go in search of food and water, and that if they could
not get off, their sufferings from thirst and hunger would become
serious. With increased anxiety, Adair cast his eye over the foaming
rollers, both up and down the coast. The breeze blew strong as ever,
and not a break appeared in that long line of glittering surf. The
party were literally hemmed in, almost without hope of escape. They
might have beaten off the natives, and made their way into the interior
till they could fall in with some game and a stream of water, but then
they would have had to leave the boat and the blacks unprotected.
Still, to starve where they were was not to be thought of.

"Faith, I'm growing fearfully peckish," exclaimed Desmond; "if you'll
let me, sir, we'll try and get hold of one of those fellows, and make
him order the rest to bring us some grub; if the sea won't go down, it's
the only chance we have."

Snatchblock was of Desmond's opinion, and of course the men were ready
to follow them. Still, Adair was unwilling to run the risk of being
overpowered. "No, no," he answered; "we can hold out some time longer,
and if at last we find it impossible to get off, we can but do as you
propose."

"I think, sir, the sea is going somewhat down," said Snatchblock, at
length; "we might get through just a little to the right there. See,
sir, some of the rollers come in with only just a slight top to them,
and if we take the right moment, we may get through."

"We can but try it," cried Adair. "Lift the poor blacks into the boat;
they'll not add much to her weight. Be smart about it, my lads,
though."

The negroes seemed very unwilling to move, and shrieked out as if they
were about to be put to death; but they were but as infants in the arms
of the stout seamen. The woman clung to her child as she was lifted
with it into the sternsheets. The men were carried next, and placed at
the bottom of the boat with the little children between them. She was
then run off into the smooth water inside the breakers, the crew jumping
into her; but each time the water receded, she struck on the hard coral
beneath, her admirable construction alone preventing her from being
stove in. The oars were got out, and the boat pulled along till the
spot Snatchblock observed was reached. Her head was then put to the
sea.

"Give way, my lads," cried Adair, he and Desmond holding on to one
yoke-line, while the boatswain held the other, their eyes eagerly