e got down by a
somewhat easier way than that by which we had climbed up.

In consequence of the report Mudge gave my mother, she begged that he
would go back to the brig.

"That I may not do," he answered, "as I promised the captain to remain
here to protect you: and though my belief is that there are no natives
hereabouts, I cannot be certain; and I should never forgive myself, if
they were to come and do you an injury while I had neglected orders and
gone away."

"Then let me go off," I said, "with three of the men,--they will be
sufficient to pull the boat that short distance; and you, Paddy Doyle,
and the boys, will be well able to keep any savages at bay till we come
back."

To this Mudge agreed, as my mother seemed to wish it; and everything
having been landed from the boat, the men and I jumped into her, and,
shoving off, pulled away for the brig.

By the time we arrived alongside, the tide was as high as it was likely
to rise. My father was glad to see me back, and to hear the
satisfactory report which I gave him. We had no time for conversation,
however, as the men had just manned the capstan to make another effort
to heave the vessel off. But in vain they laboured; not an inch would
she move.

"I am afraid, sir, that our only chance of floating her will be, either
to land the cargo, or to heave it overboard," observed the first mate.

"I have arrived at the same conclusion," said my father; "but we will
not lose the cargo if it can be helped. We will land what we can in the
boats; and if the weather continues moderate, we will form a raft, and
convey as much as it can carry,--by which we shall be enabled, I hope,
to save the larger portion."

"Let's have another heave first, sir," cried the men, who thus showed
their regard for their commander, and the interest they felt in his
welfare, as they all knew that he would be the chief sufferer by the
loss of the brig. Again they hove, pressing against the capstan-bars as
if nothing could resist them.

"It's all of no use," exclaimed the carpenter, who had been below; "it's
my belief that the coral rock has gone through the planking, and that
unless we can get the cargo out of her, and every pig of ballast, no
power will float her or get her off."

My father, on hearing this, also went below; and on his return he
directed the mate, with some of the crew, to load the boats, while he
and others set to work to build a raft. As soon as the two boats