eather side."

"A very good idea," answered Rayner. "Pray get it up. Some food will
do Peek good, and enable us all to exert ourselves. I'll finish this
lashing in the meantime."

They were not long in discussing some of the sausages and bread which
Oliver produced.

"I feel much more hearty, sir," said Jack, when he had swallowed the
food. "I don't fancy there's so much the matter with me after all, only
my leg and back do feel somewhat curious."

"Come," said Rayner, "we must make the attempt, for we cannot tell what
sort of weather we shall have during the night."

With forethought, they had fixed some lashings to the raft with which to
secure both Jack and themselves. It floated with sufficient quietness
to enable them to place Jack upon it.

"We must not forget the food, though," said Oliver.

"Do you, Peek, hold the basket, and do not let it go if you can help
it."

They took their seats, and lashing themselves to the raft, cast off the
rope which held it to the wreck, and began paddling away with might and
main. The seas rolled in with much less force than before, though there
was still considerable risk of the raft capsizing.

While under the lee of the wreck they proceeded smoothly enough, but the
seas which passed her ahead and astern meeting, several times washed
over them. As they approached the shores they could see through the
gloom three figures standing ready to receive them.

"I am glad those fellows have not deserted us, for after the way they
before behaved I did not feel quite sure about the matter," said Rayner.

While he was speaking, a sea higher than the rest came rolling along in,
and lifting the raft on its summit, went hissing and roaring forward.

"Be ready to cast off the lashings, and to spring clear of the raft, or
it may be thrown over upon us," cried Rayner. He gave the warning not a
moment too soon, for the sea, carrying on the raft, almost immediately
dashed it on the beach. Springing up and seizing Jack Peek by the arm,
he leapt clear of it. They would both have fallen, however, had not Tom
and Brown dashed into the water and assisted them, while Le Duc rendered
the same assistance on the other side to Oliver.

Before the raft could be secured the reflux carried it away, together
with the basket of provisions, and it soon disappeared in the darkness.
"What shall we do next?" asked Oliver. "We cannot stop on the beach all
night."

Wet to the skin as they wer