ined,
he took part in the conversation, and discussed with the others the best
methods of carrying out the plans they had determined upon; but he
believed the position he held warranted the display of a little dignity
on his part, and he generally kept aloof from all his companions, except
the governor, and spent the most of his time in dozing and building
air-castles. If the Storm King had been destroyed, he would have been
willing to pass the remainder of his days in the cove. That would save
him the trouble and inconvenience of a long voyage at sea, which,
reckless as he was, he was in no hurry to undertake. What if the
Sweepstakes should be caught out in a storm, like the one they had
experienced the night they made the attack on the yacht? The captain did
not like to think about this; but the question would now and then force
itself upon him, and he finally determined that, if he found himself
likely to get into trouble, he would shirk the responsibility by turning
the command of the vessel over to his mate.

On the evening of the fourteenth day after the Crusoe men had taken up
their abode in the cove, Tom lay upon the grass, gazing into the water,
and lazily fanning himself with his hat. The band had been employed,
during the day, in enlarging the cabin, and Tom had condescended to lend
a very little assistance, and was now resting after his labors. A fire
was burning brightly under the bluff, and, before it, supported upon
sticks driven into the ground, were half a dozen fine fish, which, under
the influence of the heat, were emitting an odor that would have tempted
an epicure. A coffee-pot simmered and sputtered on a bed of coals that
had been raked out on one side of the fire, and on the other stood
Friday, the cook, watching some potatoes that were roasting in the
ashes. A short distance from the fire was the table, laid for supper. It
was a little knoll, thickly covered with grass, which answered the
purpose of a tablecloth. The most prominent object upon it was a huge
piece of beech bark, which did duty as a bread-plate--only it was filled
with crackers, instead of bread; and, judging by the quantity it
contained, Friday must have thought his companions would be very hungry
after their day's work. Around it were arranged the dishes with which
each member of the band had been required to provide himself--a tin
plate and cup, and also a spoon, knife, and fork. Two more pieces of
bark lay near the fire, waitin