sank below the surface. Those on the wreck were already so
exhausted that no one could go to their assistance. There were rather
more than a dozen altogether, I believe, clinging to the wreck. Several
of them, from the exclamations they uttered, I found were suffering from
scorching, or the blows they had received from falling pieces of the
wreck.

Morning at length dawned upon us poor human beings--the sole survivors
of the ship's company, who but a few hours before were I enjoying life
and strength. Just then the words which I had heard at the funeral came
across my mind--"In the midst of life we are in death." How true it had
proved to them. It might prove true to us also, for our prospects of
escape were small indeed. Pieces of the wreck were floating about
around us, and I thought I made out two or three people still holding on
to the fragments, but I could not be certain. In the far distance were
the shores of the island. It seemed so far off, that we could scarcely
hope to reach it; yet reach it we must, if our lives were to be saved.
The sea was smooth, and the warmth of the water prevented our being
benumbed from being so long in it. Still, as the sun rose, all hands
began to complain of thirst. Something must be done, however. I asked
Pember what he would advise, as he, being the highest in rank among us,
would have to take the command; but his drinking habits had unnerved
him, and he answered, incoherently, "We must swim, I suppose, if we
cannot get the wreck under way." Esse and I then turned to Mr Noalles.
He had occasionally uttered a deep groan, as if in pain. I found that
he was severely hurt, partly from the fire, and also from the blows he
had received. At first, apparently, he had not been aware how seriously
he had been injured. "We must build a raft, lads," he answered at
length. "See! Here is the main-yard alongside of us, with the
main-sail and plenty of rope hanging on to it. We shall have no lack of
materials, but there are not many of us, I am afraid, fit for the work."
He spoke too truly. Esse and I had escaped the best. Kiddle, also,
was only slightly injured, and two of the ship's company had escaped,
while all the rest were more or less hurt, two or three of them very
badly. It seemed a wonder they could have got on to the wreck, while
Pember, either from external injury or the shock his nerves had
received, was likely to be of little use.

While we were looking out