ard.

"I will keep three or four of the men at work, this afternoon,"
Fairclough said, "and we will have night lines down. We can salt
down those we do not eat and, at any rate, we shall not be drawing
much on our stores."

By evening the new fore-top mast was in its place. As the heaviest
part of the work was now done, orders were given for a boat's crew
to start, in the morning, to cruise along the coast and see if any
stream ran into it. Mr. Eden was to be in command. The crew were to
be well armed, but were not to attempt to effect a landing.

The sea had now calmed down, and the southwest monsoon was blowing
steadily.

"You had better go south. The land is much higher there, and there
is more likelihood of there being streams. I think you will be able
to lie your course or, at any rate, make a long leg and a short
one. You are to go, as nearly as you can tell, twenty miles. If you
do not meet with a stream by that time, turn back. You will have
the wind free, then, and can be back here well before sunset. Of
course, if you find fresh water, you will at once return.

"Would you like to go with the boat, Mr. Lindsay?"

"Very much. My hands are so sore, from hauling in the lines, that I
am afraid I shall not be able to help in the fishing, tomorrow."

The party started early. It consisted of ten men, the coxswain, the
midshipmen, and Harry. The surf was no longer breaking on the bar
outside. There was a bright sea, with white-crested waves and,
before starting, the captain ordered a reef to be put in the sails.

"She could carry full sail, well enough," he said to Harry, "but
there is no occasion for haste; and it is always best to be on the
safe side, especially when a middy is in command. Besides, it is
just as well to keep dry jackets."

A keg of water and a supply of food, sufficient for two days, were
placed on board.

"I expect you will be back by three o'clock in the afternoon, Mr.
Eden; but it is always well to provide against any accident."

With the sheets hauled tight aft, the cutter was just able to lie
her course, outside the line of breakers. In a little over an hour
there was a break in the shore, and a stream of some forty feet
wide fell into the sea; and a general cheer broke from the sailors,
who had been put on allowance for the past week.

"Put her about, coxswain," the midshipman said; "we need go no
farther."

"Can't we land, and have a bathe, sir?" the coxswain asked.

"Certai