half a mile from the shore just at sunset.
As it would take the crew the whole day to get water, which had to be
rolled down in small casks to the beach and brought on board, the
passengers expressed their intention of making a shooting excursion on
shore to kill some wild cattle--of which there are numbers in the
island--or any other animals or birds they might fall in with. As the
captain had no objection to having a supply of beef without cost to
himself, he agreed to let them have a boat the next morning to take them
on shore. They asked for one or two of the men to carry the meat. The
captain said that they could not be spared, but finally told them that
they could take Mark and me, as we were of little use on board.

"Now," whispered Mark, "is our opportunity. If there are cattle, we
shall have some meat to live on; and I propose that we hide ourselves
away, so that when the gentlemen return on board we shall be missing."

The captain, we were sure, would not take the trouble to look for us. I
agreed, provided that from the appearance of the island we should have
the chance of obtaining food and shelter; if not, we might die of
starvation, and it would be better to endure our miseries, and the
danger we ran of our lives, for a short time longer than to do that.

"Well, as to that we must see about it," answered Mark.

Soon after, our watch being over, we turned into our respective bunks.
I didn't feel altogether comfortable, not knowing what the men might do
to us. For some time I lay awake, for I wanted to be on the watch, lest
any trick should be attempted, but at length dropped off to sleep. As
we were in harbour, only an anchor watch was kept, and I was allowed to
have my night's rest out, from which I rose fresh and ready for anything
some time before daybreak. Mark, who had gone aft to call the
gentlemen, returned with an order for me to get ready to go in the boat.
Sufficient provisions for the party were put into the boat; and the
gentlemen, taking their rifles and pistols with them, and with their
swords at their sides, we shoved off, the boat being partly laden with
empty water-casks. As there was not room for Mark and me forward, we
sat aft with the gentlemen, when Mr Fraser talked in a friendly way to
Mark and me. I saw the men eyeing us savagely at this; and I thought to
myself at the moment, "Those villains suspect that we have had something
to do in putting the gentlemen on their guard."