N THE
SKY--PREPARATIONS FOR CATCHING RAIN-WATER--RAIN COMES AT LAST--LAND IN
SIGHT--THREATENINGS OF A STORM--THE AUCKLANDS APPROACHED--OFF A
HARBOUR--RISK OF RUNNING IN--THE STORM BURSTS--THE BOATS STAND TOWARDS
THE HARBOUR--DANGEROUS PASSAGE--ANXIETY FOR THE CUTTER--BOATS RUN UP THE
HARBOUR--A LANDING-PLACE FOUND--SAFE ON SHORE.

The whole of the next day was passed on the island. Among its various
productions, scanty though they seemed at first, was a supply of salt,
found in the hollows of the rocks. This, in addition to the salt
produced by the still, gave the party enough to preserve a considerable
number of the birds they had killed, as well as some seals' flesh.
Under Mrs Rumbelow's direction, the former were plucked and split open;
and while some were salted, others were hung up in the smoke of the
fires to dry. Every one during the day was so busily employed that it
seemed to pass rapidly away. Though Harry, afraid of a change of
weather, had intended putting to sea in the evening, he consented, at
the entreaties of most of the party, to remain till the following
morning. Being the first on foot, at early dawn the following morning
he called up Willy, and the little camp was soon astir. While Mrs
Rumbelow and her willing assistants were busily cooking the last meal
they could hope to enjoy on shore for many days, the men were engaged in
stowing the boats with their fresh provisions, and as large a supply of
fuel as they could carry. Prayer was offered up, Mrs Morley reading a
chapter in the Bible, and then the whole party embarked. The short stay
on the rock had greatly revived them, and even poor Ensign Holt seemed
much more tranquil and contented.

"It won't do to trust him, though," said Peter Patch to Willy, as they
were embarking. "I have to keep my eye on him, and I am afraid, even
now, he will play some trick."

The little baby, in spite of the cold to which it had been exposed,
seemed to flourish, still affording a great amount of interest to its
nurses as at first, young Broke occasionally begging that he might have
it in his arms; and it was pleasant to see the tender care he took of
the little girl. She was called Bessy, and was supposed to be the child
of a Sergeant Leslie, whose wife had accompanied him; but as there were
two or three babies of the same age on board, there appeared to be some
doubt about the matter. Young Broke evidently considered himself the
rightful guardian of lit