operation requiring a good deal of skill, as it was necessary to lash
the fresh timbers very securely, or they would prove a source of much
danger; for should the sea get up, and should they break loose, they
would be thrown upon the raft, and thus endanger the safety of those on
it. A portion of Nub's raft was composed of spars, one of which was
found long enough to serve as a mast, instead of the two oars which had
hitherto done duty as such; and they would now be of much use in
impelling on the raft. The mast was securely fixed between the two
cross spars, fastened at either end to the raised sides, and it was then
well stayed up, so that the whole sail bent to a yard could now be
hoisted up. The casks were then lashed securely to the two sides of the
raft as well as to the bow and stern; and when all was finished, the
mate declared that he believed their craft would weather out a heavy
gale as well as many a ship at sea. He might have said much better than
many, which, over-laden and leaky, go helplessly down into the depths of
the ocean without any land in sight or help near, the hapless crew
perishing miserably.

It was nearly mid-day when all was completed. Nub had not uttered a
complaint. At last he could not help exclaiming, "Oh, Mr Shobbrok, can
you give me just one mouthful of water? I give de last to Missie Alice,
and she not know I go all de time without any."

"Of course, my lad, of course," answered the mate, filling a cup from
the cask. "We must be careful of it; but I know what you are feeling,
and there would be no use in giving you just one mouthful."

Nub drank the water, and, heaving a sigh as he smacked his lips, he
exclaimed, "Dat is delicious!"

"Now I think of it, we have not breakfasted. Miss Alice and Walter must
be pretty hungry, and thirsty too," said the mate.

"I am not very thirsty, but I should like to have a few of the biscuits
Nub and I brought," answered Alice.

Nub looked downcast. There were only two remaining. He had not let
Alice discover this, that she might not know how close run they were for
food. For many hours he, honest fellow, had eaten nothing. The mate,
suspecting this, gave Alice the biscuits with a cup of wine and water,
and then beat up some more fish, oil, and pounded biscuit, which he
shared with Walter and Nub. The latter thought the food especially
good, and would have been perfectly ready to eat twice as much of it had
it been given to him. S