"There must be plenty of material
on board of the schooner for that."
"There certainly is," answered Captain Blossom. "Come, we can make
a raft in less than an hour."
All set to work, and in a short space of time they had the material
together. Ropes and spikes were there a-plenty, and as Captain Blossom
laid out one stick and another, the boys and old Jerry either nailed
or tied them together. A board flooring was placed on top of the
spars and then the whole affair was dumped into the bay with a loud
splash. It floated very well, with the flooring a good ten inches
above the surface of the water, and as the raft was nearly twenty
feet long by ten wide, it was capable of carrying considerable weight.
"That's better than a boat," said Dick. "We can pile a good deal more
stuff on it."
"Let us get on and paddle to where we left the others," said Tom.
"They will be anxious to learn the news."
Captain Blossom was willing, and they took with them a variety of
provisions and also some extra clothing and some firearms. Then the
raft was moved to where the boys had left part of their own clothing
when they had started to swim the channel.
The coming of the big raft and its passengers to the shore where the
cabin was located was greeted with shouts of joy from Sam and the
three girls.
"Hurrah for the captain of the _Golden Wave_!" cried Sam, swinging his
cap in the air. "We are very glad to see you safe and sound.
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