left them. He might remember the chest and casks and other
objects floating about, and believe that they had been able by such
means to support themselves. There could be little doubt, by the steady
way in which the raft approached, that Walter was at the helm, though,
as he was steering a course rather on one side, it was probable that he
had not yet discovered them. As the raft drew nearer, Nub exclaimed--

"I will swim away and cut him off, or else maybe he will pass us."

"Let us first try what hailing will do," said the mate; "we will all
shout together."

"Ay, ay!" answered Nub. "I give de time."

All three, raising their voices, shouted as loud as they could, Alice's
shrill note reaching almost as far as the others.

"Once more," cried Nub; "and sure dis time he hear." Again they all
cried out, even louder than before.

"Dere! dere, Missie Alice, he see us!" exclaimed Nub, looking down at
the little girl as he spoke. At that moment the sheets were let go, and
Walter was seen eagerly looking out to discover whence the voices came.
The raft now came gliding up towards them, Walter having gone back to
the helm to steer it.

Nub was the first to spring on board, and then having made fast the
chest, he lifted Alice safely on to the raft, where she was received in
Walter's arms. The almost exhausted mate was then dragged on board by
Nub. The first thing Mr Shobbrok did was to haul down the sail, that
the raft might not be driven further away from the land; he then turned
towards Walter, not to find fault with him for running away,--for he was
well aware that the poor lad could not help it,--but to ascertain the
state of his mind.

Walter had placed Alice on her usual seat, and now sat by her side. He
looked up at Mr Shobbrok. "I cannot tell you how it all happened," he
said in a low voice. "I only remember seeing Alice in the water, and
shrieking out for some one to help her, when I fell down fainting on the
raft. I was unconscious of what happened further, till I found myself
alone on the raft, which had at that instant been taken aback by a
strong breeze from the westward. I felt full of dismay and grief, but
as calm and self-possessed as I ever had been. I considered what was to
be done. My first thought was to go in search of you. I lowered the
sail, got the raft round, and again setting the sail, steered away to
the eastward, fully prepared to perish should I not find you; and oh, I
canno