o bag a half-burned hen-coop with four dead fowls still
therein, three hatches, and the remains of the mainmast with topmast
attached, the latter spar being still in good enough condition to be
serviceable, and the jibboom. All these things I contrived to get
alongside the foremast without interrupting the labours of the others.

Hawsepipe evidently knew how to construct a raft upon scientific
principles. The foremast he took for a sort of foundation or keel,
laying the two topmasts, one on each side and parallel to it, at a
distance of about ten feet. The ends of these spars were then crossed
by and lashed to the two yardarms of the fore-yard at the end of the
raft which he intended for its stern, and to the topsail yardarms at the
fore end. This formed a rectangular staging, with the lower-mast
running fore and aft through its centre. This staging was then
strengthened by lashing the jibboom across it in the middle, and upon
the top of all, the hatches and the hen-coop were firmly secured,
forming a small platform, upon which, however, there was room for us all
with a little crowding. The topgallant yard with the sail still
attached was then got on end, one arm being lashed to the foremast, and
the other sustained aloft by means of shrouds and stays. The topgallant
sail we cut in two diagonally, and thus treated it formed a tolerably
serviceable leg-of-mutton sail.

It took us so long to do all this, that by the time we had finished, day
was breaking; and as the sun rose the clouds cleared away, and the
trade-wind once more resumed its sway, the fresh, cool breeze greatly
reviving our exhausted energies, while it bore us, at the rate of about
a knot and a half per hour, away from the scene of the catastrophe.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

A VOYAGE UPON A RAFT.

We had now time to look about us, and to realise our position, which--
though it might easily have been worse--was certainly the reverse of
enviable.

In the first place we were upon a frail raft which, well constructed
though it was, could not be expected to hold long together, unless we
were favoured with exceptionally fine weather. In the next place
everything of which we were possessed in the shape of provisions was
comprised in the four dead fowls found in the hen-coop; and of water, or
any other liquid with which to quench our thirst, we had not a single
drop. On the other hand the island of Saint Domingo was under our lee,
at a distance of