THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
Powder,
chemists), which we found in the steward's room, with gunpow- der, and covered it securely with the end of a stout plank, in which I cut a groove and laid a train of gunpowder. Then, having contrived a fuse, which I thought would burn for an hour before reachin every crevre with tar and bound whole together with chains and ropes tone of the Farges bulkheads next the sea, on the side from whic calated that the recoil of an explosion would set the pinnac ee, yet without injuring it. Ordering the boys on board the tub-boat, I returned below deck, lighted the fuse, and hastily embarking, steered away from the wreck with a beating heart.
We feached the shore, and were unloading the raft, when a sudden and frightful noise on the sea, like thunder made all stand aghast. My wife was the first to recover presence of mind. "The sound seemed to come from the wreck!" she exclaimed. And look at the smoke! I hope, my dear husband, you have not any fire near the powder! ere is nothing to fear what has
I said. 'Boys, I must go back an ll go with me boys spran in the boat, while I dhelund for a moment to whispa word of explanation to my nxious wife, and to a sure her there was no danger We quickl ved the bay, an h satisfaction that the side of the vessel nearest us remained-unch. With light heart the other side, dazed at the destruction caused by m petard. The greater portion of the ship's side had been shattered and the agments were at on the water, while pugh the aper re we could see the pink full exposed to view, and uninj ed Ft Sours!' cru elight. The beau face is We climbed through the opening, and found, to our great elight, that with the aid of a pulley and lever we could push te nnace from the wreck, for I had taken the precaution to plac llers under the keel.
Attaching a short strength the head, and removing the timbers in position; we threw our united mance, and saw her glide slowly and