flew over the smooth
water, like a sea-bird, passed the raft, and was at first evidently
gaining on the boats but their speed soon slackened, and as the day
passed, the boats and then the pirate vessel disappeared in the
southward; the distance between them being apparently much the same as
at the commencement of the chase.

The raft being now at the mercy of the wind and waves Philip and Krantz
collected the carpenter's tools which had been brought from the ship,
and selecting two spars from the raft, they made every preparation for
stepping a mast and setting sail by the next morning.

The morning dawned, and the first objects that met their view were the
boats pulling back towards the raft, followed closely by the pirate.
The men had pulled the whole night, and were worn out with fatigue It
was presumed that a consultation had been held, in which it was agreed
that they should make a sweep, so as to return to the raft, as, if they
gained it, they would be able to defend themselves, and moreover obtain
provisions and water, which they had not on board at the time of their
desertion. But it was fated otherwise; gradually the men dropped from
their oars, exhausted, into the bottom of the boat and the pirate vessel
followed them with renewed ardour. The boats were captured one by one;
the booty found was more than the pirates anticipated, and it hardly
need be said that not one man was spared. All this took place within
three miles of the raft, and Philip anticipated that the next movement
of the vessel would be towards them, but he was mistaken. Satisfied
with their booty, and imagining that there could be no more on the raft,
the pirate pulled away to the eastward, towards the islands from amongst
which she had first made her appearance. Thus were those who expected
to escape, and who had deserted their companions, deservedly punished;
whilst those who anticipated every disaster from this desertion
discovered that it was the cause of their being saved.

The remaining people on board the raft amounted to about forty-five;
Philip, Krantz, Schriften, Amine, the two mates, sixteen seamen, and
twenty-four soldiers, who had been embarked at Amsterdam. Of provisions
they had sufficient for three or four weeks; but of water they were very
short, already not having sufficient for more than three days at the
usual allowance. As soon as the mast had been stepped and rigged, and
the sails set (although there was hardly a