ran down to the
beach to have a look at the craft, and see that she was all right.

In a short time the tide would be high, and as the beach was steep, she
might, resting on the rollers, be quickly launched, having the tackle
ready to check her if necessary.

The wind was along shore, so that they might at once make sail, and
either stand out to sea or run round the coast, and get a better view of
it than they had hitherto done. The weather, too, was as fine as it had
been for some time past. As far as Dick could judge, there was every
prospect of its continuing favourable. He hurried back to light a fire,
and prepare breakfast.

Neptune, who had followed him, when he saw the cooking operations had
made some progress, gave several loud barks, which awoke Lord Reginald.

"You should have called me, Hargrave!" he said. "I should have liked to
have assisted in making preparations for our trip."

"As we may be kept out some hours, I was anxious that you should have as
long a sleep as possible," answered Dick.

"Thank you; but I am as strong as ever now, and feel ready for any
amount of fatigue," said the young lord. "By-the-by, as you talk of the
possibility of our being out several hours, it will be prudent to take
some provender on board. Even if we are so much employed as not to care
for eating, Nep, at all events, will have nothing to do, and will be
glad of some food."

"I thought of that," answered Dick, "and I have filled half a dozen
cocoanut shells with water, and proposed taking some smoked venison and
pork, with some flour cakes and a basketful of fruit. If you think we
may require more provisions, we may tumble one of the turtles into the
bottom of the boat; it will serve as ballast, and not be the worse for
the trip."

"Why, we shall have sufficient provisions to last until we reach
Batavia," said Lord Reginald, laughing. "However, it's as well to be
prepared. By-the-by, you were speaking of ballast, the craft will
require more than the turtle, and our provisions, even for a short
trip."

"I thought of that, too," said Dick, "and I have made a number of canvas
bags, which we can fill with sand and take on board the boat after she
is afloat."

As soon as they had finished a hearty breakfast, carrying down their
stores, they put them on board, and at once set to work to launch the
boat. It was an anxious time, as it is to every ship-builder when he
sees a vessel on a new construction, about