had learned to dispense, that he might have a good pair to go away
in. He had worn them, however, on Sunday mornings, when he had put them
on, with the rest of his best suit. Ben explained to Mr Manners why he
was dressed in that curious fashion, and the young officer highly
approved of his reasons, and complimented him on his ingenuity in their
manufacture.

The whole party then collected round him while he gave a brief account
of the way he had been preserved, and how he had managed to subsist
during his sojourn on the island. He, in return, was informed how his
friends had escaped. The schooner, from having no cargo in her, did not
sink as soon as was expected, but drove on to another reef, where she
stuck fast. The gale falling soon after, those on board had time to
construct a raft, on which, with the aid of one of the boats, they
reached an island which they had seen five or six miles off. They were
able to save a small quantity of provisions; but the larger portion,
being under water, could not be got at. The island was of considerable
size, and, thanks to the knowledge possessed by the natives, they had
not experienced much difficulty in procuring food. The schooner soon
broke up, so that very little more was got out of her, and only a few
articles of value were washed ashore. Mr Manners at once proposed
building a vessel; but the carpenter's mate, who had come in the
schooner as carpenter, had been lost when the vessel went on the rocks,
and none of the other men knew anything of ship-building. The natives,
on hearing the wish of the English officer, offered to construct a large
double canoe, three or four professional canoe-builders being among
them. They were far more ingenious than the civilised Englishmen.
Their tools they made out of stones, and flints, and shells; the fibre
of trees served them instead of nails; their sails were made out of
dried grass. It was a work, however, of great labour; night and day
they toiled at it. At length, aided by the Englishmen, it was
completed. They had preserved and stored all the food they could
collect and spare for their voyage; but their great difficulty was to
carry enough water. The water on the island was bad, and they had not
sufficient receptacles for it. Still, they hoped to reach some island
where they might replenish their stock; but that was very uncertain.

"Indeed, the possibility--or, I may say, the probability--of our running
short of