n--a task which, the keel-piece being cut out
of one log, it took the little band an entire day to accomplish
satisfactorily. And it was on the evening of this particular day, or
rather during the ensuing night, that the little colony sustained a loss
which plunged its members into grief so deep that its shadow never
entirely left them until long after the termination of their sojourn
upon the island.

It happened thus. During the numerous passages of the raft to and fro
between the west bay and Fay Island a small reef had been discovered
some six miles north of the island, upon which reef, it had been further
discovered, a certain fish of peculiarly delicate and agreeable flavour
was to be caught between the hours of sunset and sunrise. So very
delicious had this particular species of fish been found, that it had
become quite a custom for one or more of the men to take the raft after
the day's work was over and go off to the reef for an hour or two's
fishing, thus combining business and pleasure in a most agreeable
manner. Captain Blyth especially always partook of the fish with quite
exceptional relish; and, it happening at this time that all hands had
been too busily occupied for any of them to go out for several days
past, the skipper thought he would celebrate so momentous an occasion as
the laying of the keel by a few hours' fishing upon the reef.
Accordingly, as the evening meal was approaching completion, he
announced his intention, at the same time inquiring if any of the others
felt disposed to join him. All, however, confessed themselves to be too
tired to find pleasure in anything short of a good night's rest; and the
skipper therefore departed alone, Henderson calling out after him as he
went:

"Don't go to sleep and fall overboard, captain; and keep a sharp eye
upon the weather. To my mind the wind seems inclined to drop, and if it
does it will probably shift. And I suppose you have noticed that heavy
cloud-bank working up there to the westward?"

"Ay, ay, I've noticed it," answered the skipper good-humouredly, but
slightly derisive at what he considered the presumption of a landsman in
thinking it necessary to caution _him_ about the weather. "Another
thunderstorm, I take it--they always work up against the wind; but I
shall be back again and safe in my bunk before it breaks. Good-night!"

So saying, Blyth, pipe in mouth, strolled down to the tiny cove in which
the punt was moored, cast off t