story. As, of course, they had no glass,
window-shutters were formed of the same material as the house, and
served well to exclude either the sun or rain.

"Why, we have forgotten a store-room!" exclaimed Walter, just as the
house was finished. "If we have no larder, how are we to keep our game,
and the sago which the doctor is going to make, and the roots and
fruits, and anything else we may obtain?"

"It was indeed an omission, and I wonder none of us thought of it
before," said the mate. "However, a few more hours' labour will enable
us to set up a building which will answer the purpose better than had we
put it inside the house."

Another journey to the bamboo brake supplied them with the necessary
amount of canes, and a small building was erected at one end of the
house--which served for one of its walls. It had three stories, each
about three feet in height, with a ladder reaching to them, so that no
marauders, unless they were climbers, could get in. This could not have
prevented either monkeys or snakes, or such active creatures as
tiger-cats, from robbing their stores. Well-fitting shutters were
therefore fixed on in front of the building, which was completed before
dark, and was considered strong enough for the purpose they had in view.
It was, indeed, a gigantic safe standing on four legs, the lower part
being quite open.

"Now we must set to work to kill game, and obtain other provisions, to
put in it," observed the mate.

"I shall be able to manufacture more bows for the rest of the party; for
though I am improving, I can scarcely expect, as yet, to kill game
enough for all hands, or to obtain a sufficient supply to lay by for the
voyage," said Walter.

"We will devote the remainder of this evening, then, to manufacturing
bows and arrows," said the mate.

"To-morrow I must beg you all to come and assist me in manufacturing
sago," observed the doctor. "I can employ all hands. We must first cut
down a tree, and then divide it into lengths, and drag them to the
water, where we must erect our machinery, which need only be of a very
rough character,--and probably the bamboo canes will help us to form
it."

"Mr Shobbrok, when do you propose to begin enlarging the boat? I do so
long to set sail in search of papa," said Alice.

"I have been considering the subject, young lady, and I am as anxious as
you can be, but there is a great deal to be done first. We must collect
provisions, and also as