"It must be near noon," said Willy, remembering that an observation had to be taken. Harry pulled out his watch--there was but little time to lose. The quadrant was got ready. Harry felt somewhat weak, as he stood up with it at his eye, while Willy, with note-book in hand, marked down the degrees as he read them off. After a satisfactory observation was taken, the result showed that they were somewhat farther to the north than the latitude where they had left the ship, while he calculated that, since then, they had run upwards of a hundred miles. Still their distance to the nearest known land was very considerable. Water, Harry feared, would be their chief want. His mind on that point was, however, somewhat relieved when Willy, coming aft, told him that the doctor hoped to manufacture a still for producing fresh water from that of the sea. "He forgets the amount of fuel he will require for the purpose," remarked Harry. "He told me not to be unhappy about that," answered Willy. "Perhaps he expects to catch a whale." Harry smiled faintly at the notion. "But we may catch some smaller creatures, though," exclaimed Willy. "I have just found a harpoon, and Paul Lizard has often told me that he is a first-rate harpooner, and has struck many a porpoise and dolphin in his time." "Please, sir, if we can see one of those creatures, I have little fear but what we may manage him," observed Paul, who was standing steering close to them. Harry's hopes revived on hearing this; not that he would have allowed anybody to suppose that he entertained any fears about the ultimate safety of those confided to his charge. The day was employed in putting the boat to rights, re-stowing carefully everything of value, and heaving overboard several useless and heavy articles. The carpenters' first care was to tighten the hoops round the water-casks, and it was hoped that, if water could be procured, the leaky cask would now hold it. The empty cases were now broken-up for firewood, to assist the doctor in his operations; and when they heard what he was about, the spirits of most of the party revived. Poor Mrs Morley and her daughters, however, could not forget the brave colonel left to perish with his men; and Mrs Rumbelow, though she did her best to cheer others, every now and then uttered a sigh she could not suppress, as she looked in the direction where the ship had been left. The day was drawing to a close. "Hurra!" shouted Willy, "the cutter is nearing us. I have been watching her for some time--they have got out their oars--that shows they have some strength left."