"You're right," said Mr Meldrum, glancing in the direction to which Mr
McCarthy pointed, where some of the broken timbers of the ship, after
being carried away to leeward, were now steadily drifting past her
again--although now in an easterly direction and in a parallel line with
the cliffs to the left. "The sooner, too, that we take advantage of
that same current the better, as it will be hard work for the jolly-boat
to have to tow us all the way. Let us see about getting the raft over
the side at once, Mr McCarthy. The sea is much calmer now, and I think
we'll be able to launch and load it without much difficulty. The jolly-
boat won't give us half the trouble to float that the raft will, for the
deck forms an inclined plane with the water and we can run her in when
we please."

"Aye, aye, sorr," answered Mr McCarthy, and breakfast being now
finished--a cold one for all parties, Snowball and his galley having
parted company, and the waves now rolling between the two sections of
the ship--the tough job of floating the raft alongside was proceeded
with; purchases being rigged so as to lower it down easily, and prevent
it afterwards from breaking away when it had reached the surface of the
sea, which was still rough and boisterous.

The weather keeping calm and bright, and the wind lulling instead of
increasing in force as the sun rose in the heavens, the task was at
length satisfactorily accomplished.

It was not done, however, until after two hours of continuous labour, in
which all hands were engaged, even Mr Lathrope assisting as well as his
still injured arm would permit. By six bells in the forenoon watch,
too, the jolly-boat had also been lowered into the water safely. Now,
nothing remained but to get the provisions and whatever else they could
carry that was necessary on board; for, Mr Meldrum sternly negatived
any attempt at taking private property, thereby incurring Mrs Major
Negus's enmity, for he refused passage to three large trunks of hers
which she had declared were absolutely indispensable, but which, on
being opened, were found to contain only a lot of tawdry finery which
might possibly have helped to astonish the natives of Waikatoo, but was
perfectly useless, even to herself, on the inhospitable shores where the
passengers of the _Nancy Bell_ were about to seek refuge from the
sinking ship.

Kate Meldrum was far more sensible, taking only those articles of warm
clothing which her father r