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Slowly the sun began to sink in the west, and the conviction that they must pass another night where they were, added anything but comfort to their situation.

When the glorious sunlight of the following morning fell on them, it found them parched with thirst, and lying utterly exhausted on the miserable float. Fred and Captain Harden still bore up, but the fiery flush on the cheek of Gus and the wild light in his eye, showed the fever that was burning within.

As the morning passed, and noon approached, he grew delirious. He raved wildly, and more than once it required the united strength of his friends to prevent him from plunging bodily into the deep.

"Would to Heaven aid would come!" said Captain Harden, with deep anxiety, as his eye fell on the delirious youth. "Poor boy, I do not wonder he has sunk beneath this trial. He is little inured to the hardships and privations of a sailor's life."

"What is that?" said Fred, who had an eye like a hawk; "there is a vessel bearing down directly toward us. Look! look!"