uild the house, and the
arms would give them a chance to defend themselves if attacked, as well
as to provide themselves with food."

"Well, yes, that's true," answered Williams, rather reluctantly. "Very
well," he continued, "go and rout the things out; and let me see them
when you have got them together."

Without waiting to give the fellow a chance to change his mind, Ned
hurried off, and summoning the boatswain and his gang to his assistance,
soon had the topsail on deck; after which he procured the keys of the
arm-chest and selected not ten but a dozen rifles, fitted with bayonets,
a goodly stock of ammunition, three new axes with helves complete, a
couple of shovels, two hammers, half a dozen bags of nails, mostly
large, a coil of inch rope, an adze, and a quantity of tinware--as less
liable to breakage than crockery. And, as a suitable finish to the
whole, he topped off with a case which he routed out from the lazarette,
and which bore on its side the legend "assorted tinned meats."

Breakfast was by this time ready; and on its being announced, Williams
ordered Ned to take charge of the deck, and, in the event of anything
noteworthy occurring, to report to him at once. Ned was by no means
sorry to be thus left to himself for a short time; but, fully alive to
the exceptional nature of the responsibility laid upon him at that
particular moment, deemed his proper position just then to be in the
fore-top. And, first procuring his telescope, thither he quickly made
his way.

The ship was by this time within about five miles of the land; and the
first thing the lad noticed, on reaching his more elevated post, was
that the sea was breaking heavily all along the shore. Hailing the
boatswain, who was on deck, Ned instructed that functionary to report
this circumstance to Williams, who, in consequence, soon made his
appearance on deck again.

"Fore-top, there!" he hailed; "how far are the breakers off the shore?"

"About a mile, I should say," answered Ned.

"Do they look too heavy for a boat to go through them?" was the next
inquiry.

"Yes," answered Ned; "there is nothing but white water all along this
side of the island."

"Very well," said Williams, "stay where you are, and keep your eyes
peeled; we must try the lee side of the island, that's all. Lay aft
here, my lads, and man the lee braces. Down with your helm, there, you
sir, and let her come by the wind. Brace sharp up, my bullies; we
mustn't l