nty, for there was some growth of verdure. They quickened their
steps and ran forward, but, to their disappointment, there was no stream,
however small.

"We have got to dig for it," Wilcox said; "there is water not far down, I
will swear."

The soil was chiefly composed of sand, and they set to work with their
hands to scrape a hole in it. They had got but a foot down when the soil
became moist, and a foot lower water began to ooze out of the sides into
the hole.

"Thank God for that!" the sailor said reverently, "that makes it safe.
This evening, when it gets cool, we will bring the paddles here, and will
soon dig a hole for our well. We can't do better than roll a tub here and
sink it in the hole, and bring the canoe to the edge of that rock down by
the sea, then we have only got to chop some boughs and make a sort of hut,
and we shall be as comfortable as if we were back home."

"It is curious finding a rock here," Joyce said presently, as they made
their way over to it. "For all the distance that we have gone along by the
sea, it has been nothing but sand: it is rum black-looking stuff, too."

"I expect it is lava," Stephen said. "There are lots of volcanoes among
these islands, and I believe that high hill is one, and that if we were to
climb up we should find there was a crater there. You see we are just in a
line with that gap, and this rock goes exactly in that direction. I expect
that in some eruption ever so long ago, the crater split there, and the
lava poured down here into the sea."

"Very likely that is it, Stephen; it must have been a long time ago
anyhow, you see there are big trees growing on it."

In ten minutes they arrived at the spot where the wreck had been; her keel
remained there, but with this exception she had entirely disappeared. They
took another look among the wreckage, cut off some lengths of rope and
coiled them up, and also a sail, which the sailor pronounced to be a
top-gallant sail. This they rolled up, fastened it by short pieces of
rope, and then, the sailor taking the middle and the lads the ends on
their shoulders, they carried it to what they already called their "well".

"We will set to work at once to rig up a tent under the shade of these
trees," the sailor said, "it will keep the night mists off better than
branches; and we will bring another sail over to cover the ground and keep
the mist from rising inside."

"What are we going to cook our junk in?" Joyce asked sud