The island on which the raft with its occupants had been cast was of small size, not more than six miles in extent, and lay low in the water. Nevertheless it was covered with luxuriant vegetation, among which were several groves of cocoa-nut palms, the long feathery branches of which waved gracefully in a gentle breeze, as if beckoning an invitation to the castaways on the reef to cross the lagoon and find shelter there. But crossing the lagoon was not an easy matter.

 

“Shure it’s a mile wide if it’s a futt,” said one of the men as they stood in a group on the reef, dripping and gazing at the isle.

 

“No, Simon O’Rook,” said Bob Corkey, in that flat contradictions way to which some men are prone; “no, it’s only half a mile if it’s an inch.”

 

“You’re wrong, both of you,” said Baldwin Burr, “it ain’t more than quarter of a mile. Quite an easy swim for any of us.”

 

“Except my Polly,” observed the captain quietly.

 

“Ay, and those who are too weak to swim,” said Watty Wilkins, with a glance at his friend Ben, who had lain down on the sand and listened with a calm untroubled look to the conversation.

 

“You don’t seem at all anxious,” whispered Polly to Ben.

 

“No, Polly, I’m not. I have lately been taught how to trust in God by your example.”

 

“By mine!” exclaimed the child in extreme surprise.

 

Before Ben could reply the captain turned and called to Polly.

 

“Come here, my duckey; Edwin Jack offers to swim over the lagoon to the island with you on his back. Will you trust yourself to him?”

 

“Yes, father,” answered the child promptly.

 

“But maybe there are sharks,” suggested O’Rook.

 

There was a momentary silence. In the excitement of the occasion every one had forgotten sharks. What was to be done? The raft was utterly destroyed. Only a few of the logs which had formed it lay on the reef; the rest were floating on the lagoon at various distances, none nearer than fifty yards.

 

“There’s nothing for it, then, but to reconstruct our raft,” said the captain, throwing off his coat and shoes; “so these logs must be secured.”

 

He had only taken two steps towards the water when Philosopher Jack grasped his arm.

 

“Stop, sir, it is your duty to look after Polly. Now lads, those who can swim come along!”

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