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Updated: September 18, 2025
Had all his crew been like Captain Tredeagle, his would have been a happy ship. His good mate, Jacob Shobbrok, was in some respects like him; that is to say, he was a Christian man, though somewhat rough in his outward manner and appearance, for he had been at sea all his Life. He was an old bachelor, and had never enjoyed the softening influence of female society.
"It will afford us ample support if we merely hold on by each side. Are you all right, Nub?" "Yes, yes, Massa Shobbrok; all right," answered Nub. "Then off we go," cried the mate; "and I hope that before long we may come up with the raft, or that the captain's boat, or some stranger, may pick us up."
"We must follow your wise example by-and-by," said the doctor; "but we will now go back to breakfast, or Mr Shobbrok will wonder what has become of us." The doctor, with Alice and Walter, had just left the side of the stream to return to the camp, when they met Dan and Nub carrying the cask, slung on a pole between them.
It was nearly noon before Mr Shobbrok thought it safe to haul up to the raft, when the surgeon and Tidy, exerting all their strength, and with the mate and Nub's assistance, lifted the boatswain into the boat. The mate and Nub, with their young companions, cordially welcomed the surgeon and Tidy.
Lancelot was appointed captain, I went as his first lieutenant, and Dick, who got leave from the admiral, as his second, while Martin Shobbrok went as gunner, and Ned Watkins volunteered to act as boatswain.
Walter stood bravely to his post till he found his head nodding, and the stars at which he was gazing dancing before his eyes; and reluctantly he was on the point of calling Mr Shobbrok, when the mate, lifting up his head, told him to take charge of Alice, while he resumed his place at the helm. All night long the old sailor stood steering the raft, allowing his young charges and Nub to sleep on.
"Now, Walter, while we have got a lull, let us set to work to finish this raft of ours," said Mr Shobbrok. "Ay, ay," answered Walter; "tell me what to do, and I will do it as soon as we have got light enough to see with." "We shall have that before long: the first streaks of dawn are appearing in the sky," observed the mate.
Mr Shobbrok, however, was so accustomed to awake at the hour he intended, that before long he got up, and smilingly said, "Well, Walter, I hope you are the better for your rest; I can honestly say that I am. And now, I dare say that you are ready for breakfast." Walter confessed that he was; but when he tried to get the salt meat and dry biscuit down, he could scarcely swallow it.
We must first cut down a tree, and then divide it into lengths, and drag them to the water, where we must erect our machinery, which need only be of a very rough character, and probably the bamboo canes will help us to form it." "Mr Shobbrok, when do you propose to begin enlarging the boat? I do so long to set sail in search of papa," said Alice.
They were both by this time beginning to suffer greatly from want of water. Mr Shobbrok kept his thoughts to himself, but he knew too well what must be the result. Both wetted their clothes; their thirst continued to increase; they felt, however, that it would have been much worse had they not adopted that course.
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