or Alice.

As there was not room to lie down on the raft, the boat was propped on
it; and they all got into her, having also stowed away on board the cask
of water, the remaining biscuits, the bottles of wine, two harpoons and
spears, and a portion of the fish. Walter and Alice occupied the stern
sheets; the mate lay down amidships; while Nub, who was to keep the
first watch, sat in the bows. Nub, finding himself in a boat, felt much
more secure than he had done on the raft. He had kept the morning
watch, and had been working hard all day. It is not surprising,
therefore, that when he ought to have been sitting with his eyes wide
open he allowed them to close, and fell asleep. The mate himself,
though generally very wakeful, experienced a feeling of security he had
not for long enjoyed, and slept more soundly than usual. It was almost
a dead calm when they lay down, and the sea was perfectly smooth; no
vessel could run over them, for none could approach without wind;
indeed, unless to be prepared for a change in the weather, it seemed
almost needless to keep watch.

Some hours, probably, had passed, when suddenly the voyagers were
awakened by a loud roaring sound, and by feeling the boat lifted on a
sea and sent surging forward. They all started up, the mate and Nub
looking around them, while Walter held Alice in his arms, thinking
something terrible was about to happen.

"Out with the oars!" cried the mate. "Walter, ship the tiller." He was
instantly obeyed, fortunately for them; for should such another sea as
that which had washed the boat off the raft catch her broadside, it
might roll her over and over. By great exertions the mate got her
round, head to the sea, and there he and Nub were able to keep her. But
what had become of the raft? In the darkness it could nowhere be seen.
Perhaps it was afloat near them, or it might, deprived of their weight,
have been turned over and knocked to pieces by the seas. Happily, most
of the articles on which they depended for existence were in the boat;
but their mast and sail had gone, with the chest, and the greater
portion of their tools. In vain the mate and Nub looked around on every
side in the hope of seeing it. Could they find it, even though it
should be sorely battered, they might hang on to leeward of it by a
hawser, and thus, in comparative security, ride out the gale; as it was,
they must keep their oars moving all night to prevent the seas from
brea