of palm
leaves and young trees having been cut by the mouth of the stream this
had not been selected as the site of the huts.

"We've been a long way," said the major. "Not empty-handed, you see."

"Splendid," cried the captain; "but you need not have stopped to pick
them."

"Thereby hangs a tale," said the major, laughing. "How's Morgan?"

"Much better, and sitting up. There, you see, we've not been idle."

He pointed to a large low hut formed in the cocoa-nut grove by utilising
six growing trees as corners and centre-posts, and binding to these thin
horizontal poles, freshly cut down for eaves and ridge. Others formed
gables, being fixed by the sailors with their customary deftness, thin
rattans being used as binding cords. Then other poles had been bound
together for the roof, and over these an abundant thatching of palm
leaves had been laid and laced on with rattan till there was a
water-tight roof, and in addition one end was furnished with palm-leaf
walls.

"That will keep us dry if the rain comes," said the captain, after due
praise had been awarded for the energy displayed. "But now, quick: have
a wash, and we'll dine. Every one is hungry."

Mark's eyes twinkled as he saw the preparations. Palm leaves were
spread in two places, but the food supply was the same for all; and if
they were going to feed as well during their stay on the island, they
felt that they would not have much cause to complain.

Food is so important a matter in our everyday life that, even without
being sybarites, one may pause to give an account of the savage banquet
prepared in the rock kitchen by the captain's and major's wives, aided
by Mary O'Halloran, whilst the rest were busy hunting and building.

There was another fish secured by Small, similar to the one Mark had
caught, about two dozen little roast cockatoos, and an ample supply of
baked shell-fish. These delicacies were supplemented by plenty of
cocoa-nut milk and wild fruit, some of which was delicious.

"I never had a better dinner in my life," said the major. "It has been
so good that I never once remembered our heavy fat Goura pigeons, which
I had reckoned upon having for a treat."

"I think we ought to compliment the cooks," said the captain. "Poor
Morgan quite enjoyed his fish, and Brown says he didn't know cockatoos
could taste so good."

"I think we've fallen into a kind of Eden," said Gregory pleasantly.
"If we could find some tea-trees or coffee