part of the
world for which she may be bound."

It did not take long to form a flag-staff and to fit it with rigging:
the chief difficulty was to dig a hole of sufficient depth in the coral
rock in which to step it. This, however, was at last done, and the wind
having fallen, before the evening the flag-staff was fixed, and with a
hearty cheer, led by the doctor, the stars and stripes were run up to
the top. The flag was, however, hauled down again at sunset. Tom also
had a quantity of wood collected and piled up on the highest point near
the flag-staff, so that should a ship at any time in the evening be seen
in the offing, it might be lit to attract attention. One of the brass
guns which had beer brought on shore was placed on its carriage near the
flag-staff, so that it might be fired if necessary.

"We have had a good day's work, and I propose that to-morrow we lay down
the keel of our vessel," said Desmond.

To this Tom readily agreed; and the two midshipmen, with the doctor, sat
up until a late hour, discussing the subject and drawing plans for their
proposed craft. They had a couple of adzes, three axes, and two augers,
but only five of the party could be engaged on the building; indeed, it
would have been dangerous to have entrusted some of them with such
tools. Billy to a certainty would have cut off his toes, and neither
Tom nor Desmond were accustomed to their use, although they knew what it
was necessary to do. To form the keel was simple work enough, to shape
the timbers properly required the greatest skill.

Here the doctor was superior to the rest. He chose a level part of the
sand, on which he drew the form of the timbers, and the rest of the
party executed the plans he gave them. As the timbers had to be out in
two, a saw-pit was dug, at which Billy was doomed to work as
under-sawyer, a task which Desmond assured him he performed to
perfection. By the end of the first day the keel was put down and the
stem and stern-post set up.

"I have other work, which must not be neglected, my friends," said the
doctor, when the party were collected at supper. "We must look after
fresh provisions. Perhaps, Rogers, you or Desmond will take your guns
and shoot some birds to-morrow; there are large numbers, I see, at the
further end of the island. They may prove wholesome, if not palatable
food. I don't know who are the best fishermen among you, but I would
advise that two should go out every day in