Chapter Twelve.
A raft built—Mysterious disappearance of Jack Peek.
Not till their raft was complete did the two boys think of again eating. They had been working, it must be remembered, for several hours since the meal they took soon after they got on board. Having finished the beef and cheese, they lighted a couple of lanterns which they found hung up in the forepeak, and hunted about for more food.
They discovered some casks of salt beef, and another of biscuits, a drum of cheese, and several boxes of dried fruit. They had thus no lack of provisions, but they did not forget the necessity of supplying themselves with a store of water.
Hunting about, they found two small vessels, which they filled from one of the water-casks.
There were several oars below, three of which they took and placed in readiness on deck—one to steer with, and the other two for rowing.
They had, lastly, to rig their raft. A fore-royal already bent was found in the sail-room, and a spar served as a mast. How to step it, and to secure it properly, was the difficulty, until Bill suggested getting a third chest and boring a hole through the lid, and then, by making another hole through the bottom, the mast would be well stepped, and it was easy to set it up by means of a rope led forward and two shrouds aft.
Knowing exactly what they wanted to do, they did it very rapidly, and were perfectly satisfied with their performance.