I did not stop to argue the point, but turned to at once with him to form the proposed raft. We had plenty of spars below, so that our undertaking was not so difficult as it would have been had we not had a good supply. We first cut them into lengths with a saw we found below, and having placed them side by side, lashed others across on the top of them.
Eager as we were to finish our task, we had more than once to stop and rest, for we were both very weak, and I felt a sensation of weariness I had not ever before experienced. In fact, we were thoroughly knocked up from the hard work we had gone through, and the little time we had had for rest.
Having completed the raft and formed some paddles, we launched it overboard and secured it alongside.
“Now, Jim,” I said, “we must take some provisions, in case there are no people on the island, as we may have a longer pull back than we may like, and we have to bring up the captain and put him on the raft.”
We quickly collected some provisions, and I took the empty water-jar from the pantry.
“What’s that for?” asked Jim. “There’s water enough on shore, surely.”
“Yes, but if we have a long pull back to the brig we shall be thankful for water,” I answered.
While thus employed we heard a voice coming from no great distance hail, “Ship ahoy!”
My heart leapt within me at the sound, and running to the side we saw a boat with five men in her pulling towards us. An oldish man of portly figure, who looked like a sea captain, was steering.
“Are ye the only people aboard?” he sang out as he saw us.