at by him during his visit to the summit were
correct; there was no beach throughout the whole length of the
coast-line; nothing but sheer perpendicular cliffs everywhere, although
in places these cliffs rose no higher than some twenty feet above the
sea-level. Finally they arrived off the south-westerly extremity of the
island--which they agreed to name Mermaid Head--and found themselves
skirting the outer edge of the reef, at a distance of about one hundred
yards from the surf-line, lost in wonderment and admiration of the great
wall of snowy foam and spray that leapt, sparkling like a cloud of
jewels, some forty feet into the clear sunlit air. Then they re-entered
the lagoon and ran alongside the brig--to the exuberant delight of
Sailor--some three hours from the moment of starting, having had a most
enjoyable sail, and satisfied themselves definitely that, since no
savages existed on their own side of the island, the place must of
necessity be altogether free from their unwelcome presence. And
thenceforward Leslie's mind was completely free from at least that one
anxiety.

And now, having provided himself with the means not only to pass freely
and rapidly between the brig and the shore, but also to venture out to
sea in chase of a ship, should occasion to do so arise, Leslie felt
himself free to proceed with the execution of his great plan for the
establishment of a dockyard ashore, and the construction of a craft
sufficiently substantial and seaworthy to convey him and his companion
back to the world of civilisation.

The first part of his task consisted in the erection of a spacious tent
on shore for the accommodation of his companion and himself; and this he
proposed to do with the aid of the old sails on board the brig,
reserving the new ones and such canvas as he could find for the making
of a suit of sails for the proposed new boat. He accordingly got out
all the old sails, and deposited them on the deck of the catamaran,
together with a quantity of cordage, blocks, and other gear, a crowbar,
pickaxes, hammer, and shovel, an axe, and a number of miscellaneous odds
and ends that he thought would be useful, and conveyed the whole to the
shore. Then entering the woods, he selected the first nine suitable
saplings that he could find, and cut them down, afterwards conveying
them, one at a time and with considerable labour, to the site that he
had chosen for his tent. He next dug six holes in the ground--thre