rhood Paul, however, could not help
looking round every now and then, expecting to see Tippo Sahib charging
out of the wood towards him.

On returning to the shore, they found young Broke by the side of the
cows. "Look here," he exclaimed, "the creatures have got first-rate
milk. If I had a bowl now, I might carry some for little Bessy. I
should not be surprised but what it would set her all to rights."

"Well, then, boy, you run back and get the women to give you a couple of
cans, and tell four or five of the men to come along and take the seals'
flesh to the village, while we three remain here fishing."

Young Broke ran off in high glee; and as the Miss Morleys came out of
their cottage in the morning, he appeared with a bowl of fresh milk in
his hands.

"Where have you got that, my boy?" asked Fanny.

"Please, miss, we killed some cows this morning, and I have brought it
for little Bessy," answered the boy.

"Some cows!" exclaimed Mrs Twopenny, who had just joined her friends.
"I had no idea there were any on the island. And could the men have
been so foolish as to kill them?"

"They are not real cows, please, marm," answered young Broke, "but those
fish sort of creatures. The doctor has tasted the milk, and he says it
is much better than goats' milk, and will do the little girl a great
deal of good. There's more than she can want, and I hope that you
ladies will take the rest. I must be off again, because I have to bring
some fish for Mrs Rumbelow to cook for your breakfast."

Without waiting to receive the thanks of the ladies, the lad hurried
away.

Mrs Rumbelow boiled some of the seals' milk, of which there was a good
supply, with sugar, in order to preserve it. So beneficial was its
effect on the children, with the assistance of the fish, that the doctor
was now able to commence his proposed exploring expedition. He and
Captain Twopenny, carrying their guns, set out at daybreak the next
morning, accompanied by Willy and Peter, with axes in their belts, and
Tom Wall and Dick Sharp, the two latter taking their clubs to do battle
with any seals they might encounter. The doctor had also a wooden spade
with a sharp point which he had manufactured, and carried like a sword
by a belt round his waist. Willy had a similar implement, which he had
made after the doctor's model.

"If I mistake not, Dicey, we shall find our tools of as much value as
our guns," observed the doctor. "By their means we m