,
and make a raft. Look sharp now!"

The captain said this in such a quick, commanding tone that all the
sailors jumped to obey him, and in five minutes they were busily at work
on the raft. First, they collected all the broken yards and bits of
masts that were still floating alongside, dragging by the ropes that
fastened them to the sides of the ship. These they arranged side by
side, and tied them firmly together with ropes. Then they collected all
the spare timbers that were in the ship, and putting these above the
others, fastened them with ropes too. After that they tore off some of
the planks from the decks and bulwarks, with which they made a kind of
floor to the raft. All this, although it takes a short time to tell,
took a long, long time to do; for it was hard work moving such heavy
timbers, and the poor men were very tired, having been up in the storm
all night. Besides this, although the wind had ceased, the waves were
still high and would not let them work quietly. However, they finished
it at last, and after it was done, they put a number of barrels of
biscuit and some casks of water and wine on board. Then they put a few
blankets and a compass--that useful little machine that points always to
the north, and shows the sailor which way to go, so that he sails in the
dark night as surely as in the broad day.

"Now," said the captain, "I think that there is a chance of escape yet.
Get on board, lads, as fast as you can. I fear the ship won't float
long." All the men now hastened on board. The captain's wife, who was
the only female in the ship, was the first to step on the raft, and it
soon began to be crowded. When about half of the sailors had left the
ship the captain suddenly cried out, "Ho! Ben Block, we've forgot a
mast and sail. Run below with a couple of hands and fetch one as fast
as you can." Just at that moment the ship gave a heavy plunge, the
ropes broke, and the raft floated slowly away, leaving the men who were
yet in the ship in a state of despair. One or two of them jumped into
the sea and tried to swim to the raft; but the first man who did so was
nearly drowned, and the others got back to the ship with great
difficulty. It was a terrible sight to witness the misery of the poor
captain, as he beheld his wife, standing with her arms stretched out
towards him, and the raft drifting slowly away, until at length it
appeared like a small black spot far off upon the sea.

"Oh,