ls' flesh should be salted and dried, so as
to have a store in reserve should the animals disappear. He volunteered
also to set off, when the weather moderated, on an exploring expedition,
to ascertain the natural productions of the country.

"We may find roots and fruits of some sort which may answer the purpose
of bread and vegetables, and we may discover the hogs and goats you
speak of, Dicey; and perhaps some other creatures," he observed. "In my
opinion, when people use their intellects, and exert themselves, there
are few parts of the world so utterly unproductive that they must of
necessity starve,--as we should certainly if we were to sit down in this
little nook with our hands before us."

"Very right, sir," observed the boatswain. "I have a notion that we
should also keep a look-out along the coast for any vessel which may be
passing. If we remain up here, any number might go by and not discover
us. As soon as the weather moderates, I'll therefore, with Mr Shafto's
leave, take the boat down the harbour, and search for some point where
we may establish a look-out place, and set up a flagstaff with which we
can signalise any ship coming in sight."

Harry at once agreed to Bollard's proposal, and Captain Twopenny
volunteered to accompany the doctor on his proposed exploring
expedition.

In the meantime, as the weather continued too bad to move to any
distance, it was arranged that all hands should turn to at
house-building. The spot selected for the little village was on the
driest piece of ground to be found at the foot of the hill; and it was
agreed that the first house put up should be for Mrs Morley and her
daughters, with another for Captain and Mrs Twopenny close to it. The
best axe-men at once commenced felling trees. They were not long or
thick enough, however, to form log-huts after the American fashion. It
was settled, therefore, that they should be put in upright, close
together, and the interstices filled with clay, while the outside walls,
as well as the roofs, were to be thatched with the long grass which grew
in abundance at the foot of the hills.

While the men were hewing down the trees, Mrs Rumbelow, with four of
the most active women, set to work to cut the grass for thatching. It
was no slight task, as it was evident that a large quantity would be
required. By the end of the first day, they had, however, formed a
stack of considerable size. In the meantime, Willy and Peter, wi