Page:Barbour--Lost island.djvu/333

 After that there remained nothing to do but let the gale wear itself out. It was impossible to get anything to eat or drink, for the little craft never stopped dancing crazily. It was very near sunset when there came a marked moderation of the wind.

"Put um sail up bimeby," commented Jim.

"You 've said it," agreed Tempest. "The worst is over, and it's getting better all the time. This is where we thank our lucky stars, if we have any. I don't mind admitting now that I did n't expect to be alive by night. What do you say, Jim?"

Jim shrugged his shoulders. Whatever his feelings were he was not in the habit of exhibiting them.

"We have some grub now, eh?" he said. With this practical suggestion the others heartily agreed. Now that immediate danger was past they felt half starved.

During the day Tempest had constantly kept an eye on his compass, and he calculated that they