It consisted of a platform of planks, built across empty barrels; and was lashed together by the only rope at the station.

A couple of natives took their places upon it, with long poles; but their efforts to push against the strong currents were quite unavailing.
Then something went wrong with the rope and the raft gradually sank, the men swimming ashore.
On examination it was found that, not only were the leaking casks gone, but the rope that tied them together.

The situation now appeared more hopeless than before.
It was Lisle who suggested a possible way out of the difficulty.

He was wandering about the deserted native huts, when it struck him to see what the mud walls were composed of, and how the roofs were supported.

Drawing his sword, he cut a large hole in one of the walls and, to his surprise, discovered that they were strengthened by lines of bamboos, which were afterwards plastered over.