Page:Narrativeavoyag01wilsgoog.djvu/46

22 journey. In case of accidental separation, a week's provisions were issued to the skiff and jolly-boat, and it was judged prudent to divide at once the brandy equally to the boats, according to the number of persons in each. To do this equitably, it behoved us to collect all that might be in the other boats, for we had only a very small quantity in the long-boat, in consequence of the unaccountable disappearance of a five-gallon keg full.

A good deal of ill humour was manifested by the officer in charge of one of the boats, when requested to increase the general stock, by the production of a considerable quantity which he had snugly stowed away for particular service. He was very reluctant to give it up, insisting that, de jure, it was his own property. However that might be, it was, ex necessitate rei, added to the common stock, which was then divided, with strict impartiality, as were also a few bottles of wine and porter, which had been placed in our boat by the steward. The biscuit, being now dry, was put into bags, and protected as much as possible from future damage, by being covered with tarpawling.

Every thing being placed in the boats, about six, P.M., we left this islet. Perhaps we acted rather imprudently, by not remaining until the morning; but, as we could not procure any water here, and as it was in other respects inconvenient, we were anxious to get forward to Booby Island, where we purposed to complete our arrangements, and which it was expected we