hall be able to get ashore," Stephen said. "We have
been saved well-nigh by a miracle, captain."

"Saved so far," the captain said; "but we cannot say yet what is in store,
for us. These islands are, for the most part, inhabited by savage natives,
who will make short work of us if we fall into their hands."

"Well, we must hope for the best," Stephen said. "We have been preserved
so far, and we may trust we shall be preserved through other dangers. As
soon as the sea goes down we must haul the foremast alongside, cut away
the ropes, and drift ashore on it. It would be no great distance to swim
now, but there is no hurry, and we had best find out whether we cannot get
hold of some provisions. I see there are some boxes and casks on the
shore, I suppose they have been washed out of the stern. One of the first
things will be to get some arms."

"There are several cases of muskets down in the hold," the captain said,
"and a large quantity of ammunition, but it will be a difficult business
to get at it."

"We shall have plenty of time," Stephen said, "that is, if the natives do
not interfere with us. However, the first thing is to find something to
eat, for I am half famished."

"I have no doubt we shall find something in the steward's cabin," the
captain said. "Fortunately it is the first inside the door, and has not
shared the fate of the stern cabin. If Jacopo had slept there last night,
instead of going forward with the crew, he would have been saved also."

They opened the door of the cabin, and uttered an exclamation of surprise
as they saw the steward quietly asleep in his bunk.

"Why, Jacopo, you lazy rascal," the captain shouted, "I have just been
mourning for you, and here you are, sleeping as quietly as if you were
safe in port."

The man sat up with an air of bewilderment. "Why, what has happened,
captain?" he asked. "The sun is shining, and there is no motion. I did not
think to see the morning."

"Oh, you rascal!" the captain said, pointing to an empty bottle lying in
the bunk, "you thought that it was all over, and so you emptied one of my
bottles of aguardiente, and have slept like a hog all night."

"Pardon me, captain," the man said, with a shamefaced expression;
"everyone said that the ship could not live until morning, so I thought I
would take a good drink so as to know nothing about it."

"And you did not feel even the crash when we were wrecked?"

"Wrecked!" the man repeated, as he ran to