e was beginning to fear that they might have to do so, his
practised eyes discovered an opening in the reef; and telling the doctor
and Nub to keep a bright lookout for rocks ahead, he steered for it.

As the boat approached, the shore opened out, and the thankful voyagers
soon found themselves entering a deep inlet, fringed with graceful trees
down to the very edge of the water. A spot appearing, not far from the
entrance, where the rocks, running out, afforded a natural
landing-place, sail was lowered, and the boat being rowed carefully in,
they soon reached the beach. Walter was the first to spring on shore,
followed by Nub, who stretched out his arms to receive Alice from the
mate. Her young heart beat with gratitude as she stood, holding her
brother's hand, safe on firm land. The rest followed; and having hauled
up the boat, they all knelt down and offered up their thanks to Heaven
for their preservation from the numberless dangers they had gone
through.

"And let us still trust, my friends, to Him who has taken care of us,"
added the mate. "We should always pray for protection against unseen as
well as seen dangers; and it would be folly not to expect to meet with
more."

The sail of the boat and the other articles in her were now landed, the
mate wishing to form a tent which would protect Alice during the night.
As but little water remained in the cask, and the fish was scarcely
eatable, it was important to find a fresh stream or spring, and some
fruit, if live creatures could not be caught, to satisfy their hunger.
The doctor and Tidy set out to explore the neighbourhood for that
purpose, while Walter remained to take care of Alice, and to assist the
mate in putting up the tent and preparing a fire. Nub begged to be
allowed to go in search of wood, observing that he had a notion on the
subject, though what it was he did not say.

The mate and Walter had been very busy; the latter in collecting a
quantity of dried grass and leaves to form a bed for Alice. He was thus
engaged, when, looking up, he saw Nub coming out of the water, carrying
on his shoulders what looked like a round basin or saucer of enormous
dimensions, with long streamers down which the water trickled hanging
from it.

"What can it be?" exclaimed Alice.

"It is, I suspect, a large shell-fish; a mollusc, learned people call
it; and if so, the creature will afford all hands an ample meal,"
observed the mate.

Walter and Alice ran dow