ed them to be loaded with provisions, and canvas for
tents, and a portion of the powder, and they were sent off under the
command of the second lieutenant, with Gerald and Kiddle. The two
latter were directed to remain in charge of half a dozen of the men,
while the boats were immediately to return. In the mean while a raft
was commenced, to assist in transporting the guns and stores, all of
which the commander intended if possible to save. The crew were so
busily employed that they had no time to indulge in apprehensions for
the future, should they have entertained any.

The commander's chief anxiety was to ascertain if water existed on the
island. Without it they would be unable to support themselves, beyond a
short period, when that on board was exhausted. The midshipmen were
accordingly directed to search for water immediately on their landing.
Away they pulled, their spirits scarcely lowered even by the loss of
their ship. As they looked back at her as she lay on the rocks, with
her masts gone and heeling over on one side, Gerald, however,
exclaimed--

"Poor old girl, there you are, and there you will leave your bones. I
don't suppose you care much about it, though you don't find it as
pleasant as bounding over the heaving waves, as the poets say."

"We shall not find it so pleasant, either, living on that sandy-looking
island ahead there," observed Kiddle.

As they drew near the island its appearance improved. They could see a
variety of trees and bushes, and that the ground rose beyond them.
Further in the interior the green grass, which here and there was
visible, gave promise of an abundance of water, so that they should not
have, as they at first feared, to suffer from thirst. In a little bay,
with rocks rising on one side, they found a convenient landing-place,
towards which the boats were steered. The goods were quickly got on
shore, and carried up to a level spot under the shade of some cocoa-nut
trees.

Here, as soon as Mr Foley had shoved off, Gerald and Nat set to work
with their men to put up the tents in which the provisions were to be
stored. Gerald then, taking one of the crew with him, set off to look
for water as he had been directed. The island appeared to be scarcely
half a mile across, but it was considerably longer. A somewhat elevated
ridge ran down the centre, from which, before he had gone far, he saw an
ample stream gushing forth into a pool, after which it ran in a
meand