is feet. "Come on,
Panton, who's for a bath?"

They all were, and coming back refreshed partook of a hearty meal which
exhausted their supplies, all but the condiments they had provided, and
necessitated an immediate return to the brig.

"Only it seems a pity," said Oliver, as the cries of birds could be
heard in different directions, while butterflies of bright colours
darted here and there, and the trees were hung with creepers whose
racemes and clusters of blossoms gladdened Drew's eyes.

"Yes, it seems a pity," said Panton, taking out his little hammer and
beginning to chip at a piece of rock.

"There is so little to be seen close to the brig," said Oliver
thoughtfully, as he took out his handkerchief and began to polish a
speck of rust from the barrel of his double gun.

"And I haven't collected half so much as I should like to have done,"
said Drew.

"Think Mr Rimmer would be very uneasy if we stayed here for the day and
did a little collecting?"

"Not he," said Panton. "But what about prog?"

"I'll shoot three or four pigeons," suggested Oliver.

"Three or four, why, I could eat half a dozen for dinner."

"Think so?" said Oliver, smiling; "I doubt it."

"But I'm getting hungry again already, although I've just breakfasted.
I say, though, surely we could shoot enough for our dinner. What do you
say, Drew, shall we stop till evening and collect?"

"I'm willing."

"What do you say then, Lane?"

"By all means, this forest land at the bottom of the volcano slope is
swarming with good things. We'll stay about here all the morning, and
after dinner begin to work back to the boat. So long as we can reach it
by the time it grows dark we shall be all right."

"Yes, there's no fear of making a mistake when once we get into the
lagoon," said Panton. "I could find my way to the boat-house
blindfold."

"Boat-house?" cried Drew.

"Well, the cocoa-nut grove," said Panton, laughing. "Then, of course,
we can easily find our way to the brig. I say, I'm precious glad that
we have seen no signs of the niggers. It would have been very awkward
if we had found that they lived here."

"Instead of our having the island all to ourselves," said Drew.

"But this must once have been part of some mainland," Oliver remarked,
thoughtfully. "Apes and leopards would hardly be found upon islands
unless they have been cut off by some convulsion of nature."

"This must have been cut off by some convulsion of nature