e change during that time had been wonderful. Vegetation was so rapid
in its growth, and seed spread so quickly, wind swept, that the traces
of the earthquake wave were pretty well obliterated by bright young
growth. Many of the pools had dried up, but four of the largest kept
fairly well filled with brackish water, evidently supplied by some
underground communication with the sea, possibly merely by slow
filtration through the porous coral rock, sufficient, however, to keep
them fit habitations for fish and reptiles.

On board the brig the carpenter with three aides worked hard at the
lugger being constructed. This was to be hauled down to the sand, and
then slowly taken down to the sea on rollers in a cradle specially
constructed for the purpose.

"Give us time," said Mr Rimmer, "and we'll have a light boat that will
take us from island to island till we get to some civilised port. But
first of all we must sail round where we are."

"There's no hurry," said Oliver, "but get the lugger done, and then make
another, for we shall want plenty of room for our specimens if we go on
like this."

For in spite of having to work as it were with one eye on the look-out
for danger, and the other for specimens, each of the three naturalists
rapidly increased his collection. Oliver Lane filled case after case
with series of the splendid paradise birds which came and went in the
most unaccountable manner. For days together they would be plentiful,
then for a whole week it seemed as if they had forsaken the island and
taken flight to some other spot invisible from the highest points to
which they had climbed, but known well to the birds.

And there the choice, carefully prepared skins lay in their cases, well
dried and aromatic with the preserving paste which kept insect enemies
at bay. Here would lie the great bird of Paradise, all cinnamon,
metallic green and buff, with its loose plumage and long wire-shafted
feathers. In another case a series of the lesser bird. Then Lane found
a few of the beautiful metallic rifle bird, all glossy purply green.
The standard wing with its elongated tufts of green upon its breast, and
from each shoulder a pair of long, gracefully curved, white
willow-leaved feathers standing almost straight out at times, while at
others they lay neatly down along with the larger quills.

Another day in his favourite hunting ground at the foot of the volcano
slope he had the good fortune to shoot a bir