The first impulse of Owen was to stand up and try and ascertain whether any other persons were floating near whom he and Mike might help. He listened. A few faint cries, apparently from a distance, reached his ear, but he could not tell from which direction they proceeded; he could only hope that others had succeeded in getting on portions of the wreck. In a short time Mike and Nat managed to get up to him. Owen proposed that they should form a raft with the spars and smaller pieces of timber floating about, on which they might be able to make their way to the land. The large piece of wreck on to which Mike and Nat had now climbed seemed to be stationary. They were therefore able to move about it, and began to form the proposed raft from the spars which they secured alongside. Scarcely had they commenced the work, when a voice was heard at no great distance. "Who is that?" shouted Owen. "Do you want help?" "Langton," was the answer. "I thought I heard voices. Do not move, I will be with you presently." In a short time Langton swam up. Owen and his two companions greeted him warmly. Ashurst lay still, occasionally uttering a groan. "I am indeed thankful that you have escaped," said Owen to Langton. "We were doing our best for poor Ashurst; he wants assistance, and I should have been much troubled how to act. Do you think any one else has escaped?" "I hope a few have," replied Langton; "but the greater number of our shipmates are, I fear, lost." "Although our lives have been saved for the present, we are still surrounded by dangers. We must do our duty and trust to God. I'll now turn to and help you to build the raft. It is the first thing we have to do, that is certain." Langton's assistance was of great value, as he was experienced, and very active. Having lashed all the spars they could find of about the same length side by side, they crossed them with others of a smaller size, and pieces of plank, placing a sort of platform in the centre, the whole being lashed together with ropes which they cut off the spars. It was, of course, roughly formed, but was large enough to support, not only themselves, but any other people they were likely to pick up. By the time it was finished, Ashurst had somewhat recovered, and Langton and Owen carried him and placed him on the platform where he could be out of the wet. They had kept two of the lighter spars for a mast and yard, and they picked up a royal unburnt, which would serve as a sail. Dawn broke just as they were ready to shove off from the wreck. "Where are we going?" asked Ashurst, in a faint voice. "To the nearest shore we can reach," answered Langton; "when there we must consider what next to do." "Can't you give me some water, or some fruit? I am very thirsty," said Ashurst. "I am sorry we have nothing to give you," answered Langton; "we may possibly pick up something when we have daylight."