Part 3 (1/2)

”No, no, gentlemen,” he said; ”it will be wiser first to collect as many oysters as we can secure before the tide comes back, for we shall not then be able to get them.”

So we all set to work to collect oysters, filling our pockets and then carrying them on sh.o.r.e, and there piling them up beyond high-water mark.

We knew that we should require a large number: indeed, Boxall reminded us that we could not expect to live long upon them and keep up our strength. It was tantalising, also, to reflect that we could not carry any quant.i.ty on our intended voyage.

Boxall then proposed that we should return to our water-hole. ”Though I am afraid, Charlie, we shall not find your shoes very full,” he observed.

”Perhaps not; but if we take a few of the deepest of these oyster-sh.e.l.ls, we may get water more quickly,” I answered. The thought that they would be of use had just struck me.

Away we went, our pockets loaded with as many oysters as we could carry.

When we got to the hole I was disappointed to find that Boxall was right, and that there was only just sufficient water in my shoes to enable Ben partly to quench his thirst. By further increasing the hole, however, and putting down our oyster-sh.e.l.ls, we found that we could obtain a much larger quant.i.ty of the precious liquid than by means of the shoes. Still there was only just enough to quench our thirst; and even had we possessed a bottle, it would have required some hours to fill it.

The tide had already begun to rise, and we agreed that no time was to be lost in crossing the channel to our raft, as we should now have the advantage of shallow water; whereas, if we waited, we should have to carry the raft a considerable distance over the rocks to launch it.

”I won't disguise from you that I consider our expedition a dangerous one,” said Boxall. ”Heavy weather may come on before we reach the sh.o.r.e; or a current may sweep us either to the north or south on to another reef. And when we do gain the sh.o.r.e, we cannot tell how we shall support life, or what treatment we may receive from the inhabitants, should we fall in with any, in that desert region. We can, however, trust to One above to take care of us. Let us pray to Him for protection.”

We knelt down, and Boxall offered up a heart felt, earnest prayer, in which we all joined. Then we rose from our knees, with strong hearts to encounter the dangers before us.

CHAPTER THREE.

WE QUIT THE SAND-BANK--A SAIL! A SAIL!--SAVED--DON LOPEZ'S INDIGNATION--THE s.h.i.+P STRIKES--FIRE! FIRE!--CRUELLY DESERTED--THE WRECK BLOWS UP.

We had marked the spot where we had landed on the sand-bank, and we hoped therefore without difficulty to find our raft on the top of the reef. Before starting, we swallowed as much water as we could collect, and filled our handkerchiefs and pockets with oysters--which we took out of the sh.e.l.ls, for otherwise we could have carried but few. It was not a time to be particular, but the oysters _did_ feel somewhat slimy, and did not look very nice. How much we wished for a bottle in which we could carry water!--but all our ingenuity could devise no means of securing any for the future. We had an orange apiece remaining, and that was all on which we could depend for quenching our thirst till we could reach the sh.o.r.e; and perhaps even then we might be unable to find water.

”Cheer up, cheer up!” cried Boxall. ”We have thought sufficiently over the dangers before us, now let us face them bravely.” Saying this, he led the way across the channel; Halliday and I followed, and Ben brought up the rear. We were able to wade the whole distance, though in the deeper part the water was up to our shoulders. We found the raft as we had left it, for the tide, even at its height, did not reach the top of the reef. At Boxall's suggestion, we took it apart and dragged the pieces down to the edge of the water, so that when put together again it might float as the tide came in. We also lashed it together more securely and balanced it better than before, while from one of the boards we cut out two fresh paddles; thus all hands were able to urge on the raft. Judging as far as we were able--by throwing a piece of wood into the water--that the current was setting to the southward, while we wished to go round the north end of the reef, we determined to wait till the tide slackened, which it would soon do; indeed, our raft was not yet completely afloat. The water rising higher and higher, however, we at last got on the raft and sat down. And while Boxall took the boat-hook to shove off, the rest of us paddled with all our might.

”Away she goes!” cried Boxall; and we were fairly afloat.

Just at that instant Ben cried out, ”A sail! a sail! away to the north-west.”

We looked in the direction indicated, and clearly made out the top-gallant-sails and part of the royals of what was apparently a large s.h.i.+p, standing almost directly towards us. Our hearts leaped with joy.

Instead of the weary paddling towards the arid coast, parched with thirst and suffering from hunger, we might soon be safe on board s.h.i.+p, with the prospect of returning to our friends and country.

”We shall easily cut her off, if we steer to the westward and make good way,” cried Ben. ”But there is no time to lose, in case she should alter her course.”

”I cannot understand why she is standing in this direction,” observed Boxall. ”Her commander can scarcely be aware of the existence of this reef, or he would be giving it a wider berth.”

The wind was against us, and the send of the sea drove us back almost as much as we went ahead; so that we made but slow progress. The s.h.i.+p, however, approached nearer and nearer, till we could see nearly to the foot of her courses. When at length her hull came in sight, both Boxall and Ben were of opinion that she was foreign,--either French or Spanish.

Boxall thought that she was the latter; and indeed we soon clearly made out the Spanish ensign flying from her peak.

”I will get a signal ready,” said Ben, taking off his s.h.i.+rt and fastening it to the end of the oar which had served as a mast. It was still too evident, however, that we were not seen.

”If that s.h.i.+p were to stand on an hour longer, or even less, she would run right on the reef not far to the southward of this,” observed Boxall. ”It will be a mercy if those on board see us, as we will be able to warn them of their danger. Let us, at all events, do our best to get up to her.”

Cheering each other on, we paddled away as vigorously as we could.

”I think she will see us now. Let us hoist our signal,” cried Ben; and taking up the oar which lay along the raft, he waved it, with his s.h.i.+rt at the end, as high as he could. Some minutes more pa.s.sed. The s.h.i.+p had got so far to the southward that we were directly on her beam. Ben waved the signal frantically; and uniting our voices, we shouted as loudly as we could.

”I am afraid our voices don't reach her in the teeth of the wind,”