, Peter, that your brother is not on this island,"
said the doctor. "I should have rejoiced if we had found him, but I did
not think it at all likely that he is here. However, that is no reason
why he should not be somewhere else."

We had found water on our way, and the mate had discovered a spring not
far from our camp. The hurricane, which had abated somewhat during the
day, came on again as night approached, and we were thankful to obtain
the shelter of our rock. The wind blew more furiously than ever, the
lightning flashed and ran along the ground--now and again crashes were
heard as some tall tree was struck and rent in two, while the rain at
times came down in torrents, and nearly put out the fire. We, however,
got shelter from the overhanging rock. We had just done supper, when
Mr Griffiths observed--

"I'm afraid something may happen to our boat. The breakers sound so
loud that they perhaps are dashing over the reef, and the sea may sweep
up and carry her off."

We hurried down to where we had left the boat. A bright flash of
lightning revealed her to us, with the seething water rushing up under
her keel. Dashing forward, we seized her just as a second wave was
lifting her, and in a few seconds would have carried her off. We
dragged her up the beach till we had placed her, as we hoped, out of the
reach of the water.

While we were thus employed we heard a loud crash coming from the
direction of our camp. On returning, we discovered our fire nearly out,
but it blazed sufficiently to show us a mass of earth and rock, and two
tall trees, which had fallen on the very spot where a few minutes before
we had all been collected.

We were thankful for our preservation, though we had lost the only
shelter we knew of. The mate suggested that we should go back to the
boat, turn her over, and creep under her for shelter. As no trees were
near where she lay, we hoped that we might thus rest in perfect safety.
Having taken the things out of her, we did as he proposed, and one by
one crept in, and stretched ourselves upon the damp ground. After the
exertions I had made during the day I felt very sleepy, and though I
remained awake for some time thinking of Jack, my eyes at length closed.

I was awakened by hearing three distinct loud raps on the bottom of the
boat. I fancied that I must be dreaming, but I found that Jim and
Horner, who were sleeping next to me, were awake, and had heard the
sounds.

"Wh