the wreck. The
foresail was now set, then the mainsail with the jib, Tom steering with
a long oar, the raft glided rapidly and smoothly over the water. Their
voyage was thus far well commenced, but Tom and Desmond could not help
recollecting their late adventure in the boat, and how narrowly they had
escaped perishing from hunger, although they had been so well supplied
with provisions when they started. While Tom steered, Billy remained
aft to tend the main-sheet, and Desmond, with Jerry, stood forward to
keep a look-out for any reefs which might not have sufficient water on
them to allow the raft to pass over. No dangers, however, as yet
appeared ahead. They were apparently in the centre of a large circular
reef, of which the island they hoped to gain formed a portion. They
expected to find a beach on which they might run the raft, and land
their cargo without difficulty. They were, however, too far off as yet
to ascertain its character. Of its existence they could only tell by
seeing the cocoa-nut trees growing on it. It was evidently very low.
Of its extent they were unable to form an opinion.

"My fear is that we shall find no water on it, and in that case we must
search for another," observed the doctor.

"You forget the milk in the cocoa-nuts," said Desmond, laughing.

"We should very soon exhaust that," answered the doctor, in a gloomy
tone.

"But we don't know yet that we shall not find water," answered Desmond;
"I can already make out the land extending a couple of miles north and
south, and if it was not higher than we at first supposed, we should not
see it even yet."

"If any volcanic agency has been at work, we may then hope to find
water," observed the doctor, brightening a little; "but I confess that I
cannot see the land."

The doctor, however, was near-sighted. The question next arose whether
there were any inhabitants, and if so, whether they were likely to prove
friendly.

"I should say that if white kidnappers from your colonies have visited
them, they are likely to be anything but friendly, and we shall probably
have to fight for our lives," said the doctor.

"But, my dear sir, we don't know whether there are any inhabitants,"
said Desmond. "Let us look at the bright side of things we have escaped
with our lives, and have abundance of provisions. Why should we make
ourselves more unhappy than is necessary?"

The wind occasionally dropped, when the oars and paddles were put i