The cabin had been on deck; but this was swept away. The
forecastle, however, was below, and into this he descended. It was
arranged in the usual manner on board merchant ships--that is to say, it
had standing bunks round each side of it, in which the bedding of the
unfortunate seamen still remained, precisely as when the ship struck.

The seamen's chests were also there, showing that they had had no time
to make any elaborate preparations for leaving the ship; and the
impression produced upon Gaunt's mind by what he saw was, that when the
ship struck the watch below must have rushed immediately up on deck, and
very soon, if not immediately afterwards, have been swept overboard.

As he was there, not to satisfy his curiosity, but to ascertain of what
value the ship might prove to himself and his friends, he did not
hesitate to open and examine the chests of the poor fellows; but he
found nothing therein except such coarse clothing as is usually worn by
merchant seamen, and a few little odds and ends of no particular value,
except perhaps a sailor's palm or two, with sail-needles; and in one or
two instances a little housewife with sewing needles, thread, etcetera,
neatly arranged.

One of the chests, however, proved to be a carpenter's tool-chest; and
this, although Gaunt had a small tool-chest of his own among his
effects, would be of such priceless value to the little band, that he
determined to secure it then and there; and he accordingly dragged it on
deck at once, in readiness to transfer to his raft. The floor of the
forecastle was quite dry, and this circumstance led Gaunt to hope that
the hull had received no damage; but on raising the hatch leading to the
fore-peak he saw that the place was nearly full of water. His
exploration of the forecastle ended here; and he was about to proceed on
deck when he caught sight of a fishing-line suspended on a nail inside
one of the bunks. This fishing-line he at once secured and took on deck
with him laying it down on top of the carpenter's tool-chest so that it
might not be forgotten when he left the wreck.

He now proceeded to the after end of the wreck. Here the cabins had
been entirely swept away; and he had no means of ascertaining any
particulars as to the ownership of the vessel, the nature of her cargo,
or her destination--the ship's papers and the captain's private
documents having doubtless gone overboard with the wreck of the cabin.
But by looking over