ch which formed the inner shore of the lagoon. How we
had got there we could scarcely tell: all we knew was that we had been
mercifully preserved. We leaped out of our shattered boat, and
endeavoured to haul her up so as to prevent her being carried away by
any of the following seas; but none of those which succeeded were of
like size to that which had carried us on to the beach. We had great
cause to be thankful that we had escaped the fearful danger which had
threatened us. Exhausted with the anxiety we had felt, and want of
sleep, we all sank down on the sand.

It was now nearly dark, and we felt too tired to go in search of any
other spot on which we could rest. After a little time, however, our
hunger reminded us that we had had no food for some hours; and as we
naturally expected to obtain an abundance on the island, we agreed that
we would at all events have a good supper. Tillard and Tamaku
accordingly went to the boat to bring up our provisions, which had been
stowed away in the locker.

As they were some time absent,--"Well, lads, when are you coming back
with our food?" asked Mudge.

"We can't find it, sir," was the unsatisfactory answer. "It must have
been washed out of the boat when that sea struck us."

There could be no doubt about the matter. The breaker of water, which
had fortunately been secured, was at length found; the contents served
to quench our thirst, but we had to go to sleep in our wet clothes, and
supperless. Tommy began to grumble at his hard fate, for he was very
sharp set; and so were we all.

"I'll tell you what, my lads," said Mudge: "we ought to be thanking God
from our hearts that we have been preserved thus far; for in all my life
I never came through so bad a sea as that we have just escaped from.
Now let us just lift our voices together and praise Him from whom all
blessings flow."

We joined heartily in the prayer Mudge offered up, as also in the hymn
in which he led us; and then we again lay down on the bank, trusting
that we should find food the next morning; and that if there were any
inhabitants they might prove friendly.

The rays of the sun just rising out of the ocean awoke me. Harry and
Tom were already sitting up; the rest of the party, having their faces
turned away from the bright luminary, were still asleep. The country
wore a more pleasing aspect than it had done when we landed in the gloom
of evening. The shore was fringed by a variety of trees, a