ot alongside, and Jack made
fast the raft by a rope which was hanging over the main-chains. By the
same means he hauled himself up. As he reached the deck, he gazed
around. No one was to be seen.

"We have the ship to ourselves, sir," he said, looking over the side.
"Will you come up?"

"Of course," said Mr Collinson.

However, he found it impossible to do so by himself. The two boys,
therefore, sprung into the chains, and old Grim remained on the raft to
assist him up. It was not without difficulty that he at length got on
board. The brig had suffered more than they had at first supposed in
the hurricane. Her bulwarks on the opposite side had been completely
stove in, her boats had been carried away and her deck swept of
everything. Altogether, she was in a deplorable condition. Still, as
some of the rigging remained attached to her, and there were probably
spare spars below, Mr Collinson told the men that he proposed getting
up jury-masts, and endeavouring to carry the vessel to Port Royal.

"It may be a long business, though," he observed; "and first, lads, get
up our cask of water. That is the most precious thing out here, and we
must not throw a drop away. Very likely we shall not find an
over-supply on board."

He spoke just in time, for Tommy, fancying that the raft would no longer
be wanted, was on the point of letting it go.

"Hold fast with the raft too," said the lieutenant. "As we have no
boat, it is possible we may yet find it of use."

The cask having been hoisted up, with a few other articles which had
been brought off, as well as the paddles and mast, the raft was veered
astern.

"As we are afloat again, lads, I must once more take the command," said
Mr Collinson. "Jack Windy, do you and Bill Sunnyside go below, and
come and report to me what you see. Grimshaw, sound the well. After
the battering the brig must have had, she must be making a good deal of
water."

Old Grim soon returned aft, reporting that there was six feet of water
in the hold.

"That looks bad," observed the lieutenant. "However, some may have got
in when the sea which carried away the masts struck the vessel."

While he was speaking Jack and Bill came hurrying up from below.

"Oh! Sir," exclaimed Jack, "I don't like the look of things at all. We
have found two people in the cabin--dead--who, from their looks, I am
pretty certain, died of yellow fever; if so, it will be a bad job for
us."

"It may be