, at all events."

Next morning, at daybreak, all hands were engaged in constructing a
small raft capable of carrying two or three people. Some paddles were
formed, and a mast and sail rigged, so that they might even go out as
far as the reef. Some small line was found that served pretty well for
fishing-lines, when Bill and Jack Windy, getting on the raft, paddled
out to a little distance from the shore. Bill's line had not been in
the water two minutes before he got a bite, and directly afterwards he
hauled up a fine, big fish. In two or three minutes more he caught
another; and, curiously enough, he had caught five, while Jack, who was
on the other side of the raft, only caught one.

"Why, you are in luck, Bill," said Jack.

"I don't know how it is," said Bill, "but it's always the case with me.
Whenever I used to go out fishing with anybody else, I always caught
three times as many fish as they did. At all events, I am thankful that
we have been so fortunate."

In an hour, the raft returned with fish enough to serve the party for a
couple of days. Their success put them in good spirits, and even Mr
Collinson revived greatly. A tinder-box having been found in the chest,
they were able to light a fire to cook their fish. Some they boiled,
and some they roasted on spits. Mr Collinson, however, who had been as
a midshipman in the South Seas, recollected the way the natives of
several islands cooked their fish. Having collected a number of leaves,
the fish were wrapped up in them. A hole was then dug, and a number of
stones, heated in the fire, were thrown into it. On the top of these
the fish were placed. More leaves were then thrown in, and the whole
covered in with earth.

Old Grim looked on with a considerable amount of doubt as to the success
of the experiment exhibited in his countenance. Mr Collinson, however,
told them that he would let them know when it was time to remove the
earth. In about half an hour he came back, and the earth being cleared
away and the leaves removed, steam arose from the hole, and the fish
were found perfectly cooked and hot. The whole party agreed that they
had never before tasted more delicious fish.

They had now no longer any fear of starving. Still, as Mr Collinson
gazed over the ocean, he could not help feeling that they were thus only
prolonging their lives to meet, ultimately, with the same termination.

"We shall soon be getting the scurvy among us," he th