westward with a will for awhile?”

Star thought for a moment; then, with a delicate flush rising in her cheek, an almost holy light glowing in her eyes, and a thrill in her tones which touched every heart, she sang:

There were tears in the eyes of those rough, stern-visaged men when the song was ended, and more than one weather-bronzed hand was lifted to dash them aside. There was not a sailor there who would not have fought dearly for the life of this sweet-voiced girl, who had thus touched a chord in their hearts which had not vibrated before for many a year.

A little while after the boatswain called aloud:

“A sail! a sail!”

26All eyes were instantly turned in the direction toward which he pointed, and low on the horizon, very far away, there gleamed a white sail.

26

The captain brought his glass to bear upon it, and reported a schooner.

A signal of distress was hoisted immediately, and changing their course, they pulled vigorously for the vessel.

But in less than half an hour it had disappeared entirely, and, with disappointed faces, they again turned their course westward.

The demands of nature now began to assert themselves, and the captain served out a generous breakfast, treating all alike.

Mr. Rosevelt regarded him anxiously as he did this.

“How long will your stores hold out?” he asked, as the men began to eat hungrily.

“Two or three days,” he returned; “but we are so nearly in the line of the steamers that we shall surely fall in with one before our provisions are gone.”

The old man sighed, and bent a wistful look upon the young girl sitting beside him.

Star had noted his anxious tone as he questioned the captain; she had also seen the look he cast upon her.

“He fears that we shall be tossed about on the ocean until we starve,” she thought, a horrible chill creeping over her; and she quietly slipped all the bread that had been given her into her pocket, and only 

 Prev. P 17/329 next