sage through the reef, and as our little boat must come round this
side of the island, it is at the point on this side that I must try to
find an entrance. When I was on the opposite point it did appear to me
that the water was not broken close to this point; and should there be a
passage we shall be very fortunate."

They soon arrived at the end of the point of land, and found that Ready
was not wrong in his supposition; the water was deep, and there was a
passage many yards wide. The sea was so smooth, and the water so clear,
that they could see down to the rocky bottom, and watched the fish as
they darted along. "Look there!" said Willy, pointing out about fifty
yards from the beach, "a great shark, Ready!"

"Yes, I see him, sir," replied Ready: "there's plenty of them here,
depend upon it; and you must be very careful how you get into the water:
the sharks always keep to the leeward of the island, and for one where
Juno bathed your little brother, you will find fifty here. I'm quite
satisfied now, William, we shall do very well, and all we have now to
think of is moving away from the other side of the island as fast as
possible."

"Shall we go back to-day?"

"Yes, I think so, for we shall only be idle here. It is not twelve
o'clock, I should think, and we shall have plenty of time. I think we
had better start at once; we will leave the spade and axe here, for it
is no use taking them back again. The musket I will take along. But
first let us go back and look at the spring, and see how the water
flows."

As they walked along the edge of the sandy beach they found the
sea-birds hovering close to them: all of a sudden a large shoal of fish
threw themselves high and dry on the sand, and they were followed by
several of a larger size, which also lay flapping on the beach, while
the sea-birds, darting down close to the feet of William and Ready, and
seizing up the fish, flew away with them.

"How very strange!" said William, surprised.

"Yes, sir; but you see how it is--the small fish were chased by the
larger ones, which are bonettas, and in their fright ran upon the beach.
These bonettas were so anxious to catch them, that they came on shore
also, and then the gannets picked them all up."

They found the hole which Ready had dug quite full of water, and,
tasting it, it proved very sweet and good. Overjoyed at this discovery,
they covered up the articles they agreed to leave behind them with some
bough