framework rising and falling a little, but
seeming as safe as could be.

"There," he cried, shouting up breathlessly to those looking out from
the gangway; "it seems to me that she's far safer than any boat I could
make, and you can pole her, or row her, or put up a sail, and go
anywhere on her; but, you know, I don't say as she'll be fast. No; I
don't say that."

"You ought to be proud of your work, Bob," cried Carey, laughing.

"Proud on her, sir? I just am. Them tubs are good uns; no fear o' them
leaking for years."

"Leaking for years, Carey," said the doctor, in a low tone of voice; "he
speaks as if he were quite settled down to staying here."

"Well, it will be nice," said the boy. "I mean," he added, hastily,
"for a month or two, for, of course, we expect to be fetched away soon."

"Yes," said the doctor; "of course we expect to be fetched away soon."

The doctor turned away and went down into the cabin, leaving the boy
looking after him.

"How strangely he spoke," thought Carey; "just as if he didn't like what
I said. Of course, I don't want to stay here, but to go on to Brisbane
to see _them_. Only, after being shut up like a cripple so long, it's
natural to want to go ashore on this island and see what the place is
like. I say, Bob," he cried, going to the side, "do you think there's a
volcano--a burning mountain, up yonder where the clouds hang so low?"

"Might be anything, sir. I shouldn't be a bit surprised. You never
know what you're going to find in an island where nobody's been before."

"Want a hand up?"

"Nay, sir; I can swarm up the rope. We must lower down some steps,
though, so as we can haul 'em up again of a night and keep out the
savages as might come in their canoes."

"Savages? Canoes? Do you think there are any, Bob?"

"One never knows, sir. I don't think there's any here now, or we should
have seen some of 'em; but they goes wandering about far enough, and
they might turn up any time. Rather nasty ones they are, too, off the
west coast and to norrard there, Noo Guinea. There we are," he
continued, climbing on deck. "Won't take me long to-morrow morning
putting on the oars, poles, and mast, and the bit o' sail we have made."

"Then we shall go to-morrow morning?"

"If it keeps fine," said the old sailor, shading his eyes and looking
round. "And fine weather it is, my lad, as far as I can see."

CHAPTER TEN.

The old sailor was right--fine weather it wa