o back to the spot where he and his companions had killed the seals,
with any of the people who would accompany him, to obtain a further
supply of their flesh.

Meantime, Harry and Captain Westerway set all hands to work. While some
were cooking the seals' flesh, others brought in fuel, and poles, and
boughs to build huts. A tent was formed of the boats' sails which Harry
begged the Miss Diceys, Mrs Clagget, and the other ladies to occupy.
Some, however, of the merchant seamen grumbled on being ordered to work
by the young naval officer, asserting that as they were now on shore,
and their ship stranded, they were free men, and would do what they
liked.

"As you please," said Harry. "But no work, no pay. You will have, at
all events, to forage for yourself."

The mutineers, who had sat down at some distance from the rest of the
party, at length appeared to repent of their resolution, and one of them
came up, humbly begging for some meat, and fuel to keep up a fire.
Harry, not sorry to be relieved of their society, granted them their
request. They were joined by some of the younger emigrants, and Charles
observed that Job Mawson stole off and sat himself down among them.

Ensign Holt and his party returned at dark with an ample supply of food,
and by this time all the huts for which they had materials were erected,
and the shipwrecked people, thankful that their lives had been spared,
prepared to pass their first night on shore, no one knowing how many
more they might have to spend on the island before they could make their
escape.

The storm continued blowing, but the rain held off. Harry and his men
went about renewing the fires, so as to keep the poor women and children
as warm as possible. The chief annoyance arose from the noise made by
the mutineers. They had been seen wandering about, and appeared to have
hauled something on shore. Not long afterwards they began to sing, and
shout, and shriek out in the wildest fashion. At last the sounds died
away, and their fire alone, smouldering in the distance, showed where
they were.

Captain Westerway took but little rest; he seemed dreadfully cast down
at the loss of his ship, in spite of the consolation which Charles, Mr
Paget, and Harry tried to give him.

"I had thought, when I came in here, to get the leaks stopped, and
continue the voyage to New Zealand," he said, sighing deeply.

"We do not know what can be done yet," said Harry. "At all events, we