a island," he said; "no doubt about that."

"What a blessing!" exclaimed Robin, with heartfelt emotion.

"Well, that depends," said Sam, with a shake of the head. "Islands in
the China seas are not always places of refuge--at least for honest
people."

"By no means," added Slagg; "I've heard say that the pirates there are
about the wust set o' cut-throats goin'--though I don't myself believe
there's much difference atween one set and another."

The light wind which had carried the raft slowly over the sea, while
they were asleep, now freshened into a stiff breeze, and tested the
qualities of their craft, severely; but, with a little strengthening--an
extra turn of a rope or an additional nail--here and there, it held
pretty well together. At breakfast, which was served according to
regulation, they discussed their situation.

"You see," said Sam, "this may turn out to be a small barren island, in
which case we shall have to leave it and trust to falling in with some
vessel; or it may be inhabited by savages or pirates, in which case we
shall have to leave it from prudential motives, if they will allow us to
do so. In any case, we won't begin by being extravagant with the
provisions to-day."

As they drew near to the island, the probability of its being inhabited
became greater, because, although solitary, and, according to Sam's
amateur calculations, far remote from other lands, it presented a bold
and fertile aspect. It was not, indeed, large in circumference, but it
rose to a considerable height, and was covered with rich vegetation,
above which waved numerous groups of the cocoa-nut palm. A band of
light yellow sand fringed the shore, on which the waves roiled in a
still lighter fringe of foam, while two or three indentations seemed to
indicate the existence of creeks or openings into the interior.

With eager gaze the castaways watched this island as they slowly
approached it--the minuter beauties of rock and dell and leafy copse
brightening into view as the sun mounted the clear blue sky.

"What I have thought or dreamed of sometimes, when dear mother used to
speak of heaven," murmured Robin, as if communing with himself.

"Well, I have not thought much of heaven," said Sam, "but I shouldn't
wonder if it's something like the paradise, from which Adam and Eve were
driven."

"There's no sign o' natives as yet," said Slagg, who, regardless of
these remarks, had been gazing at the island with eyes shade