Cannibals

           WILLHALLEYandhiscrew,takingadvantageofthedarknessofnightandthesleepofthepassengers,hadfledwiththeonlyboat.Therecouldbenodoubtaboutit.Thecaptain,whosedutywouldhavekepthimonboardtothelast,hadbeenthefirsttoquittheship.

           "Thecowardsareoff!"saidJohnMangles."Well,myLord,somuchthebetter.Theyhavesparedussometryingscenes."

           "Nodoubt,"saidGlenarvan;"besideswehaveacaptainofourown,andcourageous,ifunskillfulsailors,yourcompanions,John.Saytheword,andwearereadytoobey."

           TheMajor,Paganel,Robert,Wilson,Mulrady,Olbinetthimself,applaudedGlenarvan’sspeech,andrangedthemselvesonthedeck,readytoexecutetheircaptain’sorders.

           "Whatistobedone?"askedGlenarvan.

           ItwasevidentthatraisingtheMacquariewasoutofthequestion,andnolessevidentthatshemustbeabandoned.Waitingonboardforsuccorthatmightnevercome,wouldhavebeenimprudenceandfolly.Beforethearrivalofachancevesselonthescene,theMacquariewouldhavebrokenup.Thenextstorm,orevenahightideraisedbythewindsfromseaward,wouldrollitonthesands,breakitupintosplinters,andscatterthemontheshore.Johnwasanxioustoreachthelandbeforethisinevitableconsummation.

           Heproposedtoconstructaraftstrongenoughtocarrythepassengers,andasufficientquantityofprovisions,tothecoastofNewZealand.

           Therewasnotimefordiscussion,theworkwastobesetaboutatonce,andtheyhadmadeconsiderableprogresswhennightcameandinterruptedthem.