ut I think our course,
surrounded as we are with every necessary of life, is to wait patiently
and see what may turn up. There is the possibility that some of the
_Chusan's_ boats may get to one of the western ports or be picked up by
a vessel, and in time, no doubt, the agents of the company will send a
steamer round the coast to see if there are any traces of their great
vessel. I believe we have a large sum in gold stowed somewhere below."

"No fear of our taking any of it to spend," said Carey, laughing. "I
say, then, you think we ought to settle down quietly, not bother about
building a boat, and make the best of it."

"Certainly, for the present. Let's get you sound to begin with, and let
the matter rest till you can swing by your arms and climb cocoanut-trees
without a twinge."

"All right! I want to see my father and mother again, and I'd give
anything to be able to send them word that we're safe; and every night
when I've lain down in my berth it's just as if my conscience was
finding fault with me for not doing something about getting away, for
all day long I seem to have been enjoying myself just as if this was a
jolly holiday; and you know, doctor, I can't help feeling that I should
like to stay here for ever so long."

"You can be quite at rest, Carey, my lad," said the doctor. "Certainly
for the present."

"Then hurrah for a day ashore and some more fishing! How soon shall we
start?"

"As soon as Bostock is ready. He's cooking now."

"Yes, those two big pigeons. I'll go and tell him."

"And I'll load a dozen cartridges with ball ready for the crocodiles."

"Are they crocodiles or alligators?"

"Crocodiles, my lad. You may take it for granted that alligators belong
exclusively to America."

Carey hurried forward, led by his nose partly, for there was a pleasant
smell of roasting, and he reached the cook's place--a neatly fitted-up
kitchen more than a galley--to find Bostock looking very hot, and in the
act of taking the pigeons, brown and sizzling, from the oven.

"Not quite done, sir," he said. "I shall put 'em in the oven again for
half an hour just before you want 'em. It wouldn't have done to leave
'em waiting. Things soon turn in this hot country."

"We're going ashore again as soon as you're ready."

"That'll be in ten minutes, then, my lad."

"You'll take a stronger fishing-line this time?"

"Don't you be feared about that," said the old fellow, nodding his head
sidew