had reason to fear that some of the others had been washed overboard,
or perhaps killed by the falling blocks and spars. Still a good many
men remained, the greater number of whom were engaged in lowering the
boat on which they believed their safety depended. At length she was
launched over the side, and five or six men got into her, and shouted
out far oars.

A search was made for them, but only three could be found; without more
she would be almost helpless in the raging sea. She was now held by a
warp, floating clear of the ship, which was working fearfully on the
rocks.

"She will go to pieces if we do not cut away the masts," shouted Mr
Scoones. "Axes! axes!"

They were brought, and the boat being veered off to a safe distance, the
two remaining masts were, with a few strokes, cut away, and falling over
on the lee side, were allowed to float clear of the wreck.

Nothing more could now be done until morning, for which all hands
eagerly waited.

"The boat won't hold half of us. Let us form a raft, lads," shouted Mr
Fidd, the boatswain.

This was no easy matter in the dark. The brave boatswain setting the
example, a portion of the crew began to collect such spars as they could
find on board, and to drag them to the after part of the deck, which was
more protected than the other parts of the ship, over which the sea
continually broke, carrying away everything before it.

"We ought to be assisting," cried Owen, who with Nat had hitherto
retained their tolerably secure places. "We are better off here,"
answered Nat. "It's our duty to help our shipmates," answered Owen, and
he, followed by Nat, joined the working party.

They found great difficulty in keeping on their feet. The deck was wet
and slippery, and inclined over towards the lee side. The bulwarks on
that side had been gradually torn away, so that every instant the risk
increased of their being carried overboard. Still, Owen and his
companions persevered One only of the apprentices had joined them.
"Where are the others?" asked Owen.

"They are gone, I am afraid. I saw them standing together trying to
lower a boat, when a sea took the whole of them off their legs. I was
nearly gone too, but got hold of a rope just in time to save myself,"
was the answer.

It would have been better if Mr Scoones had endeavoured to keep all the
men employed. As soon as he had declared that nothing more could be
done until daylight, several of them stole a