ad left, up which he scrambled, and sat
watching the cutter as she continued her course along the shore.

A breeze at last sprang up, and sail being set she ran down to the mouth
of the harbour. On the northern shore, near the eastern entrance, was a
point rising for a hundred feet or more above the water. Here the party
landed, and Harry and the boatswain agreed that it was the best station
on which their flagstaff could be planted. From its summit they could
look over the whole of the southern island; while the flag would be
visible far out at sea, beyond the western entrance of the harbour. The
flagstaff was accordingly landed, and as all hands were required to set
it up, and the boat could not be left alone, she was hauled up on the
beach. But as they had only wooden spades to work with, some time was
occupied in digging the hole in which to plant the flagstaff. It was at
length got up, and stayed by four shrouds. The flag was hoisted and
flew out to the breeze.

"That will show that some one is not far off," observed Mr Bollard.
"But should a vessel send her boat on shore, the people may not know
where to find us."

"I have been thinking of that," said Harry, "and will leave a bottle
with a paper in it directing them to the settlement."

"But if another gale was to spring up, and there is every chance of
that, the flag might be blown to pieces, or the flagstaff itself carried
away," observed the boatswain. "If you think fit, therefore, Mr
Shafto, I'll remain here with one or two of the men; and, depend on it,
we will keep a bright look-out for passing vessels, so that we need only
hoist our flag should one come near enough to see it."

"We can ill spare you at the camp, Bollard," said Harry; "and if you
remain here you will require shelter and food. This hill is a bleak
place, and if we could not get to you with a supply of provisions, you
would run the risk of starving."

"As to shelter, we have our axes, and we might easily put up a hut; and
for the matter of food, if we are hard-pressed, we can make our way
overland to the settlement; it cannot be much more than five or six
miles."

As the boatswain was so anxious to remain, Harry at last consented to
his proposal.

"We must put you up a hut, however, before we return to the settlement,"
he observed; "and after we have had dinner we will set to work about
it."

There was a wood at some little distance; and, as soon as the meal was
over, all