"We've got water, and that is more than many a poor fellow has had when in as bad a plight as ours.

Let us be thankful for what we have got and for having our lives spared so far! To-morrow, if the sea be calm, as there is every reason to hope it will be, we'll probably be able to fetch something out of the cabin; while, if the worst comes to the worst, I've no doubt we'll be able to pick up some crabs and shell-fish from the Gulf-weed floating around." "Right you are, sir," said Moggridge, ashamed of having spoken.

"I see lots of the stuff about us now." "Is that the Gulf-weed you told me about, captain ?" I asked, pointing to some long strings of what looked like the broken-off branches of trees, with berries on them, that were washing past the hull of the _Josephine_ on the top of the rolling swell.
"Yes, Tom, we're now in the Sargasso Sea, its own especial home.
Indeed, this region is especially so called on account of the `Sargassum,' or weed, in the Portuguese tongue.

You ask Mr Marline and he'll tell you all about it, being learned in such matters." The first mate, however, did not wait for me to question him.
Taking the captain's observation as a hint to say something to occupy the attention of the men and myself, and so keep us from thinking of the sharks and our painful position, he proceeded to narrate all he knew about this curious marine fungus.

He had a good deal to say, too, for Mr Marline was a well-read man and took a great interest in all matters of science.
It was certainly a very novel situation in which to give a lecture, but the sailors were glad enough to listen to anything to make the time pass.