at's head.

"Shure you look like an illegint hathin," said Mike. "Now, Mr Hartley,
just plase to fit me with one like it."

Owen succeeded better even than he had in Nat's case. He then made one
for himself, and they all laughed heartily as they looked at each other.

"If any Indians come this way they'll be afther taking us for
countrymen, and be friendly at once," said Mike.

"I don't think there is much chance of that, but we shall save ourselves
from sun-stroke, and I hope the rest of the men will follow our
example," answered Owen.

"Shure there is some big black thing out there on the beach," exclaimed
Mike, pointing ahead. "What can it be?"

"Can it be a big fish?" asked Nat.

"It looks to me more like a piece of wreck," said Owen.

They hurried on, eager to ascertain what object it was.

"Hurrah! it's a boat," cried Owen, who had kept ahead. On examination
the boat was discovered to be the second cutter. The falls had been let
go when no one was in her, and she had washed clear of the rocks right
up to the sand-bank; she was, therefore, but little damaged.

The carpenter had been drowned, but the carpenter's mate had escaped,
and was a good workman, and he might easily repair her and fit her for
sea. She would not carry the whole of the party, but some might make
their way to Batavia and get a vessel to return and take off the rest.
Who, however, would have the command?

The only person who was capable of navigating the boat, besides the
first mate, was Owen himself. He had had but little experience of
navigation, and still less of the management of a boat in a heavy sea.
The first mate therefore was undoubtedly the proper person to go; but
would he undertake the adventure?

These thoughts passed through Owen's mind as he and his companions were
endeavouring to haul up the boat. Their strength was only sufficient to
get her a short way up the beach, so that there would be no risk of her
being washed off again. They continued their search, tempted onwards by
seeing objects floating in the surf. The most valuable, undoubtedly,
were three casks of water. They also found some kegs of spirits, the
heads of which they knocked in, for Owen felt convinced that should the
men get hold of them, they would attack the contents until they had lost
their senses. Although a considerable quantity of provisions of various
sorts had come ashore, some had been damaged by the sea water. Still,
when all ha