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They were seated on their tubs, Dick making himself as small as possible, so as to have less chance of being hit. A short way off stood Martin Shobbrok among the sail trimmers. Just then two of the gunners fell, their heads shot off, and their brains scattered over the deck. The captain, seeing what had occurred, shouted to Martin and another man to take their places.
If, however, we keep up a good blaze all night, none are likely to come near us; but should any appear, the person on watch must instantly rouse up the rest." "No fear of dat, Mr Shobbrok," observed Nub. "If lion or tiger come, me make a precious hollobolo."
Walter rushed into the cabin, but Alice was not there, and no one was to be seen. "Don't be cast down, Walter," said Mr Shobbrok. "It is evident that they must have built a raft and left the ship. We must do what we can, while time is allowed us, to build one for ourselves.
The other ships were the John, Tenth, Whelp, Signet, and Constant Warwick, carrying altogether one hundred and fourteen guns. We were glad to find that young Robert Blake was one of the lieutenants of the Tiger, and equally rejoiced were we to see Martin Shobbrok walking the deck with a chain and silver whistle round his neck doing duty as boatswain.
"Don't you think, Mr Shobbrok, that we could manage to enlarge our boat so that we might reach some civilised place?" asked Walter. "We might certainly improve her," answered the mate; "and if we could obtain a sufficient amount of provisions and water, we might make a long voyage in her, provided we were favoured with fine weather. But the risk, I warn you, would be very great.
"The fire seems at present to be confined to the fore-part of the ship," observed Mr Shobbrok. "If so, we may have time to assist in forming a raft for saving ourselves and the rest. If I had been on board, I would have set every man with axes to cut away the upper works and mizzen-mast, and we should soon have materials for the purpose." "I am thinking of poor, dear Alice," exclaimed Walter.
The mizzen-royal, which had been sent down at nightfall, remained on deck, and the mate had lowered it on to their first raft. The framework having been formed, he once more sprang up on deck. "You remain, Walter; I will be back in a moment," he sang out. Walter was very anxious while he was gone, for he had not forgotten what Mr Shobbrok had said about the magazine.
"I have been thinking, Mr Shobbrok, that if we could manage a lamp, we might, on a calm evening, attract the fish to the side of the raft, as is often done, I have read, by savages, who then spear them; and the blubber will afford us oil for the purpose." "Bery bright idea, Massa Walter," exclaimed Nub.
"Martin Shobbrok is too old for a lieutenant, and besides, is no navigator, so that he would feel like a fish out of water," he answered. "He has been boatswain for the best part of his life, and boatswain he is willing to remain, unless he is made chief gunner, and no great learning is required for that."
"But, Mr Shobbrok," said Walter, "suppose we get back safely, when do you propose altering the boat, so that we may commence our voyage to Sydney?" "Immediately on our return, if, as I expect, we shall be able on our expedition to discover spots where we can obtain a more ample supply of game than we have found in this neighbourhood."
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