lent.
It is therefore proposed that you shall join us on one condition, which
is, that during the year, till the birds again visit the island, it will
be your task to go up to the ravine every day, and procure the firewood
which is required. If you choose to accept these terms, you are
permitted to join, always supposing that to all the other rules and
regulations which we have laid down for our guidance, you will be
subject as well as we are. These are our terms, and you may decide as
you think proper.' I hardly need say, that I gladly accepted them, and
was still more glad when the remnants of the dinner were placed before
me: I was nearly choked, I devoured with such haste until my appetite
was appeased.

"When this was done, I thought over the conditions which I had accepted,
and my blood boiled at the idea that I was to be in a manner the slave
to the rest, as I should have to work hard every day. I forgot that it
was but justice, and that I was only earning my share of the year's
provisions, which I had not assisted to collect. My heart was still
more bitter against your father, and I vowed vengeance if ever I had an
opportunity; but there was no help for it. Every day I went up with a
piece of cord and an axe, cut a large fagot of wood, and brought it down
to the cabin. It was hard work, and occupied me from breakfast to
dinner-time, and I had no time to lose if I wanted to be back for
dinner. The captain always examined the fagot, and ascertained that I
had brought down a sufficient supply for the day's consumption."

CHAPTER NINE.

"A year passed away, during which I was thus employed. At last, the
birds made their appearance, and after we had laid up our annual
provision, I was freed from my task, and had only to share the labour
with others. It was now a great source of speculation how long we were
likely to remain on the island; every day did we anxiously look out for
a vessel, but we could see none, or if seen, they were too far off from
the island to permit us to make signals to them. At last we began to
give up all hope, and, as hope was abandoned, a settled gloom was
perceptible on most of our faces. I believe that others would have now
mutinied as well as myself, if they had known what to mutiny about.
Your father and mother were the life and soul of the party, inventing
amusements, or narrating a touching story in the evenings, so as to
beguile the weary time. Great respect was paid