Stumps did let go and almost fell from the combined effect of his efforts and despair, as the raft swung off, splashed into the sea far out of reach, and hung half suspended from the yard-arm.
"It 's all up with us," gasped Stumps.
"Not yet, but it will be all up with us in two minutes," returned Sam, unable to repress a smile even at that moment.
"What d'ye mean ?" said Stumps in amazement. "How can we ever git at it now?"
"Why, stoopid," said Slagg, "don't you see that we 've only to go up the mast, out on the yard-arm, and slip down the rope."
While he was speaking, Robin, by Sam's orders, was performing the feat referred to.
"Look sharp!" he cried, turning to the others.
A heavy lurch of the ship caused their breasts to leap almost as fast as their bodies, for they were all more or less aware of the danger of the ship sinking before they could get clear of her. The darkness, too, was, as we have said, increasing by that time, though it was still light enough to enable them to see what they were about.
In a few minutes they all had gained the end of the yard-arm, slipped down the rope, and got upon the raft, but it was difficult to hold on, because at each heave of the ship, the fore-end of the raft was raised quite out of the sea, and then let fall with
