which she had found, as her skirts would have got in her way when she
had to climb. She did not at first like this, but did so as soon as she
saw the truth of what I told her.

At last, when all was done, we went to bed, and slept as sound as if we
had been on land.


CHAPTER II.

WE were all up at the break of day, and knelt down to thank God that He
had kept us from harm through the night.

We then put all the things on the raft, and ten live hens and two cocks
were put in one of the tubs. Some ducks and geese we let go, in the
hope that they would swim to the shore; and a pair of doves were set
free, as they could fly to the land.

There was a place in the raft for each of us. In the first tub sat my
wife; in the next Frank, who was eight years old; in the third Fritz,
not quite twice the age of Frank; in the fourth were the fowls, and
some old sails that would make us a tent; the fifth was full of good
things in the way of food; in the sixth stood Jack, a bold lad, ten
years old; in the next Ernest, twelve years of age, well taught, but
too fond of self, and less fond of work than the rest; while I sat in
the eighth, to guide the raft that was to save all that was dear to me
in the world.

As soon as the dogs (Bill and Turk by name) saw us push off from the
ship they leaped in the sea, swam near the raft, and kept well up with