peril of our lives as it is, standing
here upon this rock. If it should come to blow really hard to-night,
it would be good-bye to us before morning. My idea is this:--We must
fasten enough of these logs together to make a raft big enough to carry
me. That oar will serve as a paddle, or to shove off from the rocks,
and so doing I ought, at all events, to be able to get outside into
open water; and once out there I should be bound either to be seen or
to drift ashore somewhere where I could climb the rocks. Then, you may
be sure, it won't be long before I bring a boat round to rescue you."

"O George," I exclaimed, "I don't think I can stand being left quite
alone in this awful place! Besides, what if you are washed off into
the sea? You can't swim."

"I must take my chance of that, sir, as you must of being left," was
the answer. "I'd suggest your going, only I think I'm the stronger,
and could hold on longer if, as is sure to be the case, the waves wash
over the logs. Think, sir, what'll happen in the first gale, even if
our food lasts, and then take your choice."

I glanced round at the dark walls of our prison, which, though now high
and dry, had been worn smooth by the storms of ages; and the very
thought of the mountainous seas forcing their way in irresistible fury
through the entrance of the cavern made me shudder. Take a bottle
three parts full of water, I thought, and shake it violently from side
to side, and that, on an infinitely larger scale, might be taken to
represent what the interior of this cave would be like in a winter
storm.

"Very well," I answered desperately. "If that's your plan, let's carry
it out; I know of none better."

He turned at once, and worked with feverish eagerness, as though we
knew that the dreaded storm was then brewing. Every piece of wreckage
of any size which still remained within reach we fished out of the
water and added to our store. The next business was to collect and
untangle the rope and cord, and this took us far longer than we
expected. The sodden knots wore the skin off the ends of our fingers,
and made the job all the more laborious and painful. It was late in
the afternoon before this portion of our task was accomplished. Then
came selecting the most suitable pieces of timber, and planning how
they should be arranged and joined together. All this while we kept
glancing anxiously towards the entrance of the cave, still hoping
against hope that s