xiety was deepened, and a darker gloom was cast over the
party, by an incident which happened soon afterwards.

It has been said that Watty Wilkins was passionately fond of fishing.
This business he prosecuted by means of a small raft, made from the
remnants of the old one, which he pushed about with a long pole. But
the raft was inconvenient; moreover, it had been more than once nearly
upset by a shark. Watty therefore resolved to make a small boat out of
the remains of the old boat beside which the skeleton had been found.
In this he was so ably assisted by his friends Jack and Ben, that the
boat--which was a very small one--was launched in the course of two
weeks. A pair of light oars was also made, and in this boat the fishing
was prosecuted with redoubled vigour. Sometimes the three friends went
off in company; more frequently little Wilkins went out alone.

One day he pushed off by himself, and pulled to different parts of the
lagoon, casting his line now and then with varying success. The day
happened to be unusually calm and bright. When he passed the opening in
the reef, the surf appeared less violent than usual, so that he was
tempted to pull though it. The breakers were passed in safety, and he
soon found himself with a sensation of great delight, floating on the
gentle swell of the open sea. He pulled out for a considerable
distance, and then cast his lines. So intent was he on these, that he
did not observe the approach of a squall till it was almost upon him.
Seizing the oars, he pulled towards the island, but he had drifted off
shore a considerable distance. The wind, also, was against him. His
efforts were vain. In short he was blown out to sea.

The desperate anxiety of the poor boy was changed to despair when the
island gradually receded and finally disappeared. At first the little
boat was nearly swamped, but by clever management of the oars Watty
saved it. The squall was short-lived. Before long it again fell calm,
and the sky cleared, but nothing was now to be seen save the unbroken
circle of the horizon.

Who can tell the feelings of the poor youth when night descended on the
sea? For hours he sat in the stern-sheets quite motionless, as if
stunned. [Note: see frontispiece.] Rowing, he knew, would be of no use,
as he might be pulling away from the island instead of towards it.
Fastening his jacket to an oar, he set it up as a signal, and sat down
helpless and inactive, but his m