declared that he would proceed no
further. The doctor agreed with him. Just then they saw before them
the edge of the forest, which reached up the mountain side to a
considerable distance from the shore. They agreed that it would be wise
to camp here for the night; and while Willy and Peter cut down some
boughs to form a hut, and wood for fuel, the doctor and the captain
endeavoured to shoot a few birds for supper. They could hear them
singing in the woods in great numbers, but the mist shrouded them from
their view till they were close upon them. The birds were, however, so
tame that they succeeded in killing a few; and these, with some of the
roots which the doctor dug up close at hand, gave them a sufficient
meal.

As night came on, they made up their fire and crept into their leafy
bower for shelter.

"I suppose, doctor, we ought, to keep watch," said Willy. "We may have
a big tiger-seal poking his nose in among us, or there may be other wild
beasts, though we have not seen them."

The doctor agreed to the wisdom of this, and when supper was over they
drew lots as to who should keep the first watch. It fell upon Willy.
After they had sat up some time, the rest of the party went to sleep.
Willy had some difficulty in performing his duty, but by running out
every now and then to throw a log on the fire he managed to keep his
eyes open. As he did so on one occasion, he saw an animal scamper by
him. "It looked very like a wolf," he said to himself. He got the
doctor's gun to have a shot at it, should it again appear. There was no
use, he thought, in waking up his companions. In a short time
afterwards he heard a loud bark. He listened. The bark was repeated.
"Why, it's a dog. I wonder if there are people in the neighbourhood,"
he said to himself. "If there are, they will find us out; but they are
not likely to be otherwise than friendly. However, when I call the
captain I'll tell him to keep a sharp lookout." When at length his
watch was over, he roused up Captain Twopenny and told him what had
occurred.

"Perhaps there may be natives on the island, after all," observed the
captain. "Depend upon it, I will not be taken by surprise."

Willy, who was longing to go to sleep, lay down, and before another
minute had passed was far away in the land of dreams. He was awoke by
Peter Patch, who had had the last watch. Daylight was already breaking;
the dogs had been heard barking during the night, and