the boat. His own gig was
alongside. With a heavy heart he hauled down the flag, which had
hitherto been kept flying on a temporary flagstaff, secured to the stump
of the foremast. After looking round his dismantled ship, he descended
into the boat.

"Shove off," he said, and his voice as he spoke appeared to have lost
its usual cheerful ring.

He cast another fond look at her as she lay bilged on the cruel rocks.
He had reason to be thankful that not a life had been lost, and that it
was from no carelessness or want of good seamanship that she had been
driven on shore. Had she struck one of the outer reefs, where would he
and his gallant crew now be? Probably not one would have escaped. The
sky as he looked westward had again assumed a threatening aspect.

"We shall have another gale before long, I suspect," he observed to
Gerald, who had brought the gig for him. "It may not do us on shore
much harm, although it may blow down our tents if we don't stay them up
well, but the poor ship--I fear that her days are numbered. A heavy sea
rolling in here would soon knock her to pieces. Give way, my lads, and
overtake the raft; we may assist in towing it, and the sooner it reaches
the shore the better."

Fortunately by this time everything of value had been landed from the
ship. The cabins had been stripped of their furniture, even to the
bedding; the men's hammocks, and every article belonging to them, had
been brought off. There was an abundance of water, and there was no
probability of their provisions running short for some time to come.

Scarcely had the boats and raft been unloaded and the stores carried up
to the camp, than the sea began to roll in with much greater force than
hitherto, and as the sun went down the white breakers appeared on every
side, like horses' manes waving in the wind, above the darkening waters.
The commander was received with hearty cheers by his crew.

"Now, my lads," he said, "I intend to turn this island into a
man-of-war, and although we cannot get under way--for if we could we
would soon run her up to Port Royal harbour--we will hold her against
all enemies, whoever they may be, who may wish to make a prize of us. I
intend to maintain the same discipline as heretofore, and I expect that
you will still remain the well-ordered crew of whom I have always been
proud."

The captain's address was received, as he expected it would be, with
hearty cheers, and several voices among