ter," said the American, "I guess it's jest
as I sed, and the slippery coon has skedaddled with the rest of the
varmint!"

"Perhaps so," answered Mr Meldrum; "but I think it far more probable
that he has accidentally tumbled over the side!" In this belief, it may
be added, the stewardess shared, bewailing her loss accordingly,
although she was not quite so much overwhelmed with sorrow as might have
been imagined to be proper on the loss of a helpmate by those
unacquainted with the domestic relations of the pair.

In addition to securing the safety of the jolly-boat, Mr Meldrum
ordered preparations to be made for constructing a large raft, upon
which an additional stock of provisions, which were brought up from
below to replace those taken away by the mutineers in the long-boat,
were stowed; but no attempt was made as yet to leave the ship, all
hoping that the sea would go down as the tide fell, besides which, they
thought that when daylight came they would be able, as Captain Dinks had
told them, to "see their way better."

And so they waited in hope till morning should come.

Just before four bells, however, and when the faint light of day was
beginning to streak the eastern sky, bringing out in relief the snow-
white peaks of some mountains on the mainland, which were a little
distance to the left of where the vessel was lying on the reef, a larger
wave than any of the rollers that had yet assailed her struck the ship
right amidships; and the timbers dividing under the strain, the poor old
_Nancy Bell_ broke in two. Still, the two sections of the hull did not
immediately separate, the seas apparently losing their force and
reserving their powers after delivering such a telling blow.

"I guess, mister," said Mr Lathrope, who took the catastrophe as coolly
as he did every other incident of his life apparently, "this air smash
is a kinder sort o' notice to quit, hey?"

But Mr Meldrum made no reply. He saw that the end was coming.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

GETTING ASHORE.

Fortunately, the jolly-boat had been safely secured abaft the main
hatchway, the very point at which the ship parted amidships; and, being
lashed to ring-bolts athwart the deck, close to the break of the poop,
the little craft remained uninjured in the general rending of timbers
and splintering of planks that ensued when the beams gave way under the
strain upon them. The poor _Nancy Bell_, indeed, seemed to fall to
pieces in a moment; for