night. Flossy had lately taken to waddling away towards evening for a
swim in the warm lake, and never came back without something in her
mouth.

So nobody was surprised when they missed her from the fire, only, as she
stayed rather longer to-night than usual, and as the long twilight would
soon end, Tom took up his rifle and went off all by himself to look for
her.

"Oh, dear!" cried Pansy, as the sound of a shot startled everyone in the
fort. "Tom's gone and killed something!"

"Let's run and see," said Frank. Veevee and Briton had already rushed
off.

They found Tom at the lake-side, standing over a huge dead bear, with
Flossy near him.

"That bear," said Tom, laughing, "was keeping poor Floss in the lake; but
he won't do so again. Isn't he a fine one?"

"Yes," cried Frank; "he is indeed."

"And now, children," said Tom, when he was once more seated in front of
the camp fire, "the question of lights is settled for good. Frank and I
are going to make candles out of that bear's tallow."

"Yes, Pansy, we are. Oh, we shouldn't be half Crusoes if we couldn't make
candles!"

So the boys arranged to start work the very next morning at sunrise.

"But first let us have a look through this beautiful isle of the sea,
while the girls are asleep. There may be more bears. Briton, you must
stay and watch. Veevee, you may come."

Though Veevee searched every bush and grove, no bear was found. The one
Tom had so cleverly killed must have crossed to the island alone by the
bridge of rocks.

So, after breakfast, the boys built their fire. With big blocks of lava
they made a sort of stove, and on top of this was placed a large cup-like
stone, which they had chanced to find. Into this they put the tallow to
melt. In the meantime Tom pulled a quantity of thick rushes, and set
Frank and the girls to peel them, while the dogs looked on as if
wondering what it was all about.

[Illustration]

"It's something to eat, I suppose," said Briton, looking very wise.

"A sort of soup of some kind from the smell of it, I should think," was
Veevee's remark.

The long threads of white pith were about as thick as a penholder, and
these were to form the wicks. When dried they were tied two and two by
one end.

Then between two uprights Tom placed a long willow rod, with three dozen
strong thorns stuck in it about two inches apart, to serve as hooks.

By this time the tallow was melted and all was ready.

"Now, ladies and gentleme