le distance.

"Haul in again, lads, we must not leave those boys behind," shouted the
boatswain.

But the men did not appear to heed him. They scarcely, indeed, had the
power to do as he ordered. The raft went tossing up and down, and was
carried farther and farther from the wreck.

"Oh! they have deserted us," cried Nat.

"Never mind, we must make a raft for ourselves," answered Owen; "the
lighter the better, and the more the sea goes down, the more easily we
shall get a landing on the rocks." They found a couple of gratings, and
two small spars. These they lashed together.

"We must secure some lanyards to hold on by," said Owen.

There was still plenty of small rope which had become entangled in the
shattered bulwarks, and their raft was soon completed. They had
hitherto not had time to watch the progress of the large raft. Just as
they were about to launch their own they looked out for it. At that
moment they saw a sea strike it; the warp parted, or was carried out of
the men's hands, and the raft was turned completely over, the next
instant to be dashed violently against the rocks, every soul being
washed off. Owen saw that many of the men were striking out, and were
helped up by their companions on the rocks.

"The same thing may happen to our small raft," said Nat.

"I hope not," said Owen; "we will make a couple of paddles, and we shall
then be able to guide it."

They returned for this purpose. The tools, fortunately for them, had
been left behind. The paddles were soon made.

"In case we get on shore safely, these tools may be useful. You go
first, Nat, and I will hand them to you," said Owen.

Nat sprang on to the raft. Owen then handed down a bag of nails, a
hammer and saw, some gimlets and chisels, which Nat secured, as he was
directed by Owen, who leapt down after him. As it was dangerous to
remain alongside the wreck among the masses of timbers, they immediately
cast off the ropes and began paddling away.

Their slight raft was several times nearly struck by pieces of floating
wreck. Shoving away from them with their paddles, they, however,
floated clear. Owen observed an opening between two of the higher
rocks.

"If we can pass through there we may get round the lee side, and land
without difficulty," he said.

They exerted all their strength to reach the opening. Again they were
in great danger from a piece of wreck which came surging up and down
close to them. They, h