think our commander will desert us
till he has made a thorough search in all directions. If the _Heroine_,
from any cause, does not appear, we may hope that a whaler or some other
craft may pass by and see our signals. We must keep a look-out on both
sides of the island; for though we may be happy enough while we remain
here, it won't do to turn altogether into Robinson Crusoes."

"Pleasanter than having to keep watch, however," remarked Tom.

"We must think of our friends at home," I observed. "Should the report
reach England that we are lost, they will be mourning for us; and I for
one am anxious to let Captain and Mrs Hudson know that we have found
their son."

"Very right, Godfrey," said Mudge. "I am glad to see you thoughtful
about others; and I don't suppose Tom would wish to make his own family
unhappy, as I have no doubt that they care for him more than he
fancies."

"I was not thinking about them just then," said Tom. "However, if I
catch sight of a passing sail, depend upon it I will do my best to let
her know that we are here."

The idea of immediately going off in the boat to try and find the ship
was, therefore, of necessity abandoned. We agreed that our first
business must be to explore the island, and ascertain what supplies of
food we were likely to find. We had little doubt that we should procure
other fruit besides cocoa-nuts, while we might also obtain oysters or
other molluscs, and perhaps be able to catch fish--though we should
first have to manufacture hooks and lines or nets of some sort.

While Mudge and Tom and I had been talking over these matters, Tillard
had been again examining the boat. "I have been thinking, Mr Mudge,
that if we could manage to get some small nails, we might secure some
canvas over the damaged part of the boat, and patch her up fit to go to
sea again," he said.

"That `if' is the most difficult thing to get over," said Mudge. "Where
are the nails to come from?"

"Out of the handles of our clasp-knives," answered Dick. "I am a bit of
a blacksmith; and I have been thinking that if I could manage to make a
pair of bellows, I would soon get a forge up, and I should not be long
before I had a few dozen of nails."

"There's another `if' in the case," observed Mudge.

"Yes, sir; but it's one that can be got over, if I can catch a seal or
some other animal with a thick skin."

"Still there is an `if,'" said Mudge.

"Well, sir, but perhaps I can do without