ing over it in a cascade,
and not pouring down directly on to it as it had done before, when it
fell with terrific force right upon the shingles, displacing some which
were now repaired as soon as the spout was put up.

The weather improved very much after this, the sun appearing and shining
with increasing power each day, while the snow disappeared entirely from
the valleys and lower portions of the hills. The water below, however,
did not drain off sufficiently to allow of any excursion for some days
towards the rabbit warren they had visited before, or of their going
anywhere, indeed, far from the little stretch of beach before the creek.

But, in spite of this drawback, the castaways' stock of provisions was
most unexpectedly added to, a very agreeable change of diet from penguin
fricassees being introduced, by the coming of large flocks of wild
ducks, which visited the valley a few days after they were all in danger
of being flooded out. The water evidently was the attraction, for,
previously, none of the water-fowl had ever come near the place--with
the exception of a solitary couple of teal that Mr Meldrum had noticed
flying over the creek shortly after they landed from the wreck.

The first day that they had roast duck for dinner, everybody thought
that Mr Lathrope would have said something about the unexpected treat;
but he did not, and Mrs Major Negus seemed somehow or other much vexed
at his silence in the matter.

"You generally speak a good deal about eating," said she at last
impatiently. "I wonder why you've nothing to say now!"

"Ah! marm," replied Mr Lathrope, "don't you be surprised at anything!
I'd advise you never to measure other people's corns by your own
chilblains! Because you happen to set your fancy on a thing, that's no
reason for other folks to do the same!"

"No," said she; "though I can't see the application of your remark about
chilblains, for I never had one in my life."

"Ah! that's a sort of metaphorical conundrum, which I leave you to find
out bye and bye! But, if you'd really like to know why I ain't
satisfied with having roast duck to dinner, I'll tell you; it makes me
feel kinder lonesome, it dew!"

"Why!"

"'Cause there ain't no green peas with it, marm," said Mr Lathrope,
with a melancholy smile. "I guess I'm a whale on peas, I am!"

It was now the end of September; but the month was not fated to pass
without another event happening to break the monotonous life of