he had found that the sea had
barely washed over the higher part of the bank, on which the tent had
stood.

This latter, though knocked over, still remained, with a quantity of
cordage and other heavy articles, besides some provisions. On hearing
this, Mr Scoones took possession of the tools and nails, with which he
and the carpenter's mate worked away at the boat, while he despatched
the rest of the party to bring up the other articles. It was heavy work
toiling over the sand, but Owen, setting the example, the rest
cheerfully obeyed. It took several days to fit the boat for sea. The
tools were blunt, and no means existed to sharpen them.

Every day at sunrise the flag was hoisted, and every night the
beacon-fire lighted, but the signals were observed by no passing vessel.
While Mr Scoones and the carpenter's mate were working at the boat,
the rest of the party were engaged in arranging the provisions,
repairing two of the water casks which leaked, in picking oakum, or in
other work. No one could afford to be idle.

"It would be a fine thing now if we could only pick up a keg of
spirits," said Bill Pratt to Mike, as they were working at the water
casks.

"Do you think so, mate?" observed Mike. "Shure wasn't it the spirits
cost all the rest of the poor fellows their lives, and well-nigh your
own? I am thinking that it would be a good thing if there was never
another dhrop of the crathur brewed in the world. How was it that the
ship came to be cast away, I should like to know? Look at the mate
there; he is steady enough now, but let him get liquor to his lips we
don't know what mad freak he would play. No, no; if we find a keg, the
best thing we can do will be to knock in the head at once, before any
one is tempted to touch it."

Fortunately no keg of spirits was found, for the force of the gale had
dashed everything which came out of the wreck to pieces, and had not the
shipwrecked party secured a sufficient supply of provisions at first,
they would have run great chance of starving. The hull of the boat was
now complete. The flagstaff had to be taken down to be cut up into
masts, spars, and oars. Mr Scoones, partly with the canvas which had
served for a tent, and partly with cotton cloth, had fitted a suit of
sails.

At length all was ready; the boat was launched, and appeared to be
tolerably seaworthy. Her cargo was piled up on the beach. The men had
to wade up to their middles to carry it on b