ose young
people to run."

The doctor having at length finished the smoking-house, which was
covered over thickly with palm-leaves, he observed,--"And now we have
finished our house, we must get some game to put in it. Your bow and
arrows, Walter, will, I hope, give us a good supply."

"But are we not to try and catch some fish?" asked Walter. "They can be
more effectually smoked than birds, and will keep better, I fancy. I
have begun a hook, and I think that I may be able to finish two or three
more before night."

"By all means. If Mr Shobbrok does not intend to commence immediately
on the boat, we might take her into the middle of the harbour, or out to
sea, and try what we can catch."

The mate agreed to the doctor's proposal; so the next day they and
Walter went off, taking Alice, who wished to accompany them. Nub and
Dan remained on shore to attend to the traps, and shoot some birds, if
they could, for dinner. The fishing-party first threw their lines
overboard in the harbour, but after trying for some time they caught
only two small fish; they therefore pulled some way out to sea, where
the water was sufficiently shallow to allow them to anchor by means of a
large stone which they had brought for the purpose. They quickly got
bites, and began rapidly to pull up some large fish, which the doctor
believed, from their appearance, were likely to prove wholesome, though
he could not tell their names. They were so busily employed that the
time passed rapidly away, and evening was approaching before they
thought how late it was. They did not fail, as may be supposed, to keep
a bright lookout for any passing sail; but none appeared. With nearly
four dozen fine large fish, they returned to the harbour. Nub's eyes
glistened, as he came down to assist in hauling up the boat, on seeing
the number of fish.

"No fear now of starving, I tink," he observed. "I neber thought we get
so much as dat. God gives us all good tings, and we tank Him."

The rest of the day was employed in preparing the fish and hanging them
up to dry, after which a fire of green wood was placed under them; and
the doctor expressed his confidence that his plan for curing both fish
and fowl would succeed.

The mate had for some time wished to explore the island, and at supper
he proposed that they should set out the next day. Being unwilling to
expose Alice to the dangers they might have to encounter, he suggested
that she and Walter,