t
was hitched along the deck to the gangway, and then on and on till a
quarter of it was outside, when there was a halt for inspection to see
if all was right for it to fall clear.

Bostock declared that it was, but the doctor shook his head.

"It is my belief," he said, "that it will turn wrong side up when it
falls."

"I believe it will tumble all to pieces," cried Carey, mischievously.

"If she do I'll eat my hat," growled Bostock. "Let's have her in and
chance it, sir. Mebbe if she falls topsy-wopsy we can get the capstan
to work and turn her back again."

"Well, we'll try," replied the doctor.

"Come on then, sir," said the old sailor, picking up the capstan bar
again; "and you stand well back, Master Carey. We don't want to break
you again if she topples over."

The boy drew back and the levers were thrust in beneath, and once more
the raft began to move inch by inch outside the gangway.

"Both together, sir," cried the old sailor; "easy it is--heave ho--heavy
ho--steady--ay, oh! One, two, three, and a cheerily ho! One more, sir.
Two more, sir. Yo, ho, ho, and lock out; over she goes!"

For the clumsy structure was hitched on and on till it was pretty well
on the balance. Then a couple more touches did the business, for the
half projecting through the gangway began to sink, overbalancing more
and more till all at once, after hanging for a moment as if suspended in
the air, it plunged outward, falling with a tremendous splash, sending
the spray flying in all directions; and then, to the delight of all,
after seeming to hesitate as it rose, turning over and floating high out
of the water and right way up.

Carey gave a hearty cheer, while Bostock threw down his capstan bar with
a rattle on the deck.

"Play up, you lubber!" he shouted to an imaginary fiddler, as he folded
his arms and then dashed off in the sailor's hornpipe, dancing
frantically for a couple of minutes, and ending with three stamps and a
bow and scrape.

"Now then," he cried, panting hard with his exertions, "did she tumble
all to pieces, sir? I knowed better than that."

"Capital, Bostock," said the doctor. "It floats splendidly, but will it
bear all three?"

"Will it bear all three, sir? Yes, and a ton o' stuff as well. Here,
just you wait a minute."

He ran and got hold of the rope, hauled the raft alongside, and made it
fast, before sliding down on to the raft, where he repeated his hornpipe
performance, the buoyant