"Are they lost?"

"No, they are not lost, I hope, but I fear there is not much chance
of their being saved. The ship struck at the very tail of the
island on which we are cast. When the boat was tossed into the sea
it fortunately did not upset, although it shipped a good deal of
water, and all the men managed to scramble into it; but before they
could get the oars out the gale carried them past the point and
away to leeward of the island. After we landed I saw them
endeavouring to pull towards us, but as they had only one pair of
oars out of the eight that belong to the boat, and as the wind was
blowing right in their teeth, they gradually lost ground. Then I
saw them put about and hoist some sort of sail, - a blanket, I
fancy, for it was too small for the boat, - and in half an hour
they were out of sight."

"Poor fellows," I murmured sorrowfully.

"But the more I think about it, I've better hope of them,"
continued Jack, in a more cheerful tone. "You see, Ralph, I've
read a great deal about these South Sea Islands, and I know that in
many places they are scattered about in thousands over the sea, so
they're almost sure to fall in with one of them before long."

"I'm sure I hope so," said Peterkin, earnestly. "But what has
become of the wreck, Jack? I saw you clambering up the rocks there
while I was watching Ralph. Did you say she had gone to pieces?"

"No, she has not gone to pieces, but she has gone to the bottom,"