hip much increased; they had less chance, also, of being picked up by
either of the two other boats on their return to the ship.

Walter had not uttered a word of complaint, and had done his utmost to
assist the mate. He could not help feeling how wrong he had been in
getting into the boat, knowing, as he did, that his father would
certainly have objected; and should he not find them, how grieved he
would be on getting on board the ship to discover that they had not
returned. The accident had occurred at too great a distance for those
remaining on board to see what had happened, though they might, perhaps,
conjecture that the boats had been destroyed.

The sun soon set, and darkness rapidly coming on, shrouded the
far-distant ship from sight. The mate and Walter had done their utmost
to impel the raft towards her; but gathering clouds obscured the sky,
and they had no longer the means of directing their course.

"It will be impossible to reach her during the night," said the mate at
length. "We are as likely to be pulling away from her as towards her;
and I have a notion that the wind has shifted more than once. The best
thing we can do is to lie on our oars and to wait patiently till the
morning. Take care, however, my boy, that you do not drop asleep and
fall off. Here, make a couple of beckets, and slip your arms through
them; they will awake you if you move in your sleep."

"I have no wish to go to sleep," said Walter; "I feel too anxious to do
that."

"You must not trust too much to that," said the mate. "Nature may be
too powerful for you; and you will be all the better for the rest."

Still Walter insisted on endeavouring to keep awake. He was sitting up
trying to pass the time with talking, when suddenly he exclaimed, "Look!
look, Mr Shobbrok! Where can that light come from?"

The mate gazed for some time, and then said solemnly, "Walter, I am
afraid the ship is on fire."

CHAPTER FOUR.

ALICE LEFT ON BOARD--MUTINEERS AND PRISONERS ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE SHIP--
GALLANTRY OF THE SURGEON--FIRE BREAKS OUT--NUB SAVES ALICE ON A RAFT--
WATCH THE BURNING SHIP--VOYAGE OF ALICE AND NUB ON THE RAFT--LOOK OUT
FOR A SAIL--A TERRIFIC THUNDERSTORM--A SAIL IN SIGHT.

After the boats had left the ship, Alice remained on deck, attended by
Nub, watching their progress. Now and then Mr Lawrie came and spoke to
her, but she was so eager that she could scarcely reply to what he said.
Away dashed the two boats