the truth, it's as they say quite dangerous to be safe."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

A STARTLER.

The strangeness of their position grew hourly to the crew of the
_Planet_ brig, and again and again the mate proposed plans for
extricating themselves.

"It will take time," he said, "but it would be far better than
attempting the trip in open boats. I have had it over with the
carpenter, and he thinks that we could build a small lugger--decked--of
about the size of one of the Cornish mackerel craft. What do you
gentlemen say to that?"

"I say it's a capital idea," said Oliver, and his companions endorsed
his opinion.

"So I thought," said the mate. "It will take a long time to tear up
enough of the old brig, and to get the material down to the shore, but
we shall all work with a will. I thought that we might make a hut under
the cocoa-nut trees just opposite one of the openings in the reef, and
as you agree that it's a good plan, I propose beginning at once. Then
we could sail east, west, or north, to one of the settlements."

"But what's the hurry?" said Oliver.

"Eh? Hurry? Why, we're wrecked, sir, and I want to get afloat again."

"But we don't," cried Oliver. "We could not be in a better place for
our studies, and we shall want you to let us have the men to go with us
upon expeditions and carry our collections."

"But isn't it rather too cool to sit down patiently here with our ship
wrecked?"

"I haven't found the place very cool, Mr Rimmer," said Panton, smiling.

"I didn't mean that kind of coolness," said the mate, heartily. "But it
fidgets me about my vessel. See how she's canted over. I should not be
surprised to find her some day sunk out of sight."

"But you couldn't find her if she was sunk out of sight," said Drew,
merrily.

"No, no, of course not. How you gents do catch me up."

"Look here, Mr Rimmer, don't you worry," cried Oliver. "Let the vessel
be for a bit while we collect. When we have exhausted the place we will
all join you heart and soul in any plan to get away; but, dangerous as
the island is, I don't want to leave it yet."

"Nor I," said Panton.

"Nor I," cried Drew.

"All right then, gentlemen. Then we'll stay as we are for the present,
only something must be done about fresh provisions."

"I'll start at once shooting, and we can eat all the birds I kill. I
only want the skins."

"And I daresay I can collect a good deal of fruit and some form of
vegetables t