s
apparent from their movements and attitudes. They were swarming over
the bulwarks and down the sides. They had gathered along the beam-ends
and seemed every moment on the eve of launching their bodies into the
water!

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN.

No wonder the sailors were alarmed. Should the blacks carry out their
intention, enough of them might reach the raft to sink her--enough of
them, perhaps, to fling the white men into the sea and themselves take
possession of that frail chance for life. Whatever might be the event,
it was clear that if they came on, certain destruction must result to
one or other, or most likely to all. As for my companion and myself, we
appeared in a position of greater peril, even than those upon the raft,
for we were between them and the threatened danger. But we had no fears
from this source; we were certain that if no accident arose to our craft
we could propel it faster than a man could swim--though so little faster
that it would have been a tight race had we been pursued. However,
having so many yards of start we had little to fear.

We kept on, intending to overtake the raft and fasten our floating
planks alongside it; and this purpose, after a few minutes, we succeeded
in effecting.

Brace had cautioned me as we came up to say nothing, of what I had done.

"For your life say nothing, for certainly," said he, "they will throw
you into the sea and me along with you. Say not a word," whispered he,
as a final caution--"not a word, even if they question you. I'll answer
them if they do."

He was called upon to do so, and dexterously did he execute his design.

"Hilloa!" hailed several as we approached--"who are ye? Ho! Brace and
that precious boy Bill. Was it you that let the niggers above board?
Was it either of you?"

These questions were put with the usual vulgar embellishments.

"No!" responded Brace, in an indignant tone and of course telling the
truth as far as he was concerned--"How could we? We were down by the
bows, and couldn't see 'em. I wonder how they did get loose? They must
a broke through when ye knocked off the batten. I seed nothin' of 'em
till we were out in the water. I was under the head makin' this bit o'
raft. I was affeerd there wouldn't be room for all--lend a hand here
one o' ye, and hitch this thing on--it'll help to keep a couple o' us
afloat anyhow."

By this appeal for help my companion dexterously turned the
conversation, so that n