E CUTTER HAULED UP--THE LAUNCH WRECKED--THE HUTS BLOWN
DOWN.

As soon as the thirst of the long sea-tossed party was assuaged, Harry
called the officers and men round him.

"We have an abundance of work before us," he said. "We have but a
scanty stock of provisions remaining, and must obtain more without
delay. We have wood to cut for fuel, and we must get up the best
shelter we can manage for the women and children before nightfall.
First, however, we must land our remaining stores, and secure them under
cover. For these purposes we will form three parties."

Dr Davis volunteered at once to go in search of seals; several, it
will be remembered, having been observed poking their snouts out of the
water as they came up the harbour. He had hopes also of finding more on
the islands or rocks within its circuit. Captain Twopenny offered to
accompany him, and Willy and Peter Patch begged that they might go also.
Harry told them that they might take the cutter as soon as she was
unloaded, with four of the men to pull. The boatswain and a large party
took charge of the unloading of the boats and putting up the huts, while
the remainder, armed with all the axes which could be mustered, were
directed to cut down wood for fuel.

"And, please sir, what are we to do?" asked Mrs Rumbelow; "there are
other hands here willing to work."

"I think the best thing you can do is to look after the children,"
answered Harry.

"Oh, sir, the ladies can do that; and they will pardon me for saying so.
I and several other women can manage to bring in the wood as the men
cut it, or to carry up the stores from the water. No one among us
wishes to be idle."

"I am not going to work," said poor Mr Holt, who was seated by himself
on a rock. "I was brought here against my will, and do not intend to be
made a slave of."

"Poor fellow," observed Harry, "he is not yet recovered from his attack,
Well, Mrs Rumbelow, I will accept your services; but what we have to do
must be done quickly, as night will shortly be upon us."

The wooding party under Paul Lizard, as soon as they had collected all
the axes and large knives to be found, went off to the wood at a short
distance from the landing-place. The cutter was quickly unloaded. The
doctor, in the meantime, had been surveying the island across the
harbour with a spy-glass. "I see several dark objects moving up the
bank," he observed. "I have no doubt they are seals; and, if so, we may