may build a new vessel out of the old one; and though she cannot carry
all the people, she may give notice of our condition, and a larger one
may be sent from New Zealand to our relief. So you see, Captain
Westerway, your loss is our gain; for had you not come in, months or
years might have passed before we could have made our escape, and the
anxiety of our friends have been relieved."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

SHIPBUILDING.

PREPARATIONS FOR MOVING TO VILLAGE--LITTERS FORMED FOR LADIES--HOLT
LEADS THE PARTY--WILLY AND PETER CARRY MAY--THE JOURNEY COMMENCED--
STORES AND BOAT RECOVERED FROM WRECK--MUTINEERS DISAPPEAR--KEEL OF
"YOUNG CRUSADER" LAID.

The morning was too tempestuous to allow the boat to make the passage to
the settlement. Harry, therefore, set all the men to work to construct
litters on which the ladies and the weaker women and children might be
carried, Ensign Holt having undertaken to show the way, which he
declared practicable, though in places somewhat rough and marshy.

The women meantime were busily employed in preparing breakfast. Paul
Lizard had, fortunately, some hooks and lines in his pocket, and he set
the boys to work to catch fish.

The mutineers did not appear; but Willy and Peter were sent to see what
had become of them, and they reported that they were lying asleep round
the ashes of their fire, with a spirit cask near them, a small portion
of the liquor only remaining in it. Harry felt that it was important
for him to return to the settlement, in order to make preparations for
the support of so many people, or he would gladly have remained with
Captain Westerway, to assist him in getting stores from the wreck, and
seeing what could be done to build another vessel, as had been proposed.
He left, however, Bollard and Lizard with him; while he, taking young
Broke as his guide, and four of the emigrants, set off towards the
settlement, it being arranged that Ensign Holt, aided by Mr Paget,
Charles, and the other gentlemen, should conduct the main body.

Captain Westerway undertook, should he be able to obtain the provisions,
to send them up in the cutter, under charge of Mr Bollard, One of the
ship's boats, though stove in so as then to be useless, remained on
deck; and the captain hoped, should she not be washed away, to repair
her sufficiently to be of use in visiting the wreck.

Some time passed before the young ensign's party were ready to start,
and had been supplied with foo