herefore we ought, while we have strength, to do our best to
urge on our raft."

Though we were all agreed as to the wisdom of this, yet the sun came
down with such strength on our heads that we had little inclination to
exert ourselves. We had also hopes that, when the breeze did get up, a
sail might come near us. This, perhaps, made us exert ourselves less
than we should otherwise have done.

The large raft, I should have said, was still in sight; and, looking
through my telescope, I could see the people moving about on it,--
though, as far as I could judge, there were fewer than there had been
when we left it. What had become of the others? Too probably many had
been killed by the ruffianly mutineers; and some, having succumbed to
hunger and thirst, had been thrown overboard.

As the day wore on, we could not help acknowledging that we felt weaker
than we had been, while a strong inclination to sleep overpowered us.
So, while we waited anxiously for a breeze, we spent some hours sleeping
under the sail,--persuading ourselves that we should be better able to
row during the cool hours of night, when we determined to set manfully
to work.

I may venture to say, though I have not before taken notice of it, that
a feeling of compassion made us unwilling to desert altogether the
unfortunate people still on the raft until, for our own safety, we were
compelled to do so. Before long, it was but too probable, their numbers
would be greatly diminished. Already six of the mutineers had lost
their lives, and their fate would, we hoped, be a warning to the others;
perhaps, too, the better disposed people might gain the upper hand.

"Whether we can venture to take them off now, is a question," observed
Boxall; "but we may possibly be able to reach the shore and gain
assistance for them: and it would certainly tend to prevent them giving
way to despair, could we, before we leave the neighbourhood, tell them
of our intentions."

Halliday and I acquiesced in this; Ben was doubtful.

"After the spirit they have shown, I am afraid it would be of no use,
sir," he observed. "They are not to be dealt with like Englishmen; and
if we go near them, they will only try to get hold of our raft. I will
ask Jose what he thinks."

The Spaniard shook his head. "They will not believe us, senor," he
answered. "Our officers having deserted them, they will not believe
that a party of foreigners can intend to treat them with better fa