water is the greatest cause of anxiety I have for our dangerous
voyage. If that was over, I should have fewer cares on my mind,"
observed Mr Manners.

"Then, sir, I think that I can certainly relieve you of that care,"
answered Ben. "There is a spring of excellent water in the middle of
the island, and near it I planted, on the second day of my arrival, some
gourd-seeds. The plants grew up very fast, and the fruit has now become
of great size, and is perfectly ripe. Each of them would, I should
think, when dried, hold a large quantity of water; and I am sure that
the pulp is very good and wholesome, for I have felt much better since I
lived on it. Besides, I have already dried a number of the outsides, so
that we may judge how they hold water."

"That is indeed providential, Ben," observed Mr Manners. "God, I
believe, never allows anything to be done without an object; and it
seems very clear that you were thrown on this island, not only that your
own life might be saved, but that you might be the means of preserving
all our lives. Had it not been for you, we should not have known that
there exists water on the island; and we certainly should not have had
the means of carrying it away. Let us at once examine the gourds, that
we may see what can be done."

Mr Manners now called Marco, and begged him to set off at once with
Ben, and examine the gourds, with a few of the other natives, while the
rest dispersed on the island to collect roots, cocoa-nuts, and, indeed,
any other food that they could find.

Ben could not help feeling proud at the commendation which Mr Manners
bestowed on his hut and its internal arrangements; still more so on his
plantation of gourds. The little seeds which he had brought to shore in
his jacket-pocket had now become large plants, producing gourds twice
the size of a man's head. As he had wisely planted them at a distance
from each other, they had all grown to their full size. Marco selected
thirty, at least, each of which would hold several quarts of water;
while their pulp was a welcome addition to the food of those who had
been for so long living on the produce of the sea, and roots, and
cocoa-nuts.

Three days were spent in drying the gourds and in filling them, and in
replenishing the other receptacles on board the canoe with the pure
water from Ben's fountain. One or two defects in the canoe were also
made good, and a considerable addition to their supply of provisions wa