Our uncle said he would consult Mr Thudicumb; but he thought it would
take a considerable time to build a raft of sufficient size, and that
the time might be better employed in getting on with the vessel. They
therefore, it appears, have determined to proceed with that.

"But our collections--our cases--what shall we do with them?" said Mr
Hooker.

"Well, my dear Hooker," answered my uncle, "though I would willingly
risk my own life for the sake of attempting to save them, yet I feel we
ought not to imperil the lives of these young people or the others with
us. It is sad enough to have lost young Walter, and I am afraid he is
lost. That fellow Ali is a genuine Malay; had he been a Dyak, I should
have had more confidence, although he might have been a heathen, or a
head hunter, or a cannibal to boot. But those Malays, half Mohammedan
and half idolaters, are very untrustworthy."

Oh, how my heart sank when I heard these words. I wish that I had not
been compelled to listen to them; it shows too clearly what they think.
Oliver, though suffering himself, tries to console me. He tells me that
I must trust in God, and go on trusting, whatever happens; that I must
not suppose, even though Walter should be lost, that we have been
deserted by God; and that we may depend upon it, that he has allowed it
to happen for the best: at the same time, that he may have many ways of
preserving Walter, however great the dangers he may have to go through,
and of restoring him to us. Poor Frau Ursula, after she has been
looking at the mountain, wrings her hands, and wishes that she had never
come to this island. She left Ternate for fear of the burning mountain
there, and now she finds herself in a similar position of danger.
However, to do her justice, she tries to wear a smiling countenance when
she speaks to Grace and me. We are left almost alone at the house, as
the rest of the party are assisting at ship-building. Tanda only comes
occasionally to feed the animals, and to bring us fruit and vegetables
from the garden. We volunteered to go and assist also, as we could at
all events carry the wood, and hold the planks while the others were
nailing them on; but though they thanked us, they said there were enough
hands employed. I believe, however, that only two or three are good
workmen, and I suppose that we should be in the way.

Two more anxious days have passed by, and dear, dear Walter has not come
back. We go down const