CHAPTER XVI.


"Thank God!" why, according to his theory, it should have been "Thank
Nature." But I observe that, in such cases, even philosophers are
ungrateful to the mistress they worship.

Our philosopher not only thanked God, but being on his knees, prayed
forgiveness for his late ravings, prayed hard, with one arm curled round
the upright, lest the sea, which ever and anon rushed over the bottom of
the raft, should swallow him up in a moment.

Then he rose carefully, and wedged himself into the corner of the raft
opposite to that other figure, ominous relic of the wild voyage the
new-comer had entered upon; he put both arms over the rail, and stood
erect.

The moon was now up; but so was the breeze: fleecy clouds flew with
vast rapidity across her bright face, and it was by fitful though vivid
glances Staines examined the raft and his companion.

The raft was large, and well made of timbers tied and nailed together,
and a strong rail ran round it resting on several uprights. There were
also some blocks of a very light wood screwed to the horizontal timbers,
and these made it float high.