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Updated: June 12, 2025
All sail was then made for Sedgwick Island; for so we resolved to call it. The weather, however, got worse and worse, but still Mr Thudicumb was very anxious to enter Hope Harbour; and in spite of the threatening sky and strong wind and increasing sea, we continued our course towards it.
"Should we not return thanks to Him who has preserved us?" said Oliver at length in a quiet tone to Mr Hooker. "Certainly we should, my boy," was the answer; and together we knelt down on the raft, Mr Thudicumb still steering, and offered up our thanks to him who rules the winds and seas and all the powers of the earth.
"It must be done, Thudicumb!" the captain cried, and this time the mate himself approached the mast, and stood with gleaming axe uplifted, ready to strike. The hurricane howled round us. Every instant the seas increased in height and fury, the spoon-drift from their summits driving in showers over our deck.
The masts, and spars, and oars, and all the other things which had been prepared were also placed on it. "Now, shove off!" cried my uncle, "and Heaven protect us! Mr Thudicumb, we beg you to take charge of the raft. My duty is over." Merlin was the last of our party who leaped on board. With long poles, which had been got ready for the purpose, we shoved off.
"That will do admirably for us," said Mr Thudicumb; "for though our vessel must not be so long, we shall require the thicker part for the purpose." Tarbox, Roger Trew, and Potto Jumbo set to work to fell the tree, the forest loudly resounding with the blows of their axes. I must not occupy too much time in describing how the tree was felled, the branches cut off, and squared into shape.
The masts had already been stepped. We hoisted our two lugsails, with a small jib on the bowsprit, which had been rigged ahead, and the raft feeling its effects, glided over the surface. "We may reach some part of Java, even if we cannot get as far as Singapore," observed Mr Thudicumb.
"But you just say to Mr Thudicumb, he be wise man, and keep his weather eye open." As I began to move off, Potto shouted out, "Come here, Macco, you black rascal; be quick wid dem 'tatoes." They were the sweet potato roots of which he spoke, by the by. On going aft, I told Mr Thudicumb what I had heard. He thought for a few minutes. "I suspect, Walter," he observed, "the black is right.
Meantime Potto Jumbo, taking the rope off Oliver, fastened it round his own waist. "I go for the others," he cried out. "You hold dere, Oliver and you young ladies. Don't let go. Walter, he soon come all right no fear." Saying this, Potto rushed into the water, and reaching the wreck, seized hold of Mr Thudicumb, who was still clinging to it. But where was honest Roger Trew?
"Ay, ay," answered Mr Thudicumb, who had charge of the deck. "It is land that will not hurt us, though;" and he continued to let the ship run on in the course she had been steering. Curious to know what had attracted the man's attention, I went aloft, and there I saw spread out on the surface of the calm ocean, what looked like a dark field, but little raised, however, above the water.
Our return quickly restored the spirits of the party. Emily threw herself into my arms and burst into tears, and Grace followed her example. We had now a time of great anxiety. In spite of it, however, I was very glad when Mr Thudicumb proposed that we should pipe to supper.
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