t, Martin."

"There is our turtle-shell!" says I.

"Why, 'tis very well, Martin, for a turtle-shell, but clumsy--a little.
I would have a pan--with handles if you could contrive. And then plates
would be a good thing."

"Handles?" says I, rubbing my chin. "Handles--aye, by all means, a pan
with handles, but for this we must have clay."

"And then, Martin, platters would be useful things!"

"So they will!" I nodded. "These I can fashion of wood."

"And then chairs, and a table, Martin."

"True!" says I, growing gloomy. "Table and chairs would be easy had I
but a saw! I could make you shelves and a cupboard had I but fortuned
to find a saw instead of this hatchet."

"Nay, Martin," says she, smiling at my doleful visage. "Why this
despond? If you can make me so wondrous a spoon with nought but your
knife and a piece of driftwood, I know you will make me chairs and
table of sorts, saw or no, aye, if our table be but a board laid across
stones, and our chairs the same."

"What more do we need?" says I, sighing and scowling at my hatchet that
it was not a saw.

"Well, Martin, if there be many goats in the island, and if you could
take two or three alive, I have been thinking we might use their milk
in many ways if we had pans to put the milk in, as butter and cheese if
you could make me a press. Here be a-plenty of ifs, Martin, and I
should not waste breath with so many if you were not the man you are!"

"As how?" I questioned, beginning to grind the hatchet on a stone.

"A man strong to overcome difficulty! And with such clever hands!"

Here I ground my hatchet harder than before, but scowled at it no
longer.

"And what more would you have?" I questioned.

"If you could make our front door to open and shut?"

"That is easily done! And what else beside?"

"Nay, here is enough for the present. We are like to be very busy
people, Martin."

"Why, 'twill pass the time!" says I.

"And work is a very good thing!" quoth she thoughtfully.

"It is!" says I, grinding away at my hatchet again.

"O Martin!" sighs she after awhile, "I grow impatient to explore our
island!"

"And so you shall so soon as you are strong enough."

"And that will be very soon!" says she. "The sea-water is life to me,
and what with this sweet air, I grow stronger every day."

"Meantime there is much to be done and here sit I in idleness."

"Nay, you are sharpening your axe and I am talking to you and wondering
what you