98 THE CRATER; however, was on no occasion given up wholly to this pur suit. On the contrary, many little odd tasks were com pleted, which were set by their necessities, or by fore thought and prudence. All the empty water-casks, for one thing, were rolled ashore, and filled at the largest pool; the frequency of the rains admonishing them of the wisdom of making a provision for the dry season. The Rancocus had a good deal of water still left in her, some of it being excellent Delaware river water, though she had filled up at Valparaiso, after passing the Horn. Mark counted the full casks, and allowing ten gallons a day for Bob and him self, a good deal more than could be wanted, there re mained in the ship fresh water enough to last them two years. It is true, it was not such water as the palate often craved of a warm day ; but they were accustomed to it, and it was sweet. By keeping it altogether between decks, the sun had no power on it, and it was even more palatable than might have been supposed. Mark occasionally longed for one good drink at some gushing spring that he remem bered at home, it is true; and Bob was a little in the habit of extolling a particular well that, it would seem, his family were reputed to have used for several generations. Not withstanding these little natural backslidings on this sub ject, our mariners might be thought well off on the score of water, having it in great abundance, and with no rea sonable fear of ever losing it altogether. The casks taken ashore were filled for their preservation, as well as for con venience, an old sail being spread over them, after they were rolled together and chocked. As yet, no water was given to any of the stock, all the animals finding it in abundance, in the cavities of the lava. Some of the time, moreover, Betts passed in fishing, supplying not only Mark and himself, but the pigs and the poultry, with as much food as was desired. Several of the fish caught turned out to be delicious, while others were of a quality that caused them to be thrown into the com post heap. A cargo of guano was also imported, the rich manure being mixed up in liberal quantities with the loam. At the end of the first week of these voyages to loam- rock, Betts went out to fish in a new direction, passing to windward of the sea-wall, as they called the reef that
