g, hot, and smelling of the arid sand and damp mangrove marshes.

"Faith, there is but little of the spices of Araby," I heard Terence
O'Brien observe to one of his friends.

"Those who know how to handle ropes, come and help me to trim the
sails," exclaimed Kydd. "Handspike, you are the only man under my
orders. You go to the helm."

We all set to work to trim the sails. Senhor Silva and his servant, who
had hitherto not done much, now joined with a will. The canvas blew
out, and the yards creaked and strained, but not an inch was the vessel
moved. Kydd then ordered us to run fore and aft; but the light weight
of a few people on board the stout brig produced no perceptible effect.

"Had we the boat, and could we carry an anchor out, we might get the
brig off," I observed to Stanley. "But, I fear, now it is hopeless,
unless, indeed, we were to build a raft. With that we may do something,
though there will be no slight risk in the undertaking."

"If you think it can be done, _we_ will do it," said Stanley.

"Certainly," I said, "it is our only chance."

"Then it shall be done," he exclaimed. "Mr Kydd, we wish to build a
raft to carry out the anchor."

Kydd was about to reply, but the captain's look silenced him. All hands
now set to work to collect all the spare spars and planks to be found.
We got up also a number of small casks from below, in which palm-oil was
to be stowed; and this assisted us greatly.

"Massa," said Timbo, coming up to Stanley, "me t'ink it better to have
two raft. Suppose no get de brig off, den we want dem _to get away_.
Suppose de niggers come off, den what we do? We not stay here for
eber."

"A wise suggestion, Timbo," said his master. "Crawford, will you
undertake to build another raft? Mr Kydd seems busy with the one
forward."

Senhor Silva and his servant had, they told us, once assisted in
building a raft to escape from a wreck, and were well able to lend a
hand. While the rest of the party were collecting materials, I went
aloft, anxious to see what the negroes on shore were about. The mist
which usually hangs over the land at early dawn had by this time
disappeared. With my glass I could distinguish the boat on the beach,
and a number of people moving about. As, however, they did not seem
preparing to launch her, I hoped that we might have time, at all events,
to get our rafts ready; and quickly again descended with the
satisfactory intelligence. Believing th