ey stuffed the bedding of a
hammock and some blankets; and they stepped a mast on the little raft,
and secured a flag to it. The raft might, probably, have borne four or
five men, but there was only sitting room for one just alongside the
cask which had the bedding in it. When all was ready, Paul Pringle
disappeared into the Captain's cabin, and returned carrying in his arms
Billy True Blue, followed by Sam Smatch, who had his fiddle and bow
tucked under his arm.

"Now, Sam," said Paul, pointing to the raft, "you see that. You didn't
enter to do a seaman's duty; so you, if any one ought, may quit the
ship. Now, you see, none on us knows what moment she may be going down;
and so, Sam, just jump into this raft and make yourself fast, so that no
sea can wash you off, and take Billy True Blue with you. Though he's on
the ship's books, he isn't entered to do duty; so he may quit her
without any shame or disgrace, d'ye see. Bear a hand now, Sam."

The black did as he was bid; and having secured his beloved fiddle in
one of the casks, held out his arms to receive little True Blue. Paul
for some instants could not bring himself to part with the child. He
pressed his lips to its little mouth as a fond mother might do; and then
Peter and Abel followed his example with no less signs of affection; but
a cry which ascended from below, that the ship was settling down fast,
hurried their proceedings.

"There, Sam, take him," said Paul with a tone of deep feeling, giving up
the child to the black. "Watch over him, Sam, for he's a jewel, mind
that. You may be driven ashore on that island out there, and as you
know the lingo of the people, you may do bravely among them. Your
fiddle will stand you in good stead wherever you go, and you may play
them into good humour. But mind you, Sam, as soon as you can, you are
to get to a British port, and to go aboard a man-of-war, and say who the
boy is, and what he is, and how he's to be brought up; and try and find
out any old shipmates of mine, or Peter's, or Abel's, or the Captain's--
for I know he'll join us--and say that it was our last dying message,
just before the waters closed over us, that they would stand in our
shoes and look after the boy. We trust you, Sam. You loves the boy. I
knows you do. You'll be faithful, lad?"

"Yes, Paul; so help me, I will," answered Sam with much feeling,
pressing his shipmate's hand held out to him.

"Stay," said Paul suddenly, "you shal