h an enormous
log came floating by, evidently of very light wood, as it rose high out
of the water, with a branch projecting from one end. Their anxiety was
intense lest an eddy might turn it off and drift it from them. The
gallant skipper stood, rope in hand, anxiously watching it. At length
it came directly under them; so he leapt upon it, and with a sailor's
dexterity immediately fastened the end of the rope round the branch. It
was brought up, and they thus obtained what they so much desired.

The wind, however, was contrary, and still blowing so strong that it
might have been dangerous even had it been favourable for them to
commence their voyage. The time, however, was spent by the skipper,
aided by my father, in cutting a step in the log for the mast, which was
at length fixed securely with wedges driven down on either side, and
stayed up with a portion of the rope which could be spared. They had
now a vessel of sufficient size not only to carry them, but to convey
the whole of the party, should they find us. Still they had several
days to wait before they could commence their voyage. They also formed
a rudder with one of the spars; and out of a piece of plank which had
been secured, along with two other spars, they constructed two oars to
assist in impelling their unwieldy craft. At last a light breeze sprang
up. There was no little difficulty in getting clear of the branch; but
after all their stores had been placed on it, the skipper, by his good
management, at last succeeded. The sail was hoisted, and to their great
satisfaction the log went ahead. They had, of course, to keep close in
by the forest, to avoid the strength of the current; but although a back
eddy helped them now and then, their progress was very slow. Still they
did go ahead. They had almost abandoned all hopes of finding the mate
and the Indian, as the skipper fancied they had both been drowned.

They had been coasting along for some hours, sometimes scarcely going
ahead, at others not making more than half a knot or so an hour, when a
voice, which seemed to come out of the forest, reached them; and,
looking in the direction from which the sound came, they saw two men
sitting on a projecting branch of a high tree, whom the skipper
recognised as his mate Peter, and Maco the Indian. They being alive
proved that they must have obtained food, and this raised their hopes
that we also had not died of starvation. How the two men coul