"We have our raft," said Harry, joyfully, "so that if the rocks do overflow, we may thus get more fish!"
"Ay, ay, it's all right, so long as the raft holds together," answered Turk, "which I'm mighty afraid, won't be long," pointing at the lashings holding the timbers together.
These lashings were, in fact, much worn; some of them could not long be made use of.
"We must try to fix the raft," said Harry, "I dare say we can contrive it so that we may keep afloat."
From the raft the hungry men soon turned their attention to the fish.
These were cooked with a couple of planks—there were plenty to spare—torn from the raft and split up against the jagged edges of the rocks, some of the fragments to be afterwards cut by Turk's pocketknife, and lighted by matches which, sailor-like, the old tar always carried with him in a small tin box, that they might be kept dry.
Meanwhile, Brand, while taking no part in these preparations, sat like a hungry tiger eyeing the cooked fish.
A portion was given to him; in fact, the whole party made a hearty and palatable meal.
Now, Mary, her wants having been relieved, again spoke of the volcanic island.
"I so wish we could fall in with some sail, which would take us there," said she. "Oh, if I could only see my dear papa!"