Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs: A Tale of Land and Sea

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  The "Druid" had run more than half across the Indian Ocean. She hadencountered a heavy gale, and had been driven somewhat out of hercourse, but the weather moderated, and she was now steering for theStraits of Sunda. Unfortunately she received considerable damage. Oneof her boats had been lost, her bulwarks stove in, and her fore-yardsprung.

  The captain, who had been on deck during the continuance of the gale,had over-exerted himself, and was now again confined to his cot. Forseveral days, owing to a cloudy sky, no observation had been taken.Owen had one evening entered the cabin shortly before the time fortaking a lunar observation, in order to ascertain the longitude. MrGrey had just before gone on deck with his sextant.

  "Is the weather clear?" asked Captain Aggett.

  "Yes, sir. There are but few clouds, and I think we shall get a goodobservation."

  "I must go on deck and take one," said the captain, attempting to rise.He sank back, however, before he could get out of his cot. Owenendeavoured to assist him, but his strength was insufficient. Again thecaptain endeavoured to rise. "I am weaker than I fancied," he murmured.He lay quiet for a few minutes.

  "Owen," he said at length, "I am afraid that my days are numbered. Ishould have been thankful had I lived to carry the ship into port, butGod may will it otherwise. If I die, when you get home, see my poorwidow, and deliver to her such property as I possess. She will not beleft as well off as I should wish. I have not been as prudent as Iought to have been."

  "You may trust that to me, sir, and I will do the best I can," answeredOwen; "but perhaps you are not so ill as you suppose. Let me call thedoctor, and he may give you something to restore your strength."

  "Yes, call him; but I doubt if anything he can give me will do that,"answered the captain.

  The doctor had turned in, but immediately rose on being summoned byOwen. He brought some medicine with him, which he at once gave to thecaptain on feeling his pulse.

  "You are a brave man, Captain Aggett," he said, "I will not disguise thetruth from you. You are sinking. Any worldly matters you have toarrange should be settled without delay."

  "I have done that already, doctor," answered the captain, in a weakvoice. "Who has the watch, Owen?"

  "The third mate, sir," he answered.

  "I will see the first and second mates then, as soon as they havefinished their observations. Go and call them, Owen," said the captain.

  Owen hurried on deck. The second mate, with the assistance of thethird, had just taken a satisfactory observation.

  Owen told Mr Grey that the captain wished to see him, but Mr Scooneshad not made his appearance on deck. Owen found him in his berth, andgave him the captain's message.

  "Dying, is he? That's the lot of all men," observed the mate in anindifferent tone.

  Owen saw that, although not tipsy, he had been drinking, but hoped thatthe captain's last words would have a good effect. He therefore said--

  "Come, sir, quickly, or I fear that Captain Aggett may be dead beforeyou get to him."

  Unwilling to be absent longer than possible, he then hastened back tothe cabin. The second mate was with the captain, who was weaker thanbefore, although perfectly composed. He had been bidding Mr Greyfarewell, and had been sending a few parting words to the officers andcrew. The first mate soon appeared.

  "I wish to say good-bye, Mr Scoones," said the captain. "I am anxiousabout one point, and you will pardon me if I tell you what it is. Iknow you to be a first-rate seaman; you are one of those who never ordera man to do what you are not ready to do yourself; but you are not agood navigator, for I have several times found that you have mademistakes in your calculations. I wish, therefore, when you take commandof this ship that you should trust to Mr Grey's and Owen Hartley'scalculations. Owen has had the advantage of a careful training, so thatyou have no cause to be jealous of him."

  "They may be the best calculators in the world for what I care,"answered the first mate, roughly; "but I will back Jonas Scoones to takea ship round the world with any man alive, so do not trouble yourself onthat point, Captain Aggett. You and I have never had a tiff while wehave sailed together, and I do not want to have one now, so I'll say nomore about the matter."

  This unsatisfactory answer evidently pained the captain, but he was tooweak to reply. He put out his hand.

  "I wish you would listen to reason," he said. "The consequences may beserious if you do not."

  The first mate turned away, for he was not a man who liked to be at adeath-bed; it made him think of what might happen to himself.

  The captain being anxious to know the exact position of the ship, thesecond mate went into the main cabin to make his calculations.

  Owen and the doctor remained with the captain. He did not rally, andjust before daybreak, as he himself believed would be the case, hebreathed his last.

  The doctor, as was his duty, reported the event to the first mate.

  "We shall see who is going to be captain now," exclaimed thelatter--"Mr Grey, that youngster, or I. From the way Captain Aggetttalked, one would have supposed that he fancied young Hartley was aswell able to take charge of the ship as a man who has been to sea allhis life. The youngster will soon find out his mistake."

  Owen knew that Mr Scoones had now the power to treat him in any way hemight please--to confine him to his cabin, or even to put him in irons;at all events, that his own position in the ship would be greatlyaltered. Scarcely, indeed, had the captain's body been committed to itsocean grave than Mr Scoones turned him out of the cabin and made himtake up his berth with the apprentices amidships. Owen bore his changeof circumstances without complaining. He considered that there would beno use in expostulating with Mr Scoones; indeed, that by so doing hemight make matters worse.

  The first mate, or rather the captain, for so he insisted on beingcalled, ordered him about as he did the other apprentices, and made himperform the roughest style of work.

  "You want to be a sailor, my lad, and I never knew one who did not diphis hand in the tar bucket, and you will now have to put yours in veryoften," he exclaimed. He then ordered Owen to black down some of therigging.

  It was a seaman's duty, and Owen was ready to perform it. Mr Scoones,seeing that he obeyed willingly, was resolved to try him yet further,and ordered him aft to sweep out the cabin and to wait upon him attable. The doctor, who was a kind man, on discovering this, advisedOwen to decline obeying the order.

  "He now commands the ship, and as long as he does not direct me to doanything which will injure any one, I am bound, I consider, to obey,"answered Owen. "It is not pleasant, but I do not thus really disgracemyself."

  Owen had been accustomed to take an observation with the captain andmates. As soon as he appeared, Mr Scoones ordered him off the poop,exclaiming, in an angry tone--

  "We don't want any boys fresh from school here with their new-fanglednotions. If I see that sextant again I will break it to pieces. Themates and I can look after the navigation of the ship, I expect, withoutyour assistance."

  Owen went below and stowed away his sextant, which was one given him byCaptain Aggett, and which he highly prized. The other officers wereindignant at the way in which Owen was treated, and no one was more sothan Nat Midge. He almost cried with rage when Owen came below and toldhim what had occurred.

  "I don't care for what he says," observed Owen, "but I am vexed at notbeing allowed to improve myself in navigation. I hope that we may get anew captain when we reach Batavia."

  "I am sure so do I," said Nat. "If it were not for you, I'd run fromthe ship. I should not like to leave you, and I wish you would comewith me."

  Owen laughed. "I do not think we should improve matters by that," hesaid. "It would only be like falling out of the frying pan into thefire."

  "I could not be worse off than I am on board this ship, for I have led adog's life ever since our kind captain died," answered Nat. "It was badenough before, but I have been far worse treat
ed since by the first mateand some of the men."

  Owen endeavoured to comfort Nat. "When things get to the worst they aresure to change for the better," he remarked. He ultimately persuadedNat to bear patiently any ill-treatment he might receive.

  Several days passed by without any event of importance occurring, Owenall the time performing sailor boy's duty. The second and third mates'observations did not agree with those of the new commander, who,insisting that he was right, would not attend to theirs, but kept theship on the course he had marked out. The weather had been tolerablyfine since the first gale, but signs of a change now appeared. MrScoones, however, declared that the wind would not be down upon them forsome hours to come, and kept all the canvas standing as before.Suddenly the wind dropped, and the sails flapped loudly against themasts. It was Mr Grey's watch; he had just relieved the third mate.Casting his eye to the northward, he shouted--

  "All hands on deck; shorten sail! Be smart, my lads, or we shall havethe masts whipped over the sides."

  The crew who were on deck flew aloft; the watch below came tumbling upand hastened to join the rest, some laying out on the fore andmain-topsail yards, while others handed the royals and topgallant sails.Owen, with the other boys, lay out on the mizen-topsail yard.

  "What's all this about?" exclaimed Mr Scoones, who had been in hiscabin. His face was flushed and manner excited. "Why don't you waituntil I order you to shorten sail?" he added, turning to the secondmate.

  "Because there would not have been time to save the ship's masts andspars," answered Mr Grey, in a firmer tone than he had hithertoassumed.

  "Shake out the reefs and make sail again," shouted the captain.

  "Go on, and carry out the orders I gave you!" cried Mr Grey. "While Iremain second officer of this ship, I will not stand by and let her cometo harm if I can help it."

  "Mutiny! mutiny!" shouted Mr Scoones; but the men, who saw as clearlyas the second mate the importance of shortening sail, continued theirwork. Even the boys, although holding him in dread, instigated by Owenand Nat, remained aloft, until they had handed the mizen-royal andtopgallant sail, and close reefed the topsail. Scoones, completelybeside himself, was hurrying off the deck, apparently for the purpose,from the words he let drop, of getting his pistols, when a long thinline of hissing foam was seen rushing across the ocean.

  "Down, my lads, down, quick," cried the mate.

  The boys rapidly descended from the mizen-yard. Then the voice of thehurricane was heard, and a fierce wind struck the ship. In an instantshe heeled over, and the close reefed mizen-topsail was blown from thebolt ropes. The helm being put up, she, however, righted, and away sheflew before the hissing and foaming sea, which now rose up on eitherside as if eager to overwhelm her.

  "We must furl the main-topsail," exclaimed Mr Grey, as soon as theyards were squared.

  Scarcely were the words uttered, than with a clap like thunder the sailwas blown away, and flying out in tatters was quickly whisked round andround the yard. Whatever had been the intentions of the first mate, henow returned perfectly sobered, and taking the command, issued everysubsequent order with coolness. He did not however, condescend topraise Mr Grey, by whose promptness the ship had been saved.

  For two days the ship ran on under a close reefed fore topsail. Thefore-yard had been so well fished that it stood the immense strain putupon it, although most of the crew expected every instant to see it go.Once more the wind moderating, the sorely battered "Druid" hauled upagain on her course. The sky, however, was obscured, and the weatherthick, and no observation could be taken. Mr Grey had carefully keptthe reckoning, and knew, as he believed, more or less, her position; buthe found, on comparing notes, that the calculations made by Mr Scoonesplaced her at a considerable distance from where he supposed she was; hewas therefore eagerly looking out for a glimpse of the sun by day or astar by night to ascertain which was correct. The wind was againfavourable, and for some days they had been making good progress.

  It was night, and the ship was running along with a pretty stiff breezeand a moderate sea under whole topsails and topgallant sails. MrScoones, although acting as captain, found it necessary to keep hiswatch, in which Owen and Nat remained as before. The sky was cloudy,and as there was no moon it was very dark. A good look-out was keptforward, although the keenest pair of eyes could not have pierced thegloom many fathoms ahead. Mr Scoones paced the deck, every now andthen, shouting to the men forward. Some care seemed to oppress him. Hemight not have had the full confidence in his own reckoning which heprofessed to have. Still, as the proud ship went scudding on across thebroad ocean, no one would have supposed that danger was near.

  Owen was on the quarter-deck, when a startling cry came from forward.

  "Breakers ahead! breakers on the starboard bow!"

  "Down with the helm," shouted the first mate, rushing to assist the manat the wheel; but ere he reached him an ominous grating noise was heard,the ship trembled through her whole frame, but she surged on.

  "We may yet scrape free," cried some of the men, as they sprang to thebraces.

  The next instant, however, there came a fearful crash; the tall maststottered, the fore and main topmasts fell over the side, still leaving,however, the lower yards standing; the mizen mast at the same instantwent by the board. The wheel spun round, casting the helmsman to thedeck. A huge sea striking the devoted ship swept him and several othersoverboard.

  Owen found Nat Midge close to him.

  "Let us hold on to the stanchions until daylight, and we shall then seewhere we are," said Owen. "There is no use in attempting to do anythingnow, and it is dangerous to move about, as we may be washed overboard."

  In the meantime the rest of the officers and the watch had rushed ondeck, and a cry arose of "Clear away the boats!" Several of the crewattempted to perform this difficult operation, but the fore-part of thefirst boat as she was being lowered hung in the falls, and the men whojumped into her were swept out, while she, driven against the side ofthe ship, was immediately knocked to pieces. An attempt was made tolaunch another boat on the same side, and although she reached thewater, so many sprang into her that she filled before she could beshoved off. A few got on board by the falls, but the rest were drowned.

  "We will hoist out the long-boat," cried Mr Scoones. "We shall have tocut away the masts, and we must get her into the water before that."

  He issued the orders to rig the necessary tackles. As this boat was tobe got into the water on the lee side, there was a greater probabilityof her swimming, provided she did not encounter any rocks.

  "Hadn't we better try to get in her?" said Nat to Owen.

  "She is not in the water yet," answered Owen, "and if she were, I doubtif Mr Scoones would let us; besides, she will run a great risk of beingthrown on the rocks, or swamped during the darkness. The ship does notgive signs of going to pieces yet; perhaps the wind may abate beforemorning, we shall then be able to get ashore on a raft, if any shore isnear, and there is one boat left which nobody seems to have thought oflaunching."

  "I'll do as you advise, but perhaps we may get off in the boatby-and-by," said Nat.

  They eagerly watched the operation of launching the long-boat. Theseas, which had battered in a portion of the bulwarks, swept across thefore-part of the deck, and rendered it very difficult. Two or three ofthe men who neglected to secure themselves were carried overboard. Onesaved himself by a rope, but the shrieks of the others were heard asthey struggled vainly in the seething ocean.

  What had become of the doctor, and the other officers and apprentices,Owen could not tell. Mr Scoones he could hear issuing his orders, buthe had reason to fear that some of the others had been washed overboard,or perhaps killed by the falling blocks and spars. Still a good manymen remained, the greater number of whom were engaged in lowering theboat on which they believed their safety depended. At length she waslaunched over the side, and five or six men got into her, and shoutedout far oars.

  A se
arch was made for them, but only three could be found; without moreshe would be almost helpless in the raging sea. She was now held by awarp, floating clear of the ship, which was working fearfully on therocks.

  "She will go to pieces if we do not cut away the masts," shouted MrScoones. "Axes! axes!"

  They were brought, and the boat being veered off to a safe distance, thetwo remaining masts were, with a few strokes, cut away, and falling overon the lee side, were allowed to float clear of the wreck.

  Nothing more could now be done until morning, for which all handseagerly waited.

  "The boat won't hold half of us. Let us form a raft, lads," shouted MrFidd, the boatswain.

  This was no easy matter in the dark. The brave boatswain setting theexample, a portion of the crew began to collect such spars as they couldfind on board, and to drag them to the after part of the deck, which wasmore protected than the other parts of the ship, over which the seacontinually broke, carrying away everything before it.

  "We ought to be assisting," cried Owen, who with Nat had hithertoretained their tolerably secure places. "We are better off here,"answered Nat. "It's our duty to help our shipmates," answered Owen, andhe, followed by Nat, joined the working party.

  They found great difficulty in keeping on their feet. The deck was wetand slippery, and inclined over towards the lee side. The bulwarks onthat side had been gradually torn away, so that every instant the riskincreased of their being carried overboard. Still, Owen and hiscompanions persevered One only of the apprentices had joined them."Where are the others?" asked Owen.

  "They are gone, I am afraid. I saw them standing together trying tolower a boat, when a sea took the whole of them off their legs. I wasnearly gone too, but got hold of a rope just in time to save myself,"was the answer.

  It would have been better if Mr Scoones had endeavoured to keep all themen employed. As soon as he had declared that nothing more could bedone until daylight, several of them stole away instead of joining thoseworking at the raft. Some time had passed, when Owen heard voicescoming out of the captain's cabin, some singing sea ditties, othersshouting loudly in discordant tones.

  "The rascals have gone in and got drunk," cried the boatswain, who heardthem also. He made his way into the cabin, intending to turn them out.His efforts were in vain, they jeered and laughed at him.

  "If the ship goes down, we intend to go down with her," cried one of hisown mates. "A short life and a merry one. Oh! come and join us, oldFidd."

  The boatswain finding remonstrance useless, and unwilling to waste timereturned to his labours. Just at that moment there came a fearfulcrash, the stout timbers and beams were rent, as if composed of meretouchwood. The ship broke in two. The sea, rushing through the sternports, swept every one out of the cabin, and the ribald songs and jestsof those within were in a moment changed for cries of help and mercy.

  Owen and Nat regained their former position, where they were partiallyprotected by the only portion of the bulwarks remaining above water.The survivors of the crew on the after part of the ship here joinedthem. The raft, still incomplete, remained on deck. What had become ofthe boat they could not tell, but shouts were heard amid the roaring ofthe sea, which came either from her, or from some of the men who hadgained the other part of the wreck. No one having seen Mr Scoones, itwas supposed that he had shared the fate of the other officers.

  Never had a night appeared so long to Owen. Eagerly he and hiscompanions in misfortune looked out for the first streaks of dawn in theeastern horizon. They appeared at last, and a faint cheer burst fromthe seamen.

  "A sail! a sail!" cried Mike Coffey, an Irish seaman. All eyes were atonce turned in the direction he pointed, but, as the light increased,disappointment took the place of the hopes which had been raised, andthe jagged point of a rock, whitened by the sea-birds perched upon it,was seen rising above the troubled waters. The remnant of theshipwrecked crew now looked out in the opposite direction, in the hopeof discovering land.

  A line of rocks rising a few feet out of the water were alone visible atthe distance of eighty or a hundred fathoms from the ship.

  The long-boat, on which their hopes of safety depended, had been carriedaway when the ship parted, and was nowhere to be seen. By theincreasing light, however, some people were observed on the rock. Thoseon the wreck waved to them. The signal was returned. Some of theirshipmates had thus reached a place of comparative safety. As daylightincreased the wind considerably lessened, but still the heavy surgescontinued beating against the wreck.

  "Come, lads," cried the boatswain, "we will finish the raft, and getaway from this before the old ship goes to pieces completely."

  A second invitation was not required, and all hands set to work with awill. It was soon finished and launched, but how to guide it to therocks was a difficult question.

  "Before we shove off we must try and get some provisions and water,"said Owen, more thoughtful than his companions.

  "You are right, youngster," answered Mr Fidd. A cask of water whichhad washed up was fortunately secured, as was a tub of butter, a barrelof salt beef, and another of flour, and some cases containing cheese,dried fruit, and biscuits.

  Here was sufficient food to support the crew for a few days, should theyreach the rocks in safety. There seethed, however, a greet likelihoodof their not doing that, as the raft must inevitably be turned over bythe surf as it reached the rocks, and dashed against them.

  "We must find a warp, lads, and then we will do it," cried theboatswain.

  A search was made, and a rope of sufficient length and strength wasdiscovered. One end was secured to the firmest part of the wreck, therest of the coil being thrown on the raft.

  "Now, lads, steady," cried the boatswain; "let each man take his place--four to the paddles, and the rest to stand by the warp to pay it out asI direct."

  The raft was all this time surging up and down, go that the men had nolittle difficulty in seating themselves on it. Had there been anyscrambling, many probably would have been washed off. The boatswainculling them by name, they sprang on to the raft two at a time, andsecured themselves as he directed. Owen and Nat had not been summoned.

  "Are we to be left behind?" cried Nat.

  "Not if we can help it," said Owen.

  Some of the men on the raft were shouting out, "Shove off! shove off!"Those nearest the wreck got out their knives and cut the ropes whichheld it. Owen and Nat rushed across the deck, and were about to springon board, when the men who had charge of the warp paid it out, and aheavy sea sweeping round, carried the raft to a considerable distance.

  "Haul in again, lads, we must not leave those boys behind," shouted theboatswain.

  But the men did not appear to heed him. They scarcely, indeed, had thepower to do as he ordered. The raft went tossing up and down, and wascarried farther and farther from the wreck.

  "Oh! they have deserted us," cried Nat.

  "Never mind, we must make a raft for ourselves," answered Owen; "thelighter the better, and the more the sea goes down, the more easily weshall get a landing on the rocks." They found a couple of gratings, andtwo small spars. These they lashed together.

  "We must secure some lanyards to hold on by," said Owen.

  There was still plenty of small rope which had become entangled in theshattered bulwarks, and their raft was soon completed. They hadhitherto not had time to watch the progress of the large raft. Just asthey were about to launch their own they looked out for it. At thatmoment they saw a sea strike it; the warp parted, or was carried out ofthe men's hands, and the raft was turned completely over, the nextinstant to be dashed violently against the rocks, every soul beingwashed off. Owen saw that many of the men were striking out, and werehelped up by their companions on the rocks.

  "The same thing may happen to our small raft," said Nat.

  "I hope not," said Owen; "we will make a couple of paddles, and we shallthen be able to guide it."

  They returned for this purpo
se. The tools, fortunately for them, hadbeen left behind. The paddles were soon made.

  "In case we get on shore safely, these tools may be useful. You gofirst, Nat, and I will hand them to you," said Owen.

  Nat sprang on to the raft. Owen then handed down a bag of nails, ahammer and saw, some gimlets and chisels, which Nat secured, as he wasdirected by Owen, who leapt down after him. As it was dangerous toremain alongside the wreck among the masses of timbers, they immediatelycast off the ropes and began paddling away.

  Their slight raft was several times nearly struck by pieces of floatingwreck. Shoving away from them with their paddles, they, however,floated clear. Owen observed an opening between two of the higherrocks.

  "If we can pass through there we may get round the lee side, and landwithout difficulty," he said.

  They exerted all their strength to reach the opening. Again they werein great danger from a piece of wreck which came surging up and downclose to them. They, however, scraped clear of it. "We shall getthrough now," cried Owen; "paddle away, Nat."

  In a few minutes more they reached the opening, which was just wideenough to allow their small raft to pass through.

  "Hurrah! we have done it," cried Nat, as they saw the white surfbreaking astern of them. The current, however, threatened to carry themout to sea, but by great exertion they kept close to the rocks, andpaddled on. At length they reached the rock where their shipmates werecollected. As they scrambled up on the rock the first person they sawwas Mr Scoones.

  "Well, youngsters, you little expected to find me here, I've anopinion," he said; "you'll have to look out, and do as I order you."

  Owen had expected a more friendly greeting from those who had escaped.Neither he nor Nat made any reply. They at once carried up the toolswhich they had brought for safety to the top of the rock. Several ofthe men who had reached the rock congratulated them on their escape.Owen inquired for Mr Grey and the other officers. No one had seenthem, and it was feared that they had been washed away by the seas whichbroke over the ship when she first struck. The long-boat had beendriven against the rocks and dashed to pieces, although those in her hadmanaged to reach the rock. Owen was grieved also to hear that theboatswain had been lost, with several of the men, when the raft turnedover. The only officer, indeed, who had escaped was Mr Scoones.

  The position of the sufferers, numbering altogether twenty persons, wasstill dangerous in the extreme, as at any moment the sea might rise andsweep them all away. As the morning mists cleared off and the sun burstforth, they saw, a couple of miles to the eastward and southward, asand-bank, which rose apparently some feet above the water. Theintervening space appeared to be filled up with rocks and sand, so thatit might be passed by wading, and perhaps occasionally swimming to getover it. Mr Scoones pointed out to the men that their only chance ofsafety was at once to get to the sand-bank, which was of considerableextent.

  "The youngsters raft will assist us to carry across the things whichhave been saved," he observed.

  Fortunately most of the casks which had been brought by the large rafthad been picked up, as well as a good many others. Those which wouldnot float of themselves were now placed on the small raft, and the mate,taking a long spar in his hand, set out to lead the way. Four of themen took charge of the raft, while others dragged after them casks ofbeef and water and two of beer. Owen was thankful that no spirits hadbeen picked up. He knew too well what would have been the consequence.

  "I am afraid, Owen, that I shall not be able to get across if there areany deep places," said Nat, "as you know I cannot swim."

  "Then you keep close to the raft, and I will get the men to let you holdon to it."

  The two lads had taken two of the casks of water, which was as much asthey could drag. The men who had charge of the raft, fortunately, wereamongst the best of the crew, and at once acceded to Owen's request;indeed they looked upon him as an officer, and were willing to obey himas such. Mr Scoones, who was a powerful man, aided by his long pole,made great progress. Every now and then, when he got to a distance fromthe men, he turned round and shouted to them to come faster.

  "It's all very well for him to cry out come faster when he has gotnothing to carry," grumbled some of the men.

  Presently, as he was shouting out, he was seen suddenly to sink down; hehad stepped without feeling his way into deep water. He, however, atonce struck out; in a short time he again rose, and pressed on asbefore. When the raft reached the deep water Owen made Nat hold on toit, and he swimming they soon got across. Several of the men, however,who could not swim had to be assisted by their shipmates and draggedover by ropes, which the best swimmers carried across. As they wentalong they found several articles floating about, and these were addedto those they were dragging with them.

  They were crossing a narrow channel, in which the water reached up totheir middles, when one of the men cried out, "A big fish; he will serveus for dinner." The fish swam up the channel where the water wasshallower. Chase was made, and before it could escape it was overtakenby two of the men, who had provided themselves with broken spars aswalking sticks. Having stunned it by the heavy blows they inflicted,they towed it back in triumph.

  "Why, you have got a young shark!" exclaimed Mike Coffey; "surely he'llbe eating us up, for he's only half kilt." Whereupon the Irishman,taking out his knife, nearly severed its head from its body. "He'll notbe afther doing us any harm now," he said, laughing, as he secured theprize.

  At length the sand-bank was reached. It was found to be much higher outof the water than at first supposed, and of considerable extent; but nota tree grew upon it, nor was it probable that a spring of water would befound there. They might exist for a short time, exposed to the burningrays of the sun by day and the dews by night. When Owen looked at thetwo small casks of water, he reflected that it could not last more thanfive or six days, even with the greatest economy. The raft being hauledup on the beach, the various articles they had brought were placedtogether.

  "Men," said Mr Scoones, "we have got provisions enough here to keepbody and soul together for ten days or more; in the meantime we must seewhat can be done to make our escape. Perhaps one of the boats may bedriven on shore, or, if not, we must build a raft and make our way toJava, or maybe some ship may appear and take us off. It won't do for atto be down-hearted."

  "Can you tell about where we are?" asked Owen.

  "What's that to you, youngster?" answered the mate, who in reality hadbeen utterly ignorant of the position of the ship when she struck.

  Owen walked away: he saw that the less communication he had with MrScoones the better.

  He proposed to Mike Coffey and two other men that they should make anexcursion along the beach, in the hopes of picking up any articles whichmight be washed ashore from the wreck.

  "Shure, we will have our dinner first off the shark," observed Mike, "orthere will be but poor picking for us when we come back."

  Among the things saved was a tinder box and matches; the latter wereperfectly wet, and it was supposed that they were spoiled. Owen,however, undertook to dry them.

  "If you will pick up the fuel, we will soon have a fire burning," heobserved.

  By exposing the matches to the hot sun they quickly dried. Fromportions of the wreck driven on shore during the night and old driftwood, a sufficient amount of fuel was collected to form a good fire.After some trouble one of the matches was lighted. The men cheered asthey saw it blaze up, and bits of paper were produced to catch thewelcome flame. In a short time a good fire was burning, at which theshark, cut up in pieces, was placed to cook.

  Owen saw the beer barrel broached with considerable uneasiness.However, he could not interfere. All hands obtained a good meal fromthe roasted shark and some sopped biscuit, which Mr Scoones served outto them. Owen and his companions then set out, and were fortunateenough in finding several casks, cases, and bales of goods; and what wasof still greater value, the main topmast, with its spars, rigging andcanv
as, although apparently in inextricable entanglement. Theyimmediately set to work, however, and, by using their knives, succeededin dragging up a topsail and topgallant sail.

  "This will assist us in forming a tent," said Owen; "and if we can findanother sail or two we may have shelter enough for all hands."

  Two of the men volunteered to tow the heavier articles they had foundalong the beach, while Owen, with Nat and Mike, dragged the sails towhere they had left their companions.

  "Shure," said Mike, "it would be wiser to camp where we are, or maybe,when we get the tent up, Mr Scoones will be afther turnin' us out."

  "I hope he won't act so unjustly," said Owen; "and we must not set theexample of selfishness for fear of his doing so."

  The spars they had brought served as a tent pole, and as there wereplenty of lengths of small rope, in a short time a tent was put up ofsufficient size to accommodate the whole party. As they were all veryweary, they gladly lay down to rest, and thus commenced their firstnight on this truly desert island.