uing but nevertheless very enjoyable tramp, he arrived, at
about two o'clock in the afternoon, at the margin of the lake, and at
once took measures for swimming across to the islet in its centre.
Collecting a large bundle of rushes, he stripped, and placing his
clothes and his other belongings upon the flimsy raft thus formed, and
stepping into the cool refreshing water, struck quickly out into the
centre of the lake, pushing his raft before him.

As he approached the islet he noted with great satisfaction that, so far
as he could then see, the place was admirably adapted for the head-
quarters of the little party so long as it might be necessary for them
to remain in their island prison. There were trees in abundance on the
islet, and of many varieties, but they did not grow so thickly together
as they did on what we may call the mainland, large spaces of open
prairie being discernable here and there, which Gaunt already mentally
devoted to the process of cultivation. Swimming quietly he reached the
islet with very little fatigue, and, dressing himself, at once set about
looking for the wherewithal for a dinner. He had not far to go, for he
had scarcely plunged into the first grove of trees when a large bird
took wing from among the branches, and, raising his rifle, he succeeded
in bringing it to the ground. It proved to be a brush-turkey, which he
forthwith proceeded to pluck and prepare for the spit; lighting a fire
meanwhile, so that it might burn well up and be in a fit state for
cooking when wanted. The turkey was cooked--after a fashion--and if it
was not as well done as the engineer could have wished, it was still
sufficiently so to satisfy his hunger, after which he set out to explore
the islet.

It was of no very great size, being about ten acres in extent, or
thereabouts, but its surface was finely broken up into miniature hills
and dales in such a way as to not only make the spot appear larger than
it really was, but also to present a very pleasing variety of aspect to
the eye. He found here a spring of fresh, clear, cool water, which was
a source of great satisfaction to him, as the water of the lake, being
in direct communication with the sea, was somewhat brackish, too much so
at all events to render it a desirable liquid for drinking and culinary
purposes; and the presence of this spring would avert all necessity for
a search on the mainland and a possible difficulty of securing a
sufficient suppl