ever do to think of remaining in our present
habitation. Considering this as a timely warning, we resolved, after a
formal consultation, to put the deserted cabin by the lake, forthwith
into tenantable condition, so as to be ready to take up our
winter-quarters there, if we should find it expedient to do so.

On the first fine day, we commenced carrying this resolution into
effect, knowing that we had now but little time to lose. The cabin had
originally been built substantially, and with a good deal of skill, and
it had suffered but little from decay. We had, in fact nothing to do in
the way of repairing it, except to rehang the door, which was loose, and
partially unhinged, and to mend the roof, which leaked in one or two
places. We then cleared the yard from the rank weeds by which it was
overgrown, aired the house thoroughly, by setting door and windows open
for a day or two, and swept out both apartments with cocoa-nut brooms.

We next, under Arthur's direction, commenced laying in a stock of
provisions. Abundance of ripe bread-fruit could now be procured. We
gathered a considerable quantity, which Arthur and Eiulo baked and
pounded, and prepared, by burying it under ground, wrapped in leaves, in
such a manner that it would keep, as they said, for several months. We
also piled up in one corner of the small room, a great heap of
cocoa-nuts, with the husks on, in which way they can be preserved fresh
a long while. A bushel of candle-nuts, and about the same quantity of
taro and patara roots, completed our winter supplies.

Johnny was much dissatisfied with the poverty of these preparations for
the rainy season. He thought we ought to have laid in a large stock of
salted or smoked fish, besides catching a score or two of turtle, and
depositing them safely upon their backs in some convenient place, ready
to be converted into soup, at any moment by the magic of Max's culinary
art.

Arthur thought that we need not anticipate a season of continuous storms
or steady rains--that though the prevailing weather for some months
would be tempestuous, there would nevertheless be some fine days in
nearly every week, during which we could venture forth.

Another storm, as violent as the last, fully decided us to make the
contemplated removal to the cabin, and that without further delay.
Johnny transported thither his entire collection of shells, corals,
etcetera, which had now grown to be quite extensive. Arthur carri