the skin. I'll try and make
use of a piece of canvas. I'll render it air-tight with grease or wax,
or something of that sort. I don't promise to succeed, but I'll try my
best."

"That's all we can expect of you," said Mudge.

Tillard's proposal somewhat raised our hopes. We had, however, in the
first place, to look out for water, though the cocoa-nut milk prevented
our suffering from thirst; and, what was of equal importance, to search
for food. Before setting out, we each of us cut a long pointed stick--
the most ready weapon we could manufacture; not for defence, for it
would be useless against the arms of the natives, should any exist on
the island, but to enable us to kill any animals we might meet with, as
also to assist us in getting over any rough ground, or to beat down the
brushwood should we meet with forests through which we might have to
force our way.

Leaving Tillard to look after the boat and to make preparations for
repairing her, we set out. Mudge led the way, Tom and Harry and I
followed, Tamaku and Popo brought up the rear. We proceeded along the
sea-shore, which was more level than the interior, and presented few
impediments to our progress. After going some distance to the south, we
reached a region which had apparently, at no remote period, been covered
by the sea--probably upheaved by some convulsion of nature. A few
cocoa-nut and pandanus trees, however, grew on it, and a scant herbage.
We were about to keep along the sea-beach, near which the land rose,
covered thickly with trees, when I observed a number of birds hovering
over the part of the island I have described. Crossing a level space
covered at high tide by the sea, we reached what was evidently at such
times an island. Numberless birds had made it their abode. As we
approached, they seemed in no way alarmed--those which were sitting on
their nests keeping their posts, merely poking out their necks, and
uttering such hoarse croaks that we were almost deafened by the sound,
and could scarcely hear each other speak.

"Hurrah!" cried Mudge, "we have here food enough to supply all our
wants; and, what's better, such as I hope we may be able to preserve for
our voyage."

A large number of the birds were sitting on their eggs, and so tame were
they that we had to push them over to get at the said eggs. Among them
were numerous beautiful tropic-birds, sooty terns, and gannets. The
eggs of the latter were laid on the ground,