h us, Mr
Dicey," said Mrs Morley.

"No, no, marm!" answered Willy, laughing at the bare thought of such a
thing. "Mr Shafto has determined that the officers and men shall share
alike, and we have all agreed to abide by his wishes."

The arrangement for the night had scarcely yet been completed, but the
people were so hungry that Harry Shafto allowed them to knock off work,
that they might cook the seal-flesh which had just arrived. Three fires
had been lit, round which eager faces were collected, some toasting
pieces of seal-flesh on the ends of sticks, others more scientifically
roasting them on spits, while Mrs Rumbelow was cooking more of the
wild-fowl reserved for the women. Close to these fires were the huts
just erected, of various shapes, some like Indian wigwams, others with
circular roofs, others of a more square form, as the fancy of the
architects had dictated; while beyond them was the more pretentious tent
composed of the boats' sails.

In front, the two boats floated in the bay, with a dark outline of the
shore and hills of the other side of the harbour, while behind the camp
rose tree-covered heights, some towering up towards the sky, out of
which numberless stars were now shining forth. Harry had walked a
little way from the camp, where he stood, considering what was next to
be done. He felt the full responsibility of the position in which he
was placed.

"We may still," he thought, "reach New Zealand in the boats; but the
risk of the passage across the stormy sea which intervenes is very
great. We may be unable to make the English settlements in the northern
island, and it is uncertain what reception we may meet with from the
natives on any other part of the coast. It may be wiser to remain where
we are; but, then, with regard to the matter of provisions? Do the
seals frequent the harbour at all times of the year? If not, we shall
have only the birds, and any wild animals which may exist, to live on.
Perhaps even wild-fowl may not be found at all seasons, and then are
there any other animals besides seals? I think I have heard that hogs
and goats have been landed; but they may have been destroyed by the
severity of the climate, or the want of proper food."

Such and many more thoughts passed through the young officer's mind.
His meditations were interrupted by the shrill whistling of the wind in
the trees. Dark clouds gathering to the northward had begun to course
rapidly across the sky