aved a great many casks and
packages.

After breakfast they went down again to the beach and resumed their
labours. "Look, Ready; what is that?" said William, who was with them,
as he pointed to a white-looking mass floating in the cove.

"That, sir, is the poor cow; and if you look again, you will see the
sharks are around, making a feast of her: don't you see them?"

"Yes, I do--what a quantity!"

"Yes, there's no want of them, William; so be very careful how you get
into the water, and never let Tommy go near it, for they don't care how
shallow it is when they see their food. But now, sir," said Ready, "I
must leave you and William to do what you can in saving any more of the
wreck, while I set to and put the boat in proper repair."

Ready left them at their own employment, and went away for his tools.
During this time Mr Seagrave and William occupied themselves in
collecting the different articles thrown on shore, and rolling up the
casks as far as they could.

As it would take some days for Ready to put the boat into proper order,
Mr Seagrave determined that he would go to the other side of the island
with William, that he might examine it himself; and, as Mrs Seagrave
had no objection to be left with Ready and Juno, on the third day after
the gale they set off. William led the way, guiding his footsteps
through the grove by the blazing of the cocoa-nut trees; and in two
hours they reached their destination.

"Is not this beautiful, father?" said William.

"Yes, indeed it is, my dear boy," replied Mr Seagrave. "I fancied that
nothing could be more beautiful than the spot where we reside, but this
surpasses it, not only in variety, but in extent."

"And now let us examine the spring, father," said William, leading the
way to the ravine.

The spring was full and flowing, and the water excellent. They then
directed their steps towards the sandy beach, and, having walked some
time, sat down upon a coral rock.

"Who would have ever imagined, William," said Mr Seagrave, "that this
island, and so many more which abound in the Pacific Ocean, could have
been raised by the work of little insects not bigger than a pin's head?"

"Insects, father?" replied William.

"Yes, insects. Give me that piece of dead coral, William. Do you see
that on every branch there are a hundred little holes? Well, in every
one of these little holes once lived a sea-insect; and as these insects
increase, so do the branches of