have discovered a better place," said Charlie, in a
cheerful tone. "We may here remain securely till morning, and get some
sleep without being cramped up in the boat. I should not be surprised
either if those are cocoanut trees, and, if so, we may get a good
supply."

We now rowed into the bay, Tom Tubb feeling the way with the boat-hook,
so that we might not run the risk of staving in the bows of the boat.
At length our keel grated on the smooth sand, and jumping out, we
quickly hauled up the boat. Tubb and Sam Pest then went on, the latter
carrying a musket, to survey the neighbourhood, and to ascertain if
there was any path by which an enemy might come suddenly down and
surprise us; they were also to look out for water. We meantime
collected driftwood and dry branches from under the trees to make a
fire. We placed a pile some way up the beach close to the grove of
trees, so that the flames might be concealed by the overhanging cliffs
and hills on either side, and thus, although there might be natives in
the neighbourhood, we might escape being seen. We had got our wood
ready to light when Sam and his companion came back.

"There's only one part, away to the left, where anybody, unless they've
got wings, can come down," said Sam. "We must keep a look-out on it,
and we shall have time, if many of the savages appear, to get the boat
into the water and shove off before they can reach us. One of us had
better keep guard there, and we shall be safe enough."

They had also discovered a waterfall, which came down over the rock at
an easily accessible spot, where we could fill the kettle we had brought
with us. We accordingly spitted the fish which we had caught in the
morning, though already they were not as fresh as we should have liked,
and put on the kettle to boil, to make some tea which the missionary had
given us. Following Sam's advice, we at once placed Jack Lizard on the
look-out at the spot he had mentioned; we then cooked and ate our
supper, and sent Tubb to relieve Jack. This done, we spread the boat's
sail on the oars and boat-hook, to make an awning under which we could
sleep; the sand was hot and dry enough so that we required no other
bedding. It was arranged that we should relieve each other every two
hours, and thus all might get a good spell of sleep. Had it not been
for our anxiety about the schooner, we should have enjoyed our
adventure. We had scarcely given a thought about ourselves, or