Why, there's a distinct mark of the brass rim on the back of my gullet at this moment!" "Well, well, be that as it may," continued Jack, "you clung to him, Ralph, till I feared you really would choke him; but I saw that he had a good hold of the oar, so I exerted myself to the utmost to push you towards the shore, which we luckily reached without much trouble, for the water inside the reef is quite calm." "But the captain and crew, what of them ?" I inquired anxiously.
Jack shook his head.
"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.