culations--which I do not believe--we are far out of the usual tracks
of ships, and our only hope, therefore, of being seen and taken off
rests in the possibility that some wandering whaler may put in here for
water. That, however, is a prospect upon which it will be unwise for us
to reckon overmuch; and we must consequently pin our faith upon our
ability to devise a means of escape for ourselves. That, in a few
words, means that I shall have to set to work forthwith upon the task of
constructing some craft big enough and seaworthy enough to convey us to
some spot from which we can take passage home again. I see that such a
prospect appears sufficiently alarming to you, and I will not attempt to
conceal from you the fact that it means--as I just now said--a rather
lengthy stay here. But, fortunately for us, the materials for the
construction of such a craft are all here to our hand; this brig will
afford us all the timber that we require for such a purpose, with plenty
to spare; and I am not altogether ignorant of the arts of naval
architecture and ship-building. Then we shall probably find that there
is a sufficient stock of provisions still left on board here to sustain
us during the period of our detention here, to say nothing of the
resources of the island itself, which looks as though it might be
capable of affording us an ample subsistence of itself. Then there is a
beach ashore there that looks quite good enough to serve as my shipyard;
with a nice little plateau adjoining it upon which I purpose to erect a
tent for our accommodation--for I do not think it would be wise to
remain aboard here longer than may prove absolutely necessary."

"Why," exclaimed the girl, "you appear to have planned everything out
already. How fortunate I am in having you as my companion! If you had
not been hurt, I suppose you would have been on deck when this disaster
occurred, and the chances are that you would then have been drowned with
the rest of the poor fellows; and I should have been left alone here to
die miserably."

"Yes," agreed Leslie, dryly, "my accident was certainly a blessing in
disguise, from that point of view. If I can succeed in getting you
safely away from here, and putting you in the way of returning to your
friends, I shall at least have accomplished something useful before I
die."

"Oh, Mr Leslie," exclaimed the girl, "you know I did not mean that! I
simply meant--well--I mean--oh dear, how am I to e