this task commenced. A suitable
position for the tent, which Gaunt proposed to put up, was soon found
among the trees, which grew thickly in clumps on the gentle slopes just
beyond the sandy beach. Two cocoanut-trees, growing at a convenient
distance apart, were selected as uprights; and a young sapling was then
cut down and lashed horizontally from trunk to trunk, at a height of
about nine feet from the ground, to serve as a ridge-pole. The sail was
next hauled over this sapling and secured to the ground on each side, in
such a form as to make an A shaped tent about twelve feet long by eight
feet wide, the spare canvas being so split that it fell down at the rear
and front end of the tent in such a way as to enable the little shelter
to be completely closed when necessary. And, this done, the bedding, as
well as such articles as it was important to protect from the weather,
were at once placed under shelter, and the interior of the tent made as
comfortable as circumstances would permit; thus completing the first
portion of their task. The next thing was to construct a shelter for
the powder--and in fact their little all, in the shape of worldly
possessions, which they thought it undesirable to put into the tent.
Two more cocoanut-trees were selected; another stout sapling was cut and
secured between them, as in the case of the tent, though not quite so
high from the ground, and then a quantity of other and somewhat lighter
saplings were procured to form a roof, which by sunset next day they had
succeeded in covering with a good serviceable thatch, quite impenetrable
to the weather. But before this was accomplished they were unexpectedly
reinforced by the sudden appearance of Nicholls, whose presence upon the
island up to that moment had been quite unsuspected by them. This
individual had been so anxious to avoid all possibility of recapture
that he spent the night in the woods, presenting himself to the little
party as they sat at breakfast next morning. His sudden appearance
created quite a sensation for the moment; but he was almost instantly
recognised.

"Why, Nicholls!" exclaimed Gaunt, "what is the meaning of this? What
are you doing here? I thought you and the rest of the mutineers were
far enough away by this time."

"Well, sir," said Nicholls, twisting his cap nervously in his hands as
he spoke, "I hopes the rest of the mutineers are, as you say, far enough
away by this time, but I am _here_, and he