illy.

"You shall have all you catch," said Desmond, laughing; "but have we any
hooks?"

"Lashings, sir," answered Tim. "I found a bag full in the carpenter's
store-room, and threw them down among the other things."

The hooks and lines were soon discovered, but at present there was too
much work to be done to allow any one to go fishing. The hut was very
soon finished. It was placed with its back to the wind.

There were plenty of spars, which, without cutting, served for rafters,
and over them were stretched a couple of sails, lashed securely down, so
that no ordinary hurricane could have blown them away. In front,
sheltered from the wind, were established the two fires, one for
cooking, the other for the still. To give a sufficient supply of water,
it was necessary to keep the latter always alight.

Gerald, who had been the first to propose building a vessel, was anxious
to lay down the keel.

"I should be as eager as you are, did I not think that we may possibly
be taken off by some passing vessel," said Tom. "As soon as the gale is
over we must set up a flag-staff, and a good tall one too, so that it
may be seen at a long distance, as no vessel is likely, intentionally,
to come near these reefs."

"But we've only got an American flag, and I should not like to be taken
for a Yankee," exclaimed Desmond, without considering what he was
saying.

"Young gentleman," exclaimed the doctor, bristling up, "you might sail
under a less honoured flag, and fight under it too, let me tell you! It
is one which has made itself respected in every sea, and will ever be
found on the side of freedom and justice."

"I beg your pardon, doctor," answered Desmond. "If I was not an English
midshipman, I should be perfectly ready to become an American commodore,
and I fully believe your navy, for its size, is superior to that of any
other nation under the sun."

"Well, well, my young friend, we all of us have our national prejudices,
and it is right that we should, provided we do not bring them too
prominently forward. You may think England the tallest country in the
world, and I may consider the United States taller still, but it is as
well not to be measuring heights, or we may both have to come down a peg
or two."

"Come," said Tom, "let us set up the flag-staff and hoist the stars and
stripes, and should one of Uncle Sam's ships come by, we will hand over
the island as a free gift in exchange for our passage to any