umber of little green gems of islands scattered over the blue shining
ocean around us. Mr Henley said he suspected that it was one of the
islands which the French frequented during the wars of the first
Napoleon, and where their privateers used to conceal themselves when
they had to refit or refresh their crews to be again ready to go in
search of our merchantmen. In the distance lay our ship with her sails
hanging idly against her masts. There was not a sign of a breeze, so
Mr Henley determined to wait till the night in the hopes of catching
some green turtle. We now returned to the beach where we lighted a fire
and cooked some provisions, not forgetting our tree-cabbage, and most
delicious we found it. After our dinner we wandered along the shore,
admiring the beauty of the spot and the thin reefs of coral which
surrounded it.

"To think that all that work has been produced by small insects, and, so
to speak, out of nothing, is indeed wonderful," observed Mr Henley as
we strolled along together. "Do you know, Marsden, I have often thought
that it is intended that we should learn from these coral reefs what
great results are produced in the moral world by apparently small means,
at the will of our almighty Creator. Sometimes, I daresay, the agents
are conscious that they are working for a great end; sometimes--still
oftener--perhaps not. It should encourage us to persevere when we are
working in a good cause, though our progress may not be quicker than
that of the coral insects. Yet see the result of their labours! In
time these rocky islets may increase to a size sufficient to support a
large population."

I understood what he meant, and fully agreed with him. We found a
number of beautiful shells on the beach of every shape and size, most of
them empty, so that any hermit crabs wandering about in search of a new
home could easily suit themselves with a habitation.

We enjoyed also a bath in a pool surrounded by rocks, where the water
was so clear that we could see to the bottom. I had proposed bathing in
the open bay, but Mr Henley said he would on no account venture to do
so, as we could not tell what sharks there might be in the
neighbourhood. He told me that he knew of so many instances where
people had lost their lives from incautiously venturing in where sharks
had seized on them, that he was always very careful where he bathed. I
remembered his advice and followed it. Had I not done so, I belie