ched the schooner. She had
tacked, as if about to run down close to them, and deliver another
broadside. Seeing this, they were prepared to leap back into the cabin,
when suddenly she hauled her tacks aboard, and stood directly away from
them. Did her crew believe that the shots they had fired would speedily
effect their supposed purpose, and take the brig to the bottom, or were
they only firing for practice? As soon as the schooner had got a little
distance off, the boys jumped on deck and hurried to the pump. Harry
first sounded the well. His face grew very serious.

"David," he said, "the water has gained fearfully on us. The shot-holes
must be letting in the water fast, and I do not think that the brig can
float another hour--perhaps not ten minutes."

"What are we to do, then?" asked David.

"Build a raft," answered Harry. "There are plenty of spars. I saw some
carpenter's tools and large nails in the cabin, and we may break off the
hatches. They will help us. We must be sharp about it, though."

Of this there could be no doubt. That they might give the old fisherman
a better chance of saving his life, they agreed to get him up first. By
taking an abundance of food and rest, he had greatly recovered his
strength, and was now able to do as they proposed.

"If I cannot work, I may give you my advice," he observed. "I have more
than once had to trust to a raft for my life."

The cat followed them on deck. The old man shook his head when he saw
her.

"She knows that the cabin is no longer a safe place for her, and that
she will be better off up here," he said, as the boys placed him on a
heavy coil of rope near the mainmast. The ship was happily more quiet
than she had before been, and the boys, having collected all the spars
and planks they could find, as well as some chairs and a table from the
cabin, commenced, under old Jefferies' directions, to form the proposed
raft. They worked away with all their might, knowing well that a few
minutes' delay would be fatal. A large raft was not required, as it had
to support only three persons and their provisions. The great thing was
to make it strong enough. They brought up all the small rope they could
find and lashed the stoutest of the spars together, so as to form an
oblong framework, with a centre spar as a keel. They further secured
them with large nails. Then they placed planks and smaller spars across
this, with the table, top downwards, a