The fourth day came and the supply of food and water was nearly gone

　　The fourth day came and the supply of food and water was nearly gone.

　　Emil proposed to keep it for the sick man and the women, but two ofthe men rebelled, demanding their share. Emil gave up his as anexample, and several of the good fellows followed it, with the quietheroism which so often crops up in rough but manly natures. Thisshamed the others, and for another day an ominous peace reigned inthat little world of suffering and suspense. But during the night,while Emil, worn out with fatigue, left the watch to the mosttrustworthy sailor, that he might snatch an hour's rest, these twomen got at the stores and stole the last of the bread and water, andthe one bottle of brandy, which was carefully hoarded to keep uptheir strength and make the brackish water drinkable. Half mad withthirst, they drank greedily and by morning one was in a stupor, fromwhich he never woke; the other so crazed by the strong stimulant,that when Emil tried to control him, he leaped overboard and waslost. Horror-stricken by this terrible scene, the other men weresubmissive henceforth, and the boat floated on and on with its sadfreight of suffering souls and bodies.

　　Another trial came to them that left all more despairing than before.

　　A sail appeared, and for a time a frenzy of joy prevailed, to beturned to bitterest disappointment when it passed by, too far away tosee the signals waved to them or hear the frantic cries for help thatrang across the sea. Emil's heart sank then, for the captain seemeddying, and the women could not hold out much longer. He kept up tillnight came; then in the darkness, broken only by the feeble murmuringof the sick man, the whispered prayers of the poor wife, theceaseless swash of waves, Emil hid his face, and had an hour ofsilent agony that aged him more than years of happy life could havedone. It was not the physical hardship that daunted him, though wantand weakness tortured him; it was his dreadful powerlessness toconquer the cruel fate that seemed hanging over them. The men hecared little for, since these perils were but a part of the life theychose; but the master he loved, the good woman who had been so kindto him, the sweet girl whose winsome presence had made the longvoyage so pleasant for them all--if he could only save these dear andinnocent creatures from a cruel death, he felt that he couldwillingly give his life for them.

　　As he sat there with his head in his hands, bowed down by the firstgreat trial of his young life, the starless sky overhead, therestless sea beneath, and all around him suffering, for which he hadno help, a soft sound broke the silence, and he listened like one ina dream. It was Mary singing to her mother, who lay sobbing in herarms, spent with this long anguish. A very faint and broken voice itwas, for the poor girl's lips were parched with thirst; but theloving heart turned instinctively to the great Helper in this hour ofdespair, and He heard her feeble cry. It was a sweet old hynm oftensung at Plumfield; and as he listened, all the happy past came backso clearly that Emil forgot the bitter present, and was at homeagain. His talk on the housetop with Aunt Jo seemed but yesterday,and, with a pang of self-reproach, he thought: