A shift in the wind is going on now, and if it hit us before we reached the island, finding us worn out, we might go down before it." It was a good enough reason and bye and bye only two men kept at the oars, the rest lying on the bottom of the boat or falling asleep in their seats.

The captain kept a sharp watch for the other boat, which had gone away in the dark, but beheld no sign of it, although the moon and stars were now out, and they could see a long distance.
"Stubbs knows where the island is," said the captain, "and if they've lived they'll make for it.

We can't turn aside to search all over the sea for 'em." Robert after a while fell asleep also in his seat, and despite his extraordinary situation slept soundly, though it was rather an unconsciousness that came from extreme exhaustion, both bodily and mental.

He awoke some time later to find that the darkness had come back and that the wind was rising again.
"You can take a hand at the oar once more, Peter," said the captain.

"I let you sleep because I knew that it would refresh you and we need the strength of everybody.