Chapter 46

January 17th.

As a natural consequence of the alleviation of our thirst, the pangs of hunger returned more violently than ever.Although we had no bait, and even if we had we could not use it for want of a whirl, we could not help asking whether no possible means could be devised for securing one out of the many sharks that were still perpetually swarming about the raft.Armed with knives, like the Indians in the pearl fisheries, was it not practicable to attack the monsters in their own element?Curtis expressed his willingness personally to make the attempt, but so numerous were the sharks that we would not for one moment hear of his risking his life in a venture of which the danger was as great as the success was doubtful.

By plunging into the sea, or by gnawing at a piece of metal, we could always, or at least often, do something that cheated us into believing that we were mitigating the pains of thirst;but with hunger it was different.The prospect, too, of rain seemed hopeful, whilst for getting food there appeared no chance;and, as we knew that nothing could compensate for the lack of nutritive matter, we were soon all cast down again.Shocking to confess, it would be untrue to deny that we surveyed each other with the eye of an eager longing;and I need hardly explain to what a degree of savageness the one idea that haunted us had reduced our feelings.

Ever since the storm-cloud brought us the too transient shower the sky has been tolerably clear, and although at that time the wind had slightly freshened, it has since dropped, and the sail hangs idly against our mast.Except for the trifling relief it brings by modifying the temperature we care little now for any breeze.Ignorant as we are as to what quarter of the Atlantic we have been carried by the currents, it matters very little to us from what direction the wind may blow if only it would bring, in rain or dew, the moisture of which we are so dreadfully in need.

The moon was entering her last quarter, so that it was dark till nearly midnight, and the stars were misty, not glowing with that lustre which is so often characteristic of cool nights.Half frantic with that sense of hunger which invariably returns with redoubled vigour at the close of every day, I threw myself, in a kind of frenzy, upon a bundle of sails that was lying on the starboard of the raft, and leaning over, I tried to get some measure of relief by inhaling the moist coolness that rarely fails to circulate just above the water.My brain was haunted by the most horrible nightmares;not that I suppose I was in any way more distressed than my companions, who were lying in their usual places, vainly endeavouring to forget their sufferings in sleep.

After a time I fell into a restless, dreamy doze.I was neither asleep nor awake.How long I remained in that state of stupor I could hardly say, but at length a strange sensation half brought me to myself.Was I dreaming, or was there not really some unaccustomed odour floating in the air?My nostrils became distended, and I could scarcely suppress a cry of astonishment;but some instinct kept me quiet, and I laid myself down again with the puzzled sensation sometimes experienced when we have forgotten a word or name.Only a few minutes, however, had elapsed before another still more savoury puff induced me to take several long inhalations.Suddenly, the truth seemed to dash across my mind.“Surely, ”I muttered to myself“this must be cooked meat that I can smell.”

Again and again I sniffed and became more convinced than ever that my senses were not deceiving me.But from what part of the raft could the smell proceed?I rose to my knees, and having satisfied myself that the odour came from the front, I crept stealthily as a cat under the sails and between the spars in that direction.Following the promptings of my scent, rather than my vision, like a bloodhound in the track of his prey, I searched everywhere I could, now finding, now losing, the smell according to my change of position, or the drop-ping of the wind.At length I got the true scent;once for all, so that I could go straight to the object for which I was in search.

Approaching the starboard angle of the raft, I came to the conclusion that the smell that had thus keenly excited my cravings was the smell of smoked bacon;the membranes of my tongue almost bristled with the intenseness of my longing.

Crawling along a little farther, under a thick roll of sailcloth, I was not long in securing my prize.Forcing my arm below the roll, I felt my hand in contact with something wrapped up in paper.I clutched it up, and carried it off to a place where I could examine it by the help of the light of the moon that had now made its appearance above the horizon.I almost shrieked for joy.It was a piece of bacon.True, it did not weigh many ounces, but small as it was it would suffice to alleviate the pangs of hunger for one day at least.I was just on the point of raising it to my mouth, when a hand was laid upon my arm.It was only by a most determined effort that I kept myself from screaming out one instant more, and I found myself face to face with Hobart.

In a moment I understood all.Plainly this rascal Hobart had saved some provision from the wreck, upon which he had been subsisting ever since.The steward had provided for himself, whilst all around him were dying of starvation.Detestable wretch!This accounts for the inconsistency of his well-to-do looks and his pitiable groans.Vile hypocrite!

Yet why, it struck me, should I complain?Was not I reaping the benefit of that secret store that he, for himself, had saved?

But Hobart had no idea of allowing me the peaceable possession of what he held to be his own.He made a dash at the fragment of bacon, and seemed determined to wrest it from my grasp.We struggled with each other, but although our wrestling was very violent, it was very noiseless.We were both of us aware that it was absolutely necessary that not one of those on board should know anything at all about the prize for which we were contending.Nor was my own determination lessened by hearing him groan out that it was his last, his only morsel.“His!”I thought;“it shall be mine now!”

And still careful that no noise of commotion should arise, I threw him on his back, and grasping his throat so that it gurgled again, I held him down until, in rapid mouthfuls, I had swallowed up the last scrap of the food for which we had fought so hard.

I released my prisoner, and quietly crept back to my own quarters.

And not a soul is aware that I have broken my fast!