heir abundant supply of provisions. No other seals had been seen; and
it was feared that those on the little beach, frightened away by the
doctor, would not return.

"If so, the sooner we get away from this barren spot the better,"
observed Harry. "If the fine weather continues, as I hope it may, we
can expect to reach the Auckland Islands in three or four days."

"I think we should not give up all hopes of catching a seal or two,"
observed the doctor. "As they have been only once disturbed, the herd
we saw are pretty certain to come back before long; and if we can
conceal ourselves and watch for them, we may shoot or knock some on the
head before they can again escape."

This proposal was agreed to, and Harry resolved to wait a few hours
longer, in the hopes of success. One of the men also stated that he had
seen some pieces of timber apparently, thrown up into a shallow cavern
at the north end of the rock, and a man with him had in vain tried to
get down to them; but he thought, with the aid of ropes, they might be
reached.

"Then let us get hold of them at once," said the doctor; "they will
serve as fuel, and fuel can procure us water--no time to be lost."

Two lengths of rope, and three blocks to form a tackle, were therefore
procured from the boat; and Harry, taking a party of men with him, under
the guidance of the seaman proceeded to the spot. From a projecting
point they could look into the cavern, where was seen a considerable
amount of broken planking and timbers, the remains, apparently, of a
large boat or small vessel One of the seamen volunteered to be lowered
down to the spot. The tackle was secured to the rock overhead, and in a
short time, to the doctor's great satisfaction, a considerable amount of
planking was hoisted up. He at once eagerly shouldered as much as he
could carry, and two of the men who could be spared followed him to the
cove. His still was landed, and a blazing fire being raised beneath it,
he was soon able to offer a small quantity of the precious fluid to his
thirsty companions. All had had enough to moisten their parched
throats, when the remainder of the party arrived with a fresh supply of
fuel.

"Poor fellows, little did they think, when their vessel was cast away,
what a blessing her ribs and skin would prove to us," soliloquised the
doctor, as he added fresh fuel to his fire. A shot was just then heard.
It was fired by Willy Dicey, who had remained on the summit