The matter of fuel was a more difficult one to solve, unless they
intended to prepare most of the food before starting; but George
insisted that the small stove should be put aboard, and about fifty
pounds of the coal stowed away.

"How long do you think we should provision for?" was George's inquiry,
as they were carrying the various things aboard.

Harry had no ideas on the subject, but the Professor ventured the
opinion that at least two weeks' supply should be arranged for.

This conclusion rather startled the boys, who had not expected more than
a few days' trip, and when they questioned him about his reasons for
making the statement, he said: "Did you ever hear of the old lady who
attended a special meeting of prayer for rain? She came with an
umbrella, and the people laughed and chided her. The minister reproved
them, saying: 'She, at least, has faith, which you have not.' We are
going for two purposes: one is to learn something about the island we
are on, and the other to rescue our companions if they can be found. We
couldn't rescue them and let them starve."

Those words impressed them as nothing theretofore had, that the
Professor believed they were really going to find their former
shipmates, and that they would have stirring times before them.

Nothing so stimulates the actions of men, or boys, as the prospect of
adventure. Their trip had a double meaning, and it is not venturing too
much to say that their feelings were most tense during the entire period
in which they were engaged at the task of fitting out the little ship.

At last the day was set for the departure. The cattle could take care of
themselves. A tablet was prepared to be put up on their dwelling,
stating who were the owners of the habitation, their present
destination, and briefly relating the knowledge they possessed of the
inhabitants of the island, a statement of the direction they had taken,
and the kind of boat to which they trusted their destiny, and when they
expected to return.

A copy of this was then carried to the pole on Observation Hill, and
nailed to the mast, to replace the small tablet which had hitherto
filled that place. They were to launch the boat for the start on the
morrow.

That night a storm blew up from the west, as most of the winds had
previously blown from that quarter during the past month. The storm was
severe during the entire night, and abated somewhat in the forenoon, but
it again increased in fur