e, although the wind was not cold, it blew
through their thin clothing, and made them feel very chilly.

"We must look out for food and shelter," observed Rayner. "Perhaps we
shall fall in with some of the huts of the black people where we can
obtain both, though the country did not look very inviting when there
was light enough to see it. I, however, don't like to leave the body of
that poor fellow on the beach."

"Fletcher and I will try and bury him, sir," said Jack.

"I don't see much use in doing that," growled Tom. "He can't feel the
cold. It will keep us here all the night, seeing we have no spades, nor
anything else to dig a grave."

"We might do it if we could find some boards," said Jack. "How would
you like to be left on shore just like a dead dog?"

His good intentions, however, were frustrated, as no pieces of board
could be found, and they were compelled at length to be satisfied with
placing the body on a dry bank out of the reach of the water. This
done, they commenced their march in search of some human habitations,
Tom and Brown supporting poor Jack, who was unable to walk without help,
between them.

The country, from the glimpse they had had of it, appeared more inviting
to the west, but Rayner reflected that by going in that direction they
would get farther and farther from the Spanish territory, but were they
once to reach it, they might claim assistance from the inhabitants. How
many miles they were from the border neither Rayner nor Oliver was
certain; it might be a dozen or it might be twenty or thirty. Le Duc
could give them no information. It was difficult to find the way in the
darkness; they could indeed only guide themselves by listening to the
roar of the breakers, with an occasional glimpse of the dark ocean to
the right. The two officers agreed that it would be of great advantage
to get into Spanish territory before daylight, as they would thus avoid
being taken prisoners. Though their object in coming on the coast was a
peaceable one, it would be difficult to induce the authorities to
believe that this was the case. Le Duc promised that he would bear
testimony to the truth of the account they intended to give of
themselves; but, he observed, "My word may not be believed, and I myself
may be accused of being a deserter. The people hereabouts do not set
much value on human life, and they may shoot us all to save themselves
the trouble of making further inquiries."

Th