st the wind, which up there was
so fresh that it came near at times to scattering the fire abroad. This
they found not difficult; for a little on the windward side of the fire
there ran one of the cracks of which I have made previous mention, and
into this they jammed the supports, and so in a very little time had the
fire screened.

Presently, the supper was ready, and I found the fish to be very fair
eating; though somewhat coarse; but this was no great matter for concern
with so empty a stomach as I contained. And here I would remark, that we
made our fishing save our provisions through all our stay on the island.
Then, after we had come to an end of our eating, we lay down to a most
comfortable smoke; for we had no fear of attack, at that height, and with
precipices upon all sides save that which lay in front. Yet, so soon as
we had rested and smoked a while, the bo'sun set the watches; for he
would run no risk through carelessness.

By this time the night was drawing on apace; yet it was not so dark but
that one could perceive matters at a very reasonable distance. Presently,
being in a mood that tended to thoughtfulness, and feeling a desire to be
alone for a little, I strolled away from the fire to the leeward edge of
the hilltop. Here, I paced up and down awhile, smoking and meditating.
Anon, I would stare out across the immensity of the vast continent of
weed and slime that stretched its incredible desolation out beyond the
darkening horizon, and there would come the thought to me of the terror
of men whose vessels had been entangled among its strange growths, and so
my thoughts came to the lone derelict that lay out there in the dusk, and
I fell to wondering what had been the end of her people, and at that I
grew yet more solemn in my heart. For it seemed to me that they must have
died at last by starvation, and if not by that, then by the act of some
one of the devil-creatures which inhabited that lonely weed-world. And
then, even as I fell upon this thought, the bo'sun clapped me upon the
shoulder, and told me in a very hearty way to come to the light of the
fire, and banish all melancholy thoughts; for he had a very penetrating
discernment, and had followed me quietly from the camping place, having
had reason once or twice before to chide me for gloomy meditations. And
for this, and many other matters, I had grown to like the man, the which
I could almost believe at times, was his regarding of me; but his w