o enable them to steer a course. The outside spars
had been selected and hauled on shore, and the work was already in
progress; but they were left alone in their work, for the seamen
appeared to have no idea at present of quitting the island. Restored by
food and repose, they were now not content with the money which they
had--they were anxious for more. A portion of each party's wealth had
been dug up, and they now gambled all day with pebbles, which they had
collected on the beach, and with which they had invented a game.
Another evil had crept among them: they had cut steps in the largest
cocoa-nut trees, and with the activity of seamen had mounted them, and
by tapping the top of the trees, and fixing empty cocoa-nuts underneath,
had obtained the liquor, which in its first fermentation is termed
toddy, and is afterwards distilled into arrack. But as toddy, it is
quite sufficient to intoxicate; and every day the scenes of violence and
intoxication, accompanied with oaths and execrations, became more and
more dreadful. The losers tore their hair, and rushed like madmen upon
those who had gained their dollars; but Krantz had fortunately thrown
their weapons into the sea, and those he had saved, as well as the
ammunition, he had secreted.

Blows and bloodshed, therefore, were continual, but loss of life there
was none, as the contending parties were separated by the others, who
were anxious that the play should not be interrupted. Such had been the
state of affairs for now nearly a fortnight while the work of the raft
had slowly proceeded. Some of the men had lost their all, and had, by
the general consent of those who had won their wealth, been banished to
a certain distance that they might not pilfer from them. These walked
gloomily round the island, or on the beach, seeking some instrument by
which they might avenge themselves, and obtain repossession of their
money. Krantz and Philip had proposed to these men to join them and
leave the island, but they had sullenly refused.

The axe was now never parted with by Krantz. He cut down what cocoa-nut
trees they required for subsistence, and prevented the men from notching
more trees to procure the means of inebriation. On the sixteenth day
all the money had passed into the hands of three men, who had been more
fortunate than the rest. The losers were now by far the more numerous
party, and the consequence was, that the next morning these three men
were found