunately the weather was remarkably calm and clear, so they had no difficulty in keeping together, and in sharing equally their little supply of water, but now that that was gone what were they to do?