one sudden thought, they turned round and pulled away in the opposite direction.  Krantz’s voice was heard by Philip, and his sword was seen to flash through the air—­a moment afterwards he plunged into the sea, and swam to the raft.  It appeared that the people in the boats, anxious to preserve the money which they had possession of, had agreed among themselves to pull away and leave the raft to its fate.  The proposal for attacking the pirate had been suggested with that view, and as soon as they were clear of the raft, they put their intentions into execution.  In vain had Krantz expostulated and threatened; they would have taken his life; and when he found that his efforts were of no avail, he leaped from the boat.  “Then are we lost, I fear,” said Philip.  “Our numbers are so reduced, that we cannot hope to hold out long.  What think you, Schriften?” ventured Philip, addressing the pilot who stood near to him.

“Lost—­but not lost by the pirates—­no harm there.  He! he!”

The remark of Schriften was correct.  The pirates, imagining that in taking to their boat, the people had carried with them everything that was valuable, instead of firing at the raft, immediately gave chase to the boats.  The sweeps were now out, and the proa flew over the smooth water like a sea-bird, passed the raft, and was at first evidently gaining on the boats; but their speed soon slackened, and as the day passed, the boats, and then the pirate vessel disappeared in the southward; the distance between them being apparently much the same as at the commencement of the chase.

The raft being now at the mercy of the winds and waves, Philip and Krantz collected the carpenter’s tools which had been brought from the ship, and selecting two spars from the raft, they made every preparation for stepping a mast and setting sail by the next morning.

The morning dawned, and the first objects that met their view, were the boats pulling back towards the raft, followed closely by the pirate.  The men had pulled the whole night, and were worn out with fatigue.  It was presumed that a consultation had been held, in which it was agreed that they should make a sweep, so as to return to the raft; as, if they gained it, they would be able to defend themselves, and moreover, obtain provisions and water, which they had not on board at the time of their desertion.  But it was fated otherwise; gradually the men dropped from their oars, exhausted, into the bottom of the boat, and the pirate vessel followed them with renewed ardour.  The boats were captured one by one; the booty found was more than the pirates anticipated, and it hardly need be said that not one man was spared.  All this took place within three miles of the raft, and Philip anticipated that the next movement of the vessel would be towards them, but he was mistaken.  Satisfied with their booty, and imagining that there could be no more on the raft, the pirate pulled away to the eastward, towards the islands from amongst which she had first made her appearance.  Thus were those who expected to escape and who had deserted their companions, deservedly punished, whilst those who anticipated every disaster from this desertion, discovered that it was the cause of their being saved.