nland, we proceeded along the
shore, turning our eyes every now and then seaward in case a vessel
should appear, though I scarcely expected to see one. Some way on we
discovered another opening in the reef, through which we might have
passed, had we known of it, with greater ease than by the one through
which we had entered.

"We must go out by that opening, if Mr Mudge determines to put to sea,"
observed Tillard; "though, without a compass or chart, I doubt whether
it will be wise to leave this island, where we have an abundance of
food."

I was inclined to agree with him, as I thought that we had a fair
prospect of being taken off by our own ship or by a passing whaler.

We had got nearly abreast of the opening, and were about to turn back,
when I caught sight of a dark object on the shore some distance off. I
pointed it out to Dick. "What can that be?" I asked.

"It looks to me like a boat," he answered; "and if so, perhaps we may
find that there are other people on the island besides ourselves."

We hurried eagerly on, and as we drew nearer we saw that we were not
mistaken. There lay a small boat, somewhat clumsily though strongly
built, but evidently after a European model. From the position in which
she lay, almost floating in a miniature lagoon still full of water, we
agreed that she must have been thrown up by an unusually high sea, and
left there by the receding wave. She was in no way injured; and except
that her upper works were likely to leak from having been exposed to the
sun for some time, she was still fit for use. Her painter was over her
bows; and Dick, having examined the end, was of opinion that she had
broken adrift while towing astern of a vessel, probably during a gale of
wind. What had become of the craft to which she had belonged, it was
impossible to say. Whether she had gone to pieces on the reef, or had
managed to haul off, was the question.

Hunting about, we found a broken oar and two pieces of board, which had
probably been washed out of her, "I think that we might get her afloat;
and it will save us a long walk if we can paddle her back," observed
Dick. I agreed with him; and we accordingly set to work to clear a
channel through the sand into the lagoon, using the pieces of board as
spades. It did not take us long; and though it was as much as our
strength could accomplish, we contrived, by putting our shoulders under
the gunwale, to lift the boat out of her bed, and to