, as soon as the keel broke in two and the lower
works of the vessel began to separate, the hold opened out like a
yawning gulf, dividing the bows and foremost sections from the stern by
a wide gap. Through this the sea made a clean breach, washing out the
cargo--the waves bearing away such articles as were floatable to
leeward, whilst the heavier portion of the freight, after being tossed
about and battered out of shape, quickly sank down to the bottom out of
sight.

Some of the men had been on the forecastle immediately before this
happened; but roused by Mr Meldrum's cry of warning they had just time
to escape the inrush of the sea and scramble aft to where the others
were grouped together on the poop, which was now considerably elevated
above the level of the water, the stern having been gradually forced up
more on the rocks as the fore part sank down, until it was now nearly
high and dry. This circumstance enabled all hands to proceed all the
more expeditiously with the construction of the raft that had been
already commenced, and which they had luckily begun here, instead of on
the main-deck that had just been broken up, where they would have lashed
it together but for the accidental fact of the mizzen jury-mast forming
the base of the raft, and their being unable to drag it forward before
the keel of the vessel began to give way. The extra quantity of
provisions, too, which had been got out of the hold had also remained on
the poop; and thus everything providentially was in their favour.

Certainly, their chances of escape now seemed more hopeful!

No time, however, was to be lost; for, although their haven of refuge,
the stern section of the ship, was high up on the reef and almost out of
reach of the remorseless waves that had already done such damage, still
there was no knowing what another tide would effect if the wind should
again get up. It behoved them all therefore to take advantage of the
opportunity afforded them and make their preparations for getting ashore
before it should be too late. Thus urged, the seamen, working with a
will under the supervision of Mr McCarthy and Adams, had completed a
substantial raft by eight o'clock, at which hour a spell was cried and
all hands piped to breakfast.

Meanwhile, the morning had advanced; and the sky being pretty free from
clouds, Mr Meldrum was able to obtain a good view of the land that
surrounded the bay in which the _Nancy Bell_ had come to grief.