," cried the old sailor
in an anxious whisper.

"Will you own to it then?"

"Nay, that I won't," came in a growl.

"Here, doctor," cried Carey, loudly.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Oh, Master Carey, don't tell on a fellow," whispered Bostock.

"You're just in time. The raft's done. Bostock has just driven in the
last nail."

"Glad to hear it," said the doctor. "Then I suppose we may get her into
the water to-morrow."

"Yes, sir, she'll do now," growled the old sailor.

"That's right," said the doctor. "Look here, Carey, my lad, we'll try
how she rides in the water to-morrow, and if she's all right, I think we
might swing you down in a chair from a block, and you might go with us,
for you need not exert yourself in the least. You would sit in the
chair."

"Yes," cried the boy, eagerly. "I feel sure it wouldn't hurt me a bit."

"What do you say, Bostock? Could we manage?"

"That we could, sir; wrap him up and drop him down so as we shouldn't
disturb a fly on him."

"Then we'll try," said the doctor, to the boy's great delight.

A few minutes later Bostock watched for his chance when the doctor had
gone below, and went up to Carey's chair.

"Thought you was going to split on me, sir," he whispered.

"Then I was right?" said Carey.

"Well, what was the good o' us going and leaving you behind, my lad?
You wouldn't ha' liked that?"

"No," said the boy, drawing a deep breath, as he looked half-wonderingly
at the rough old sailor, and thought something about good-heartedness
and kindly thought, as he said aloud:

"No, Bob, I don't think I should have liked that."

CHAPTER NINE.

The raft was not launched the next morning, and Bostock did not even
begin to make preparations with the blocks and pulleys for getting it
over the side.

Carey was rather restless when he went to bed, the thought of the coming
change and the idea of gliding over the smooth waters of the lagoon
producing in his still weak state enough excitement to keep him awake
for hours, so that it was well on towards morning before he went off
soundly to sleep; but when he was once off he slept as if he meant to
indulge himself for eight-and-forty hours.

"Hullo!" he cried when he awoke, "anything the matter?"

For he found the doctor sitting reading close to his berth.

"Matter? No, I hope not," replied the doctor, closing his book. "Had a
good rest?"

"Yes, I have been sound asleep. What made you call me so early?"

"Ear