Part 15 (1/2)

His shout brought the rest of the party up around hi out in the direction be pointed As daylight increased, Tian to rub his eyes--

”Arrah now, ill-luck to it; but my shi+p has just turned into a white rock,” he cried out ”Shure but it's a hty disappointment”

The expectation of speedy deliverance was thus suddenly destroyed; but the shi+pwrecked party continued looking round on every side, in the hope of discovering land The light yet further increasing, Tohtened as he observed what looked like the , far off, out of the water

”Why, I believe those are three cocoa-nut trees,” he cried out cheerfully ”I see several others away to the eastward”

”If there are cocoa-nut trees, there row out of the sea,” said Billy, ”and I hope we et there”

”You need not doubt about our doing that,” said Tom

This announcement raised every one's spirits The weather had much moderated The sea between the reef on which the shi+p lay and the land was tolerably san to feel hungry

”I'll tell you what it is: if we don't get so to eat soon, I for one shall die of inanition,” exclai at the best of ti dreadfully”

”We will see what can be done, Billy,” said Toet breakfast ready

”Yes, rinning and looking towards where the caboose had lately stood ”Me try what can do in de cabin,” he added, diving below

Though the caboose had been washed away Peter ht a fire in the cabin stove and to cook a tolerable breakfast, of which all thankfully partook

”'Faith! we're not so badly off after all,” observed Gerald ”If the boatswain and the poor felloith hiht all have been alive now and have reached land without difficulty”

Iether, which To shape like a cataht, should the wind be fair, be sailed or propelled by paddles towards the shore As the distance was considerable, it was i as possible, to stand any amount of sea they were likely to meet with before they reached the shore It took upwards of an hour to for cut away the bulwarks, launched it overboard with capstan bars The water under the lee of the wreck was tolerably sside without injury They had next to lash the casks below it

This was a more difficult operation, as it was necessary to secure them firmly in their proper positions, a row on each side, head to head

When it was completed, the platform floated well out of the water

Three oars only could be found on board, so that they had to for boards on to the ends of short spars The next as to rig the reed to have two ht be able to sail with the wind abeam The masts were firmly fixed by means of blocks nailed to the deck, and they were set up with stays By noon the raft was completed The midshi+pmen surveyed her with considerable satisfaction

”I for one should notin her anywhere, provided she ell provisioned,” said Billy Blueblazes ”I don't see e should not try to fetch the Ladrones, if we don't find ourselves very coly advise you not to entle as well satisfied with the appearance of the raft as his younger companions

”We shall see how she will behave when she has her cargo on board, and we get under way,” said Tom

”Don't you think we had better have some dinner before we shove off?”

asked Billy; ”it won't do to be going aithout our grub, as it may be some time before we reach the shore”

Billy's proposal was agreed to, although Toly recommended that there should be no unnecessary delay While Peter was preparing dinner, all the stores which could be collected were placed on the raft and lashed securely down amidshi+ps The principal provisions found aft were biscuits, tins of potted ar, and five well-cured hams

”We are pretty well off as it is,” said Deso without firear-piece, and h were found to arood supply of aes, be able to keep them at bay

They had already secured provisions sufficient to last them for several weeks As it was important, however, to obtain some of a more substantial character, Jerry and Tiet up some casks of beef This, after so the, and two casks of beef were hoisted on deck They fortunately came upon two casks, one of flour the other of rice, which, although daht be dried on shore in the sun, and rendered eatable These accordingly were added to their provisions Two cases of wine and a s of spirits were also put on board Peter added to these so utensils, with cups, plates, knives, and forks At length, Toh tiht take theht

”Letand blankets; they will not weigh much, and we may want them,” observed the doctor