took them up to the
Miss Morleys. "I have brought an addition to your menagerie," he said,
exhibiting his prizes; "but as they are nearly fledged, you must find
some means of preventing them from flying away."

"Oh, I hope we may tame them sufficiently to make them wish to stay with
us," said Emma. "What pretty little lively creatures. We are so much
obliged to you, Mr Dicey."

"Perhaps Mrs Twopenny would like to have one," said Fanny. "And do you
not wish to retain one yourself?"

"I am afraid that I should not have time to attend to it," said Willy.
"But I will take one to Mrs Twopenny; and if you will bring up one for
me, I should like to carry it home with me for my sisters." Mrs
Morley, who heard the remark, smiled faintly. She was thinking,
perhaps, of the little probability there was of their ever returning to
the shores of England.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A SHIP!

THE ISLAND FLAG--EXPEDITION TO ESTABLISH A LOOK-OUT PLACE--CUTTER
PROCEEDS DOWN THE HARBOUR--PIERCE ATTACK OF SEALS--TIPPO SAHIB PUT TO
FLIGHT--FLAGSTAFF SET UP--LOOKOUT HUT ERECTED--NIGHT IN THE HUT--THE
BOATSWAIN'S YARNS--HARRY PUTS OFF TO RETURN--BLOWING HARD--BOAT IN
DANGER--RETURN TO LOOKOUT POINT--THE STORM RAGES--PETER WRAPS HIMSELF IN
THE FLAG--ANXIETY ABOUT THE BOAT--HUT ON FIRE--ATTEMPTS TO SAVE HUT--
PASS NIGHT BY THE FIRE--A SHIP SEEN.

The cutter had been thoroughly repaired, and Harry resolved at once to
go down the harbour and fix on a look-out place whence a signal could be
made to any ship approaching the southern end of the island. A
flagstaff had been constructed out of the spars of the launch, and some
of the straightest trees which could be found. The boatswain had rigged
it completely, so that it was ready at once to set up. Willy and Peter
laughed heartily when they saw the flag which had been formed. It
consisted of two boats' ensigns, increased in size by a petticoat and
part of a seaman's shirt.

"If its materials can be distinguished, it will tell pretty plainly the
character of our party," remarked Harry.

Harry took the boatswain, with Peter and Willy and four other seamen,
one of whom was Paul Lizard, and another Tom Wall. As the excursion
might prove a long one, and as in that uncertain climate they might be
detained by bad weather, they carried provisions for a couple of days,
hoping, should they be kept out longer, to be able to kill some seals or
wild-fowl for their support. The rest of the part