ecommended for the use of herself and Florry;
and, indeed, leaving behind many things that he would probably have
permitted as necessaries, in order that she should not overburthen the
raft with what would not be serviceable to all. Unlike the "Major,"
Kate thought that it would be selfish on her part merely to consider her
own and her sister's wants!

As for Mr Zachariah Lathrope, his luggage consisted chiefly of an old
fur cloak, in addition to the clothes he stood up in, besides his
inseparable "six shooter" and a rifle--which latter he stated had been
given to his grandfather by the celebrated Colonel Crockett of "coon"
notoriety, and was "a powerful shootin' iron." The rest of the men folk
took with them almost as little; but Mr Meldrum did not forget charts
and nautical instruments, besides a compass and the ship's log-book and
papers. These latter he removed from Captain Dinks' cabin, at his
especial request, that, should he ever see England again, he might be
able to give a circumstantial account as to how the vessel was lost, and
satisfy both his owners and Lloyd's.

In reference to the general provisioning of the raft, it may be briefly
mentioned that all the bread and flour that had not been washed out of
the after-hold had been collected, in addition to several casks of salt
beef and pork, and such of the tinned meats and other cabin stores that
had not been stowed in the long-boat--for the benefit, as it
subsequently turned out, of the mutineers.

Some casks of water were also embarked; but not many, for, in the event
of a fresh supply not being found on landing they could easily melt down
the snow and thus manufacture what they required from time to time.

While considering the important question of a proper supply of food, the
pertinent fact was not lost sight of, that they would be exposed to a
climate of almost arctic severity for, probably, many months to come;
and, consequently all the blankets in the ship were collected and put on
board the raft, besides spare bedding and some hammocks. Snowball also,
true to his culinary calling, took care to secure his cooking utensils,
clambering back into the dilapidated forecastle for the purpose, almost
at the peril of his life--the darkey subsequently bewailing much his
inability to remove the ship's coppers, which were too firmly fixed in
the galley for him to detach them from that structure.

Finally, one or two small spars and sails were added to th