Village books

Such being the determination, it became necessary to cast off the
other boat, which, after a good deal of unpleasantness, was done,
we again dividing water and stores, and taking Cox into our boat.
This makes our number fifteen. The second mate's crew wanted to
all get in with us, and cast the other boat adrift. It was a very
painful separation.
So these isles that they have struggled for so long and so hopefully have
to be given up. What with lying birds that come to mock, and isles that
are but a dream, and 'visions of ships that come to naught,' it is a
pathetic time they are having, with much heartbreak in it. It was odd
that the vanished boat, three days lost to sight in that vast solitude,
should appear again. But it brought Cox--we can't be certain why. But
if it hadn't, the diarist would never have seen the land again.
[Diary entry] Our chances as we go west increase in regard to being
picked up, but each day our scanty fare is so much reduced. Without
the fish, turtle, and birds sent us, I do not know how we should
have got along.


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