ere about to do, and also from seeing that the
raft did not come nearer. It struck me that, since the poor boatswain
was dead, we ought to invite the carpenter to accompany us. Boxall
agreed with me; I therefore asked him in a low voice if he could swim,
and was willing to try and get on board the small raft.

"I cannot swim," he answered; "and if I could, I would not desert these
poor people who are trusting to me, for the mutineers would very soon
put them to death. But as you are not bound to remain, I will help you
to escape."

Thanking him heartily, I said that we would leap overboard suddenly, in
order that no one might attempt to stop us. We were all very sorry to
leave the carpenter, for we could not help fearing that when we should
be gone the mutineers would attack him, and in all probability treat him
as they had done the boatswain. We were still talking to him, when once
more the ruffians at the other end of the raft shouted out that they
must have water and provisions served out to them immediately.

"Ask them to wait patiently till the evening, and say that you will then
do as they wish; you will have fewer mouths to feed by that time."

I little thought at the moment how truly I spoke; for scarcely had the
carpenter uttered the words when the mutineers rose in a body, and,
drawing their knives, made a desperate rush at us. We had only time to
spring to our feet and defend ourselves. Though we might have leaped
overboard and escaped, we felt that it would be cowardly to desert the
carpenter and those who sided with him. As it was, three of the
unfortunate people who remained neutral, and were without weapons to
defend themselves, being nearest to the savages, were stabbed before we
could help them. We fought with the greatest desperation. Boxall cut
down one of the fellows, and the carpenter and I wounded two others.
Still they came on, as if resolved to overpower us. I observed, also,
that Ben was near enough to see what was taking place, and was hoisting
his sail, unable to resist his desire to come to our assistance. Should
he come near enough to enable any of the people on our raft to leap on
to his, I felt sure that our chance of escape would be lost.

"Are we bound to sacrifice our lives for these people?" I asked Boxall.

"Not when we have lost all hope of assisting them," he answered. "Ask
the carpenter again if he will accompany us."

I was on the point of putting the question,