part big enough not merely to act as a screen for the gentlemen,
but to shade those who were not rowing, while they were having their
rest, while by a little addition the boat's sail could be spread over
the little unshipped mast and used as a covering from the night dews
when the boat was moored somewhere to the bank after the day's work was
done.

"There, gentlemen," said the skipper, "I think that's about as near as
we can get it; but I don't see no sign of your Spanish guide as yet. It
seems to me as if every one yonder is asleep. Here, you, Joe Cross, I
knowed there'd be something. You've forgotten that screwdriver and the
little bottle of oil."

"That I aren't, sir! They're in the fore-locker in the little bag of
tools."

"Good," grunted the skipper; "and I suppose you'll help the doctor and
young Mr Rodd skin the birds they shoot?"

"That's right, sir, and Mr Rodd's been laying down the law to me to
take care and keep that there soapy stuff covered over as he dresses the
inside of the skins with, 'cause he says it's pison."

The skipper grunted again as he stood at the side and scowled down into
the boat.

"Spun yarn?" he said sharply.

"Plenty, sir."

"But you lads never thought to give your jack-knives a whet, I'll be
bound."

Joe Cross turned to the crew.

"Show knives, lads!" he shouted. "The skipper wants to try them all on
his beard."

"Steady!" growled the skipper. "That's right, then. Well, Mr Rodd,"
he continued, "I suppose everything's all right. No; where's that there
extra coil of new signal line?"

"Starn locker, sir," said Joe.

"And an extra line with new grapnel?"

"Fore-locker, sir," said Joe.

The captain grunted.

"Here, get the grapnel out of the jolly-boat and lash it under one of
the thwarts. You might lose one again."

"There it is, sir," said Joe--"lashed just amidships out of the way."

"Come, come, captain," said the doctor good-humouredly as he took off
his straw hat and wiped his moist brow, for he too had been as busy as
the rest, "you have had your innings; I want to have mine. You, Rodney,
you never thought to see that the quinine bottle in the little leather
medicine chest was re-filled."

"Rammed it in tight, uncle," said the boy triumphantly, "and saw to all
the other bottles."

"Then," said the doctor, "we'll say all is ready. Only look here, my
lads; I'll give you half-an-hour before we start, so you had better go
down below and have some