abin to collect all the eatables they could find,
as also their carpet bags and such other articles as might be useful.

"We must get up some water before the boat shoves off," said Rayner.
"I'll send one of the men to help you, while I go into the hold to
search for casks."

The boat was still on the deck, and there seemed no probability that the
Frenchmen and blacks would succeed in launching her.

He was some time below, hunting about for the casks of water.

He had just found a couple, and was about to return on deck to obtain
some slings for hoisting them up, when he heard Jack Peek shout out,
"Quick, Mr Rayner--quick! the fellows are shoving off in the boat."

Springing on deck, what was his surprise and indignation to see the boat
in the water, and all the men in her, including Tom Fletcher!

"What treachery is this?" he exclaimed. "If go you must, wait until we
can get our injured shipmate into the boat, and Mr Crofton will be on
deck in a moment."

While he was speaking, the man named Brown, who had gone with him below,
rushing on deck, leapt into the boat, intending to prevent them from
shoving off. Rayner, for the same object, followed him, with a rope in
his hand, which he was in the act of making fast, when one of the
Frenchmen cut it through, and the boat rapidly drifted away from the
side of the vessel.

In vain Rayner urged the people to pull back, and take off Oliver and
Jack; but, regardless of his entreaties, one of them, seizing the helm,
turned the boat's head towards the beach. They pulled rapidly away,
endeavouring to keep her from being swamped by the heavy seas which
rolled up astern. Now she rose, now she sank, as she neared the shore.

"Oliver will fancy that I have deserted him; but Jack Peek knows me too
well to suppose that I could have acted so basely," thought Rayner.
"If, however, the boat is knocked to pieces, it will be a hard matter to
get back to the wreck. All I can do is to pray to Heaven that the
schooner may hold together till I can manage to return on board."

These thoughts passed through his mind as the boat approached the beach.
He saw that it would be utterly useless to try and induce the men to
return. Indeed, the attempt at present would be dangerous. He again
urged the crew to be careful how they beached the boat.

"The moment she touches jump out and try to run her up, for should
another sea follow quickly on the first, she will be driven broadside on