o doubt about dat, Missie Alice," he
said; "and de sooner we get away de better. You help me, and we make
raft on which we float till de captain comes back to take us. Don't be
afraid, Missie Alice; no harm will come to you, for God will take care
of us better dan we can take care of ourselves. Still, we do what we
can."

"I will do whatever you advise, Nub," answered Alice, endeavouring to
overcome her alarm. She did what every truly wise person under such
circumstances would do--she commended herself and her companion to the
care of God. She then took Nub's hand, who led her up the
companion-ladder to the poop. Having obtained an axe, he immediately
began to cut loose the hen-coops, spars, and gratings, and the lighter
part of the woodwork of that part of the ship. Securing them to ropes,
he forthwith lowered them over the side. Fortunately at this time the
wind had fallen completely, so that the ship was making no way through
the water. Placing Alice in one of the ports, from which she could leap
if necessary into his arms, he descended, and began lashing together the
spars and gratings and pieces of woodwork which he had thrown overboard.
He could only do this in a very rough manner, as he knew that from the
rapid progress the fire was making there was no time to be lost. He
would have called the surgeon and Tidy to his assistance, but he was
afraid if he did so that the rest of the crew would take possession of
the raft he had commenced. His great object was to save Alice, leaving
the others to do the best they could for themselves. He had put
materials together sufficient to bear his and her weight. While he was
working, it occurred to him that it would be necessary to get some
provisions; and securing the raft, he sprang on deck by means of some
ropes he had hung overboard for the purpose, and rushing into the cabin,
he got hold of a small box of biscuit, a bottle of wine, and an earthen
jar full of water. With these prizes he again descended to the raft.
On his way he observed that the surgeon and the rest of the people were
still labouring in vain endeavours to put out the fire, and he could not
help shouting to Mr Lawrie, "You had better build a raft, sir; no use
trying to put out the fire."

Whether or not Mr Lawrie heard him he could not tell. As he was
getting over the quarter, he caught sight of a boat's sail, which he
threw on the raft. Having deposited his provisions in a hen-coop in
wh