“Bery bright idea, Massa Walter,” exclaimed Nub. “De hole where we made de fire is full of oil, and me fill up two of de empty bottles with it; den, as we have no saucer for de lamp, suppose you take one of your shoes,—it will hold de oil for de purpose.”
“I will gladly give up both my shoes,” said Walter.
“So will I mine,” exclaimed Alice; “if they are of any use.”
“We need not deprive you of yours, Miss Alice,” said the mate; “I must insist rather on mine being taken. And for a wick, we have only to pick a rope to pieces and twist it up lightly.”
Nub, taking the two empty bottles, climbed up again on the whale’s back. He found even more oil than he had expected, and filling the bottles, lowered them on the raft. He was about to descend, when he was seen looking eagerly out on the other side of the whale.
“What is it?” asked the mate.
“A sail! a sail!” he shouted, clapping his hands, and dancing frantically about at a great risk of slipping off into the water. The mate and Walter quickly climbed up, anxious to ascertain the truth of Nub’s assertion.
“Dere! dere!” he exclaimed. “To the south. Dere she comes! Missie Alice and Massa Walter soon be safe!”
“That’s not a ship,” observed the mate. “If you look steadily, you will see that it’s a long way on this side of the horizon, and but little raised above the water. It would not appear so distinct as it does if it was the topgallant-sail of a ship, hull down. That’s the sail of a boat or a raft; and before long it will be near at hand.”
Alice eagerly inquired what they were looking at. Walter having told her what the mate said, could with difficulty persuade her to remain on the raft, so anxious was she to climb up to see the object in sight.