l do bravely; next lash these
lighter spars above all, they will form a coaming, and prevent us from
slipping off the raft." Thus he went on, by his activity and cheerful
voice, keeping up the spirits of his men, and encouraging them to
exertion.

"Mr Hemming," said Jack, "how are we to live without food? I must try
and get some--who'll follow me?"

"I will, with all my heart," cried Dick Needham. Jack and he fastened
ropes to their waists, and dashed aft towards the chief cabin, which was
already under water. The tornado had passed away as suddenly as it
began, so that the water was tolerably smooth, or they could not have
attempted this daring feat.

"I know where a cask of biscuits was stowed. If we can get it out, it
will be a great thing," cried Jack, preparing to dive into the cabin.

"I saw some beef in one of the starboard lockers," said Needham,
accompanying him. Another good swimmer and diver followed them. All
three remained under water so long, that those forward thought they were
lost. Adair could not restrain himself, and was dashing aft, when Jack
came to the surface puffing and blowing like a grampus. He had
discovered the cask of biscuits, but no beef was to be found. What,
however, was of great consequence, was a breaker of water which Needham
found, and both were floated up to the raft forward. Two other attempts
were made to get provisions, but in vain. All the rest of the party
were engaged with all their might in increasing and strengthening the
raft. Then the cry arose, "She is going down, she is going down!" Jack
looked about him as he came to the surface out of the submerged cabin,
and seeing that not a moment was to be lost, summoning his two
followers, sprang forward. Adair, with outstretched hand, was ready to
help him on to the raft as he felt the big ship sinking under his feet.

"Shove off, shove off, my lads!" sang out their commander. With spars
and oars, the seamen forced the raft away from the foundering hull.
Then, as the eddy formed by the huge mass going downwards through the
water caught it, the helpless raft was whirled round and round, and then
horrible seemed the fate in store for them. One side dipped into the
sea, and all believed that it was going to be drawn down amid the
vortex. The people held on tightly for their lives. Tossing violently,
however, up it again came to the surface, and floated evenly on the
water. Still their condition was melanchol