n if any one was coming. The
vessel had been driven on shore out of sight of both the villages, or
they would not have been left long alone. It was to be hoped that no
one would come along the cliff and look down upon the wreck.

Their meal over, they set to work to plan their raft.

They were obliged to labour on deck, as they could not hoist it up
through the hold, or they would have preferred keeping out of sight. It
would be a hard job to launch it, but that they hoped to do by fastening
tackles at either side leading to the ring bolts on deck.

As there were no bulwarks to stop them, they laid the foundation, or, as
they called it, the keel, projecting slightly over the side. They would
thus have only to shove it forward and tip it up to launch it.

Their plan was to form an oblong square, then to put on bows at one end;
and two pieces crossing each other with a short upright between them, on
which to support the steering oar. The interior of the framework they
strengthened by two diagonal braces. They lashed and nailed a number of
crosspieces close together, and on the top of the whole they nailed down
all the planks they could find, which were sufficient to form a good
flooring to their raft.

They discovered also a number of small brandy casks, which they
immediately emptied of their contents, letting the spirits flow without
compunction into the water, and then again tightly bunged them down.

They fastened ropes around the casks, with which, when the raft was
launched, they could secure them to either side, to give it greater
buoyancy. They also brought up a couple of sea-chests, which they
intended to lash down to the centre, so as to afford them some
protection from the sea, and at the same time to hold their provisions.

Bill was the chief suggester of all these arrangements, though Jack ably
carried them out.

They worked like heroes, with all the energy they could command, for
they felt that everything depended on their exertions.

The night being bright, they were able to get on as well then as in the
daytime.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A RAFT BUILT--MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF JACK PEEK.

Not till their raft was complete did the two boys think of again eating.
They had been working, it must be remembered, for several hours since
the meal they took soon after they got on board. Having finished the
beef and cheese, they lighted a couple of lanterns which they found hung
up in the forepeak