es of wreck floating about,
while a portion of the shattered upper works of the frigate appeared
above the water with several men clinging to them. A current, however,
was running from the wreck, slowly drifting the raft away. Who the
people were it was impossible to say at that distance.

"Unless a breeze springs up to blow us back we cannot get up to them,"
said Langton; "we will rig our sail, however, in case it should come."

While engaged in setting up the mast, Mike and Nat especially were
keeping an eye on the water around them, in the hopes of picking up
something that might be floating by.

Without giving notice of what he was about to do, Mike suddenly sprang
off the raft and swam out towards an object of which he had just caught
sight.

"This will serve us for mate and drink too," he exclaimed, as he swam
back, pushing before him a couple of melon-like fruit. He handed them
up to Nat, and without getting on the raft, swam off to the other side,
where he saw a small barrel, which proved to contain biscuits. This was
but a small supply of food; but the fact that they had found it made
them hope that more might be obtained. The water remained perfectly
smooth, which was an advantage.

As the sun rose the heat became intense. Poor Ashurst suffered greatly,
even though Owen gave him piece by piece the remainder of the lime, and
then supplied him with small bits of the melon.

At Langton's suggestion they attempted to get up to the wreck, but as
they had only pieces of plank to row with, and the raft was heavy, they
made no progress against the current. They saw, however, that their
shipmates were endeavouring to imitate their example, and were engaged
in making another raft; but several, it was too evident from the way
they clung to the wreck, were severely injured and unable to exert
themselves. As far as Owen and his companions could make out, the
people they saw had on only their shirts and trousers. It was
impossible to ascertain, therefore, whether any were officers. Langton
feared not.

The land appeared on either side of them, and another island stretched
away to the southward, closing the channel, so that they might hope, in
the course of a few hours at most, should a breeze spring up from the
east or west, to reach the shore. Still hour after hour went by, the
raft driving further and farther to the southward, and away from the
wreck, until the people moving about on it could no longer