oard. When everything was
in her she was somewhat heavily laden, but with the prospect of a long
voyage before them they were unwilling to leave either water or
provisions behind.

All climbed on board. The sand-bag which served as her anchor was
hauled up, the oars got out, and they pulled away to the northward,
clear of the reefs. The sails were then hoisted. They consisted of
three lugs and a foresail, for, from the light materials of which they
were formed, it was considered more prudent to have several small sails
than two large ones. The wind blew from the northward, and was thus
abeam, and her course was about E.N.E.

The wind soon increased, and it became necessary to close reef all the
sails, while the quick motion of the boat, as she danced lightly over
the seas, made every one, with the exception of Mr Scoones and Owen,
very ill. The mate abused them for giving way.

"Shure it's not for pleasure, sir," exclaimed Mike. "As soon as the sea
chooses to be quiet, we will be quiet too."

His remark produced a laugh, even among those who appeared the worst.
In a short time they got better. The night as it approached threatened
to be stormy, and some of the party expressed a wish that they were safe
back again on the sand-bank.

"Suppose such another gale as we had before were to drive the water over
it, where should we be?" asked Mr Scoones. "Depend upon it we are
better off in a tight boat, with twice as much sea as we have running
here."

Owen thought the mate was right. He did his best to keep up the spirits
of his companions. The wind increasing, the sea got up more and more.
It was necessary to keep the boat's head close to the wind, sometimes
indeed to put the helm hard down so that she might ride over the seas,
which otherwise would have broken on board and swamped her. As it was,
in spite of the additional streak, the water constantly fell on board,
and two hands were kept continually baling it out. The least
carelessness in steering would inevitably have caused the destruction of
the boat. It seemed surprising, small as she was, that she could live.
All night long the wind continued to blow as hard as ever, and no
progress was made. There was a fear, indeed, that they might drive back
on the sand-bank. When morning broke Owen looked out anxiously to the
southward, expecting to see it under their lee. He was, however,
thankful to find, as the light increased, that they were out of sig