h, "and me talking like that. But hi! Look here, sir," he
continued, pointing shoreward.

"What at?" said the doctor, who was startled by the man's energy. "What
do you see--natives?"

"No, no, sir; there, sir, in a row along beyond the sands. Noo milk for
that there lad, sir. Vegetable cows--cocoanuts. Plenty for years to
come."

"Yes, we shall be in the midst of plenty," said the doctor, looking
wistfully round. "Prisoners, perhaps, but happily provided for. Look
yonder, Bostock."

"What at, the birds, sir? I've seen 'em all the morning. Ducks and
terns as well as gull things. They seem to be nesting about those rocks
yonder. And of coarse that means noo-laid eggs for that there boy; yes,
and roast duck. There's shooting tackle down below, isn't there, sir?"

"Yes, the captain has arms, and I have a double gun in my cabin."

"There, hark at that, sir," cried the old sailor. "Now what could one
wish for more?"

"What indeed?" said the doctor, smiling at his companion's enthusiasm.

"Nothing, sir," cried Bostock. "Yes, there's something, sir, as we
haven't got and we must have."

"What's that?"

"A boat, sir, to get ashore with. Now, that is a bit o' bad luck."

"Ah, yes, we must have a boat to go ashore, and every one has gone."

"Yes, sir, even the little dinghy. That must ha' been washed away, same
as the gig, for that warn't launched. But all right, sir; there's other
ways o' killing a cat besides hanging. We must make one."

"Or a raft," said the doctor.

"Raft'll do to begin with. Four bunged-up casks and some boards'll do
first. That's easy to make on deck, for there's the carpenter's tools,
and we can easily rig up tackle to hyste it over the side. It's the
boat as'll bother us, but you never know what you can do till you try."

"No, Bostock, you never do."

"That's so, sir. A boat we want, and a boat we'll have. I say, sir,
just think of it; won't that there dear lad just enjy having a boat to
sail and fish about here in the lagoon, or out yonder across the reef on
a calm day?"

"Yes, we must get him well, Bostock," said the doctor, smiling. "Come
along: we need not examine our position any more; let's see if he is
awake."

"And ready for a drop o' soup, sir. There's rows of them tins o'
portable, as they call it, sir, in the store-room. Drop warmed up ought
to be just the thing now, poor lad; he can't work his teeth as he
should."

"We'll see," said the docto