gest
that you once more get into the life-buoy; when, abandoning this raft,
and trusting to chance to find either it again, or the other wreckage
that we have been trying to reach, I would endeavour to tow you far
enough to windward to enable us to intercept that vessel and get her to
pick us up."

"Do you really think that such a proceeding would be likely to prove
successful?" demanded the girl, with a considerable access of animation
in her voice.

"It might, or it might not," answered Leslie. "It is impossible to say
with certainty; so much depends upon chance. Still I think the
experiment is quite worth trying; we may have to do something very like
it eventually, and it would be better to try it now, while we have a
little strength left us. Only if we are to attempt it, we had better
start forthwith, so that we may make as sure as we can of achieving
success. By the way, I suppose you are fairly hungry by this time. Are
you hungry enough to tackle a raw slice off the breast of a drowned
chicken?"

The girl made a gesture of disgust. "If the most dainty meal imaginable
were placed before me at this moment, I do not believe I could touch a
morsel of it," she said, "But I beg that you will not allow my
squeamishness to deter you from eating, if you feel the need of food."

"Thanks," replied Leslie, cheerfully. "I must confess that I am quite
ready for breakfast. And although the fare can scarcely be described as
appetising, I think I will attempt a morsel; it may prove useful to me,
in view of the task before us."

And therewith, extracting his knife from his pocket, and selecting a
fairly plump fowl, he hacked off a goodsized slice of the breast, from
which he stripped skin and feathers together. Then, cramming the lump
of flesh into his mouth, he masticated it well, extracting all the juice
from it; after which he pronounced himself ready for the new adventure.

Hauling the life-buoy up on the raft, he showed Miss Trevor how to place
herself in it in such a manner as to secure the maximum amount of
support from it; and as soon as she had arranged herself according to
his instructions he bade her plunge boldly in; which she did. He then
at once followed her and, passing his left arm through one of the
beckets, forthwith struck out, swimming with a long, steady stroke, in
the direction which he had decided would be the most advantageous for
him to take.

It was perfectly true that, as Leslie had rem