observed to Boxall; "and I cannot help
thinking that Jose is right. We must not forget the sample they have
given us of their feelings."

"I am afraid it must be so," said Boxall with a sigh. "For our own
safety, we must make for the shore without further delay. Hoist the
sail, Ben. I will take the steering-oar; Jose can manage the bow oar;
and you, Halliday, and Charlie can tend the halyards and sheet."

We assisted Ben to hoist the sail, which was somewhat large for the
raft, except under a very light wind. Before the sail was set, however,
the breeze had greatly increased, and scarcely had we brought the sheet
aft when over went the mast, carried off at the heel. We of course set
to work to get in the sail, while Ben, with an axe, endeavoured to cut
out the broken heel from the step, in which he had fixed it. This took
some time, as the raft was rocking about far more than it had hitherto
done, and he could not work quickly in the darkness. Having at length
succeeded, he had next to chop the heel of the mast to the proper size
to fit the step. He was working away as rapidly as possible, and we
were stooping down to assist him, when Jose shouted out, "They are
coming, they are coming!" Looking round, we observed that the sail of
the big raft was hoisted, and that she was coming towards us faster than
we should have supposed it was possible for her to move. In little more
than a minute she might be up with us; while the wild shouts and
execrations of the miscreants who were on the raft rang in our ears, and
showed us what he had to expect from them.

Ben worked away as composedly but as rapidly as he could, while we were
engaged in taking a reef in the sail.

"It's done," cried Ben at last; and lifting the mast, we found, to our
great satisfaction, that the heel fitted into the step. We immediately
set up four stays.

"Be smart now," cried Boxall. "Hoist away with the sail."

He had good reason to give the order, for, as we looked round, we saw
the head of the big raft with several people on it, some rowing to give
it more impetus, while one stood with a boat-hook ready to catch hold of
us. In another instant the fellow might have hooked on, or have run the
point of it into the back of Boxall, who had again resumed the
steering-oar; but, hoisting away with all our might, we got the sail up,
and while Ben was making fast the halyards Halliday and I carried the
sheet aft.

Over the now foaming sea w