ASCENSION. 259

when the rain descended, gentle and copious as a summer
shower, there was a sufficient amount of canvas spread to
catch as much as filled every spare cask on board.

Ben remained at the wheel, and the men had nothing
to do save take in the needed supply and store it away.

“It’s done, sir,” Bob cried, cheerily, before the shower
had ceased. “We've filled every blessed cask, and did
so easier than if we’d fooled ’round tryin’ to bring it from
on shore.”

The men, when admitted to the confidence of the cap-
tain, as would never have been the case if a full comple-
ment of sailors had been on board, assumed a familiar
manner of speaking, which Ben would not have counte-
nanced under other circumstances; but now that it was
essential that each should exert himself to the utmost,
even beyond his strength, the young captain believed he ©
could accomplish more by putting aside the dignity which
the commander of a ship necessarily assumes.

Miss Dunham came on deck shortly after sunrise, and
said to Ben, as she insisted on taking her station at the
wheel :

“T am afraid something is the matter with old Eliph-
alet.”’

“What causes you to have any such fear as that ?”

- «He has got the idea in his head that we have all the
water aboard we need. He told me your orders were, the
full allowance of three gallons should be given out; he
insisted you said so.”

« And that is right. We are now well supplied.”