Part 18 (1/2)

”Here we have materials for a raft at hand!” cried Bill ”We ree with you, Jack, that there's no use in atte a boat It would take too ht”

”I said so,” replied Jack ”I e had soo and find it if I can”

Jackfree the lashi+ngs, and dragging out the spars Jack returned in a short time with some cold meat, and biscuit, and cheese

”See! we can dine like lords,” he exclaimed; ”and we shall be better able to work after it”

They sat down on the chest, and ate the provisions with good appetites

Bill cast a thought on the fate of the poor fellows to who about in the breakers outside

Every now and then they alternately jumped up, and looked east and west, and to the top of the cliff, to ascertain if any one was coht of both the villages, or they would not have been left long alone It was to be hoped that no one would co the cliff and look down upon the wreck

Their meal over, they set to work to plan their raft

They were obliged to labour on deck, as they could not hoist it up through the hold, or they would have preferred keeping out of sight It would be a hard job to launch it, but that they hoped to do by fastening tackles at either side leading to the ring bolts on deck

As there were no bulwarks to stop them, they laid the foundation, or, as they called it, the keel, projecting slightly over the side They would thus have only to shove it forward and tip it up to launch it

Their plan was to for square, then to put on bows at one end; and two pieces crossing each other with a short upright between the oar The interior of the fraonal braces They lashed and nailed a nuether, and on the top of the whole they nailed down all the planks they could find, which were sufficient to for to their raft

They discovered also a number of small brandy casks, which they i the spirits floithout coed them down

They fastened ropes around the casks, hich, when the raft was launched, they could secure theht up a couple of sea-chests, which they intended to lash down to the centre, so as to afford them some protection from the sea, and at the sagester of all these arrangeh Jack ably carried they they could co depended on their exertions

The night being bright, they were able to get on as well then as in the daytime

CHAPTER TWELVE

A RAFT BUILT--MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF JACK PEEK

Not till their raft was co

They had been working, it must be remembered, for several hours since thefinished the beef and cheese, they lighted a couple of lanterns which they found hung up in the forepeak, and hunted about for more food

They discovered some casks of salt beef, and another of biscuits, a drum of cheese, and several boxes of dried fruit They had thus no lack of provisions, but they did not forget the necessity of supplying the about, they found two small vessels, which they filled from one of the water-casks

There were several oars below, three of which they took and placed in readiness on deck--one to steer with, and the other two for rowing