main
top-gallant-sail, somewhat reduced, was spread to form a sail. From
three oars, a rudder and two oars were manufactured, and a fourth was
kept to pole off from any rocks towards which they might be driven.
Altogether, a very complete raft was constructed, much superior to many
which have borne wave-tossed mariners for days or weeks together on the
broad waters of the Atlantic. Not till every arrangement was made did
Zappa and his followers desist from their labour.

Meantime Ada and Nina had not been neglected, and the pirate seemed to
be endeavouring to make such amends as were in his power for his past
conduct. On the further end of the rock a tent was erected with some of
the sails, which had been saved, and a case of female wearing apparel
was placed within it to enable them to clothe themselves, while their
own dresses were drying in the sun, which, when spread out on the hot
rock, a very few minutes sufficed to do. Paolo had also collected small
pieces of wood, which dried quickly, and he then piled them together to
be in readiness to light a fire should it be required.

The formation of the raft afforded them ample matter of interest, and as
they sat there, secure and without discomfort, on that solitary rock,
with the ocean smiling calmly around them, the awful event, which so
short a time before had cast them there, seemed almost like a dream,
which is, with difficulty, recalled to the recollection.

Such food as could be prepared, they were supplied with; but, as may be
supposed, they were little inclined to partake of it, nor would they,
perhaps, have done so, had they not felt the importance of sustaining
their strength to enable them to undergo the dangers and exposure to
which they saw they would most probably be subjected.

Thus the day passed rapidly away, and the sun was already verging
towards the horizon, by the time the raft was completed. It was now too
late, Zappa asserted, to embark, and by waiting for the early dawn, they
might have the whole of a day to perform the voyage without the risk of
being exposed at night on the raft, and might hope, with certainty, to
reach the island before sunset.

The men willingly agreed to their chief's proposal, while the remainder
of the party had no choice, but to submit had they objected to it; but
it seemed so reasonable, that, anxious as they were to reach a more
secure position, they uttered no complaint at his decision.

The tent was, there