ted on the lad's countenance.
The flag-ship, which they had left stranded, lay broken in half by the
terrific force of the sea, and the after-part of her was now being
gradually driven shoreward, the fore-part remaining, as before, embedded
in the sand; and, worse still for the poor castaways, the remaining
three ships of the fleet had cut their cables and, setting what sail
they dared, were heading away from the island before the gale. No
wonder that Roger felt stunned with despair, as he realised that he was
actually left on an island that was nothing more than a mere sand-bank,
with three other men to bear him company, it is true, but with, between
the four, only two days' provisions, provided that they were used with
the most rigid economy!

But he was roused from his reverie by Jake's voice saying to him: "Never
worry, Master Trevose, they ships ha'n't forgotten us by no manner o'
means; but the skipper sees as how he can't take us off while this 'ere
gale lasts, so he's cut his cables and run for it. The captain have
lost one ship, and he don't want to lose any more, so he've just bore up
out of harm's way until the gale have blowed itself out. And that, sir,
with all submission, I calls good seamanship. Never you fear, sir; we
ain't forgotten; the skipper ain't the man to forget his crew, nor no
part of 'em; and as soon as this 'ere bit of a breeze is over, you'll
see they three ships come sailin' back here to this sand-bank to take us
off again. I knows Captain Cavendish, I do, and he ain't the man to
forget we's here, and sail away and leave us. We'll see 'em all back
here to-morrow, or next day at the furdest. But I'm wonderin' whether
there were any poor fellers left aboard the _Stag Royal_ when she parted
in the middle!" And old Jake Irwin looked round, shading his eyes from
the flying spindrift, to see if he could discover any trace of human
being either in the sea or washed up on the beach. But none was
visible.

"Yes, you are right, Jake," said Roger. "I forgot for the moment that
Captain Cavendish would be obliged to leave that anchorage or be blown
on shore. But the captain will, of course, return as soon as he is
able. As to there being any people aboard when the ship parted, Jake, I
think all were taken off before that happened. And now, since we can do
no more for the present, we had better go and take shelter as this man
suggests. By the way, my man, what is your name?"

"My name, s