he comes, towing Quin, I think, who seems to be stunned. Hallo!
This way--hi! Giles!"

But Giles suddenly ceased to swim, turned over on his back, and lay as
if dead.

"Rescue, Bob, rescue!" shouted Barret, plunging into the water.
Mabberly followed, and soon had hold of Giles and his man by the hair.

"All right!" said Jackman, turning round; "I was only taking a rest. No
one lost, I hope?"

"No; all safe, so far."

"You can tow him in now. I'm almost used up," said Jackman, making for
the raft. "He's only stunned, I think."

It was found that the Irishman had in truth been only stunned when they
lifted him on to the raft, for he soon began to show signs of returning
life, and a large bump on his head sufficiently explained the nature of
his injury.

But when the whole party had cautiously clambered up on the raft it sank
so deep that they scarcely dared to move. To make matters worse, they
clearly distinguished the steamer's whistle going farther and farther
away, as if she were searching for them in a wrong direction. This was
indeed the case, and although they all shouted singly and together, the
whistle grew fainter by degrees, and finally died away.

With feelings approaching to despair, the crew of the frail raft began
to talk of the prospect before them, when they were silenced by a slight
movement in the mist. The white curtain was lifted for a few yards, and
revealed to their almost incredulous eyes a rocky shore, backed by a
range of precipitous cliffs, with a wild mountainous region beyond.

As the sea was still perfectly calm, there was no surf. Our castaways,
therefore, with the exception of Quin and the boy, quietly slipped into
the water, and, with thankful hearts, propelled the raft vigorously
towards the shore.

CHAPTER THREE.

THE WRECK IS FOLLOWED BY REPOSE, REFRESHMENT, SURPRISE, AND DISASTER.

The distance from land was not more than a few hundred yards;
nevertheless, it occupied a considerable time to pass over that space,
the raft being ill-adapted for quick progression through the water.

Close to the shore there was a flat rock, to which, as they approached
it, their attention was drawn by the appearance of what seemed to be
living creatures of some sort. Quin and Robin Tips, sitting on the
raft, naturally saw them first.

"I do belave it's men, for they're liftin' their hids an' lookin' at us.
Av it was the South Says, now, I'd say they was saviges peepin' at us