the anchor was got right down to the
lagoon, dropped about fifty yards out after being attached to a cable,
another was knotted on to this, and again another to the last, and
carried through the lugger's bows to where the capstan was fixed.

At high tide the little remaining sand was rapidly dug away, and the
water began to flow in; the capstan was manned, and a burst of cheering
rose; for as fast as the bars could be worked and the cables in turn
coiled down, the new boat was drawn through the sand and out till she
was head over the anchor, with a clear foot below her keel.

"You'd better take command, Mr Lane," said the mate, shaking hands
warmly. "I ought to have thought of that, but it was beyond me. There
we are, then. Now, all we have to do is to load her up with your
treasures and plenty of stores, and then make for some other island, and
from one to the other until we can get to a civilised port."

"Why not make another lugger, so as to have everything you can belonging
to the _Planet_?"

"And give you gentlemen more time to collect?"

"Exactly."

"Well, I don't see why not," said the mate, thoughtfully. "It grieves
me to have the good old vessel stranded here with no end of valuable
stuff in her; and now that we shall soon have the means of getting away
when we like, I think I might as well set the men to work at another."

"But you'll get the rigging and stores on board this one first," said
Panton.

"Of course," replied the mate; "but there is another thing to think of,
gentlemen."

The others looked at him inquiringly.

"When this boat is ready and properly laden, she cannot be left without
a crew on board."

"On account of the blacks," cried Oliver. "No, it is impossible for her
to be left."

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

LEFT IN THE LURCH.

The question of building another craft remained in abeyance for a time,
all attention being given to the furnishing, the decking, rigging, and
other fittings of the _Little Planet_. Then the cases of specimens were
got down and placed on board, Panton's first, for they took the place of
ballast. Then all necessary stores and water were stowed away, with
compass, instruments, and everything ready for an immediate start.

"We shall be packed pretty close," said the mate; "but I propose that we
land whenever we have an opportunity, so that we shall not feel the
confinement quite so much."

"Then, now that all is right, we may go on collecting?"