launch her on the
water of the lagoon. We then got in; and though she leaked, as we
expected, we were able with our hats to bale out the water fast enough
to keep her afloat.

Paddling on with the broken oar and one of the pieces of board, we
reached Refuge Bay, as we called the spot where we had landed. Much to
our disappointment, our companions had not returned. Expecting,
however, that they might arrive at any moment, we set to work to roast
some eggs and the remainder of our wild-fowl, sufficient for all hands.
Still our friends did not appear. Though we began to feel somewhat
anxious about them, the smell of the roast-duck made us so hungry that
we could not resist the temptation of eating our share without waiting
for them. Dick then set to work to prepare our fishing gear, and in the
course of the evening not only made a netting pin and needle, but
manufactured a landing-net, which would serve the double purpose of
catching some small fish for bait, and rifting up any larger fish likely
to break our tackle should we attempt to haul them out of the water.

Darkness now came on, and at last we had to give up all hope of seeing
our friends that night. We agreed that in all probability they had
found the distance greater than they had expected; so creeping into our
arbours, and repressing the anxiety we could not help feeling, we went
to sleep.

On awaking next morning, we found that the weather was still calm and
fine; and supposing that our friends would remain on the other side of
the island to breakfast, and perhaps still longer, we did not expect
them back till late in the day.

"I vote that we go off and try to catch some fish," I said. "Our
friends will be much obliged to us if we can offer them some fish
instead of the ducks, which, to say the best of them, are rather tough
and strong-tasted."

Dick agreed to my proposal; and having payed over the seams of the small
boat with the mixture we had before used, we found on launching her that
she no longer leaked to any extent. Before embarking, Dick, tucking up
his trousers, waded into the water with his hand-net, and soon caught an
ample supply of small fish for bait. Indeed, had we been pressed for
food, we should have been glad to cook and eat them. We then put the
jolly-boat's oars and the boat-hook, which had been preserved, into the
small boat, and shoved off, carrying a lump of coral with a long rope to
serve as our anchor and cable. We fi