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Updated: June 15, 2025
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.
Owen, with the other boys, lay out on the mizen-topsail yard. "What's all this about?" exclaimed Mr Scoones, who had been in his cabin. His face was flushed and manner excited. "Why don't you wait until I order you to shorten sail?" he added, turning to the second mate.
She was now held by a warp, floating clear of the ship, which was working fearfully on the rocks. "She will go to pieces if we do not cut away the masts," shouted Mr Scoones. "Axes! axes!" They were brought, and the boat being veered off to a safe distance, the two remaining masts were, with a few strokes, cut away, and falling over on the lee side, were allowed to float clear of the wreck.
Without telling Mr Scoones, they began upon a second. Even Owen was not aware how rapidly the water was being exhausted, until Nat told him that he was afraid they were half-way through the second cask. Owen at once informed Mr Scoones, who on this occasion had good cause for his anger. "If you wish to live, you fellows must consent to be put on short allowance.
"O yes, I will trust you for that; and as you wish it, you shall be in the first mate's watch." "And so, youngster, you want to turn sailor?" said Mr Scoones, the first night on which Owen was in his watch. "As I am at sea I wish to learn all I can," answered Owen.
Scoones generally avoided doing so when there was any duty to be performed, but he spent most of his time on shore in a state of intoxication, which had certainly contributed to weaken his mental faculties.
Just then two more people appeared, making their way towards the beacon-fire. They were followed by a third, who quickly overtook them, and pushing on without hesitation soon reached the bank. Owen recognised Mr Scoones. "I am glad you are safe, sir," said Owen. "No thanks to these fellows, for no one roused me when they saw the sea breaking close up to their feet."
So the pair of them studied together, and by dint of private tuition in the evening, for at Scoones' where his talent for caricature was too much for him, Arthur would do little or nothing, Godfrey dragged his friend through the examination, the last but one in the list. Even then a miracle intervened to save him. Arthur's Euclid was hopeless.
The three men who had escaped with the mate from the camp their strength previously weakened by drinking had given in and lay at the bottom of the boat, or leaned against the side, unable to exert themselves. Mr Scoones, strong and hardy as he had been, was utterly exhausted. Owen, Nat, and Mike, though feeling weak, were by far the most active of the crew.
Nat might be somewhat saved by being removed into the second mate's watch, although he would still of course be subjected to ill-treatment in the day-time when all hands were on deck. He had not long to wait. A paint pot had been upset. The mate came forward, and Nat was, by some of his enemies, pointed out as the culprit, whereupon Mr Scoones, calling him up, gave him a severe rope's ending.
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