it won't
all drift away to sea when she do go to pieces."

"We'll try to prevent that, Boltrope," said the other. "Mind, Mr
McCarthy, and have a look-out stationed in the morning to keep an eye on
the ship, with a man to relieve him watch and watch, the same as on
board! She's all firm now, for I saw the flag still waving when I
looked before the light began to fail; but if the wind and sea get up
again, as they very likely will towards midnight, tomorrow will tell a
very different tale!"

"I'll have a look-out, never fear, sorr."

"And, McCarthy--"

"Yes, sorr!"

"See that the jolly-boat is ready and a crew picked for it to put off
the moment any wreckage is observed floating inshore. We must not
neglect any chance of securing all the timber we can for fuel, putting
the house out of the reckoning entirely!"

"Indade I will, sorr," answered the mate cheerily; and then, all struck
work for the day and retired into the tent, not sorry to have another
easy night's rest. Every one was anxious to turn in, for really there
was nothing else to be done.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

BREAKING UP OF THE VESSEL.

They did not sleep so soundly, however, on this occasion as they had
done the first night of their landing on the island; for, soon after
dark, the wind rose into a tempestuous gale, making the tent flap about
in such a way that it seemed as if it were about to be carried off
bodily!

As it was, indeed--through the blowing in of the sides, and the jumping
up and down of the tarpaulin on the roof every now and then as the
boisterous gusts got under it--a lot of snow, which had begun to fall
before they retired to rest and was now coming down in a regular storm,
as fast and furious as the flakes could succeed each other, managed to
find its way inside, not contributing much to their comfort; and this,
combined with the roar of the breakers against the base of the cliffs,
which seemed louder than ever now that the men were lying down with
their ears to the ground, tended to keep the majority of the castaways
awake and made them long for the morning to come again.

At last, the day broke; and, as the faint light gleamed through the
chinks in the tent, telling all that the dreary night was past, they
quickly bestirred themselves--Snowball being one of the first to turn
out, and at once hastening to kindle up the fire, which he had left
carefully banked up the previous evening, besides wisely hedging it in
wit