in and could sit up.
Their thirst satisfied, they were assailed by the pangs of hunger. As
there was abundance of shell-fish they had no fear of starving, while
the woods they hoped would afford them fruit of some sort. They soon
found on some rocks on one side of the bay an ample supply of
shell-fish. Mike at once began to eat them raw.

"Stay!" exclaimed Langton. "Let us refrain until we have cooked them,
when they are less likely to do us harm."

"But how are we to get a fire?" asked Owen.

"I have a burning glass in my pocket," said Langton.

Dry sticks were soon collected, and some moss, which ignited almost
immediately the glass was held over it. A bright fire was kindled. The
shell-fish were cooked, Langton having selected those which appeared to
him most likely to prove wholesome.

"We are better off here than we were on the sand-bank," observed Mike.
"We escaped from that, and we'll be afther getting away from this before
long."

While he was speaking Owen happened to turn his eyes to the southward.

"A sail! a sail!" he exclaimed.

Just rounding a point of the island which had hitherto hid her from
sight appeared a large ship, the heads of her courses already rising
above the horizon.

"We must make a signal or she may pass us," exclaimed Langton. "The
mast and yard of our raft will serve as a flag."

Mike possessed a coloured handkerchief, which he had hitherto worn round
his waist. Other handkerchiefs were produced. Nat contributed his
shirt, so that a flag of good size was formed.

The fire having been first made up so as to emit a large amount of
smoke, they hastened with their flagstaff to the end of the point, where
it was speedily erected. As no other means of attracting the attention
of those on board could be devised, they sat down, anxiously waiting the
result. With some small line, which they got from the raft, they drew
out the flag so as to present a broad surface to the approaching ship.
Her hull soon rose above the water.

"Thank Heaven! She is a British sloop-of-war, and is sure to keep a
bright look-out," said Langton. "She will pass within a mile of the
island, and cannot fail to see us."

The wind had by this time shifted to the southward. The corvette--for
such she was--came on before it, under easy sail, with the lead going.

The party watched her with intense eagerness. Every moment they feared
that she might haul off the shore, but the water was deep, and