FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226  
227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   >>   >|  
em open and helped themselves--quarrelling with each other for the first possession, as each cask was opened. At last every man had obtained as much as he could carry, and had placed his spoil on the raft with his baggage, or in the boat to which he had been appointed. All was now ready--Amine was lowered down, and took her station--the boats took in tow the raft, which was cast off from the vessel, and away they went with the current, pulling with all their strength, to avoid being stranded upon that part of the sand bank which appeared above water. This was the great danger which they had to encounter, and which they very narrowly escaped. They numbered eighty-six souls in all: in the boats there were thirty-two; the rest were on the raft, which being well-built and full of timber, floated high out of the water, now that the sea was so smooth. It had been agreed upon by Philip and Krantz, that one of them should remain on the raft and the other in one of the boats; but, at the time the raft quitted the ship, they were both on the raft, as they wished to consult, as soon as they discovered the direction of the current, which would be the most advisable course for them to pursue. It appeared that as soon as the current had passed the bank, it took a more southerly direction towards New Guinea. It was then debated between them whether they should or should not land on that island, the natives of which were known to be pusillanimous, yet treacherous. A long debate ensued, which ended, however, in their resolving not to decide as yet, but wait and see what might occur. In the meantime, the boats pulled to the westward, while the current set them fast down in a southerly direction. Night came on, and the boats dropped the grapnels, with which they had been provided; and Philip was glad to find that the current was not near so strong, and the grapnels held both boats and raft. Covering themselves up with the spare sails with which they had provided themselves, and setting a watch, the tired seamen were soon fast asleep. "Had I not better remain in one of the boats?" observed Krantz. "Suppose, to save themselves, the boats were to leave the raft." "I have thought of that," replied Philip, "and have, therefore, not allowed any provisions or water in the boats; they will not leave us for that reason." "True, I had forgotten that." Krantz remained on watch, and Philip retired to the repose which he so much needed.
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226  
227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

current

 

Philip

 

Krantz

 

direction

 

appeared

 

provided

 

grapnels

 

southerly

 
remain
 
debate

ensued

 

decide

 
resolving
 

pusillanimous

 

natives

 

island

 

treacherous

 
Guinea
 

debated

 
thought

replied

 
allowed
 

Suppose

 

observed

 

provisions

 

remained

 

retired

 

repose

 

needed

 

forgotten


reason
 

asleep

 
seamen
 

dropped

 

westward

 

meantime

 

pulled

 

setting

 

Covering

 

strong


agreed

 

station

 

lowered

 

vessel

 

stranded

 

strength

 
pulling
 

appointed

 

possession

 

opened