ong before the water could be bailed out,
another gale might spring up and the ship go down, even supposing there
was no leak. It was probable, however, that from the quantity of water
in her she had already sprung a serious leak. Every boat on board had
been washed away or destroyed when the ship went over. Blank dismay was
visible on the countenances of even some of the boldest of the crew.
The masts and spars were, however, still hanging by the lee rigging
alongside.

"We could make a stout raft anyhow," observed Reuben.

The idea was taken up by the rest. There was a chance of life.
Devereux gave orders that a raft should be formed.

"But we'll be starving entirely, if we don't get up some provisions,"
observed O'Grady.

"May I go and collect them?" asked Paul. "Stronger people than I can be
working at the raft."

"And I will go too," said Alphonse, when Paul had obtained the
permission asked.

They found, however, that most of the casks and jars in the officers'
cabins had been upset and their contents washed away, while there was
already so much water in the hold, that they could not get up anything
from it. A cheese, some bottles of spirits, and a small cask of wet
biscuit, were all they could collect. While groping about in the hold,
it appeared to them that the water was rising; if so, the ship must have
sprung a serious leak. With the scanty supply of provisions they had
obtained, they hurried on deck to report what they had remarked.
Considerable progress had been made with the raft, but without food and
water it could only tend to prolong their misery. Reuben, with three
other men, were therefore ordered below, to get up any more provisions
which they could find. They very soon returned with the only things
they could reach,--a small cask of pork, another of biscuit, and a keg
of butter. Water was, however, most required, and it was not to be
obtained. It was evident, too, that the ship was settling down more and
more, and that no time must be lost in getting the raft finished. All
hands now worked with the knowledge that their lives depended on their
exertions, rapidly passing the numerous lashings in a way of which
sailors alone are capable. Even before it was completed, the small
amount of provisions which had been collected were placed on it, for all
knew that at any moment it might prove their only ark of safety.

Devereux had no occasion to urge his men to increased exertion. A s