ent from the ship to our
assistance; and I'm afraid that that mayn't be thought of till night
comes on."

"Well, perhaps we may find some eggs," observed Desmond; "they will
afford us a supper, and we can manage to get back in the morning."

"They may chance to be over-savoury, considering that so many young ones
have already been hatched," said Tom. "However, if we get hungry we
shan't be particular."

The boatswain continued looking with a dissatisfied glance at the
tumbling waters. "I doubt, even should the boat be sent, whether she
would be able to take us off," he observed. "The commander won't be
very well pleased when he finds what's happened. Instead of sleeping
comfortably on board, we shall have to spend the night out on the bare
sand."

"No very great hardship in that, is there, Mr Large?" observed Tom,
trying to console the boatswain. "If we light a fire and roast a goose,
we may be pretty jolly after all."

"We must catch the goose first, Mr Rogers; and then, as to lighting a
fire without a match-box or gunpowder, how is that to be done?" asked
the boatswain.

Tom had forgotten, and had to acknowledge that they might have to go
without the fire. It was agreed, however, that they should search for
eggs, which, although they might be somewhat high, might assist in
keeping body and soul together.

"Roast goose would have been very pleasant, and a drop of grog to wash
it down," observed the boatswain, who could not forget the loss of his
creature comforts.

Having hauled the canoe high up on the beach, the boatswain set off in
one direction, and the two midshipmen in the other, in search of eggs.
They discovered here and there a few broken egg-shells and a few young
birds. At length Tom came upon two or three eggs, which he eagerly
seized. "Here's a supper for us," he exclaimed, breaking open one of
them; but he threw it down with intense disgust.

"Faith, a fellow must be hard up before he could eat that," said
Desmond; "try another."

"No, thank you," answered Tom; "one is enough to satisfy me. But we'll
keep them for Mr Large; he may not be so particular. Only we must take
care not to break them in our pockets, or we shan't be able to wear our
jackets again."

They went on some way farther, the birds shrieking and pecking at their
legs as they passed, but showing no further sign of anger, as they had
not time to seize the young ones. As they got farther round the island,
they saw,