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"This old hulk will go to the bottom before it is half constructed," said Gus.

"It is worth a trial, however," said his friend, springing up with new hope. "Let us not lose time. Every second is precious."

Men working for their lives need little urging. In less than an hour, a sufficient number of spars were lashed together to make a tolerably safe raft.

Captain Harden went below, to discover how much longer they might stay on the wreck in safety.

Turning to his friend, Gus said, as he touched the raft with his foot:

"A desperate venture, Fred, to trust our lives on these few crazy planks, on the wide Atlantic. I fear, my dear friend, the patriot army of Washington will be deprived of two recruits this time."

"Desperate, certainly," said Fred, thoughtfully; "yet I feel a sort of presentiment that our end is not so near."

"Would I could think so, too," said Gus, striving to discover some sign of hope in the threatening scene around. "I cannot but recall the ominous words of that old sailor. They are continually recurring to my mind!"