-bushes, and a wheat-field and
windmill, we shouldn't want anything more."

"Ah!" said the captain gravely; "we should want a great deal more than
those to make up for the loss of civilisation; but let's try and do our
best under the circumstances."

"Why, we are doing it," said Mrs O'Halloran with a smile.

"True, madam; and I thank you for your brave, true womanly help, both
for the wounded and for my men."

"Thank your wife too, captain," said Mrs O'Halloran gravely.

"She does not need it, madam," said Captain Strong. "It is her duty."

That night passed quite peacefully, the watch hearing nothing of the
strange roar. The next day busy hands were at work making a second hut
for the men, every one working his best so as to be prepared for the
tropical showers, which have a habit of coming on nearly daily; but this
day broke gloriously fine, and palm leaves were cut and carried, bamboos
discovered and cut down for poles and rafters, and the men worked with
such good heart that the second hut towards afternoon began to assume
shape.

The ladies were as busy as ever, undertaking the nursing and cooking;
but Morgan relieved them of half the former by getting up to seat
himself under a shady tree and watch the progress made.

Mark and the major were told off for their former task of finding
provisions; and, nothing loth, they started in good time, choosing
another route--that is to say, they struck off to the east--going beyond
the cooking place among the rocks, meaning to see if any of the great
grey pigeons were to be found in that direction by some other pass into
the interior.

Their walk was glorious; with the beautiful lagoon on one side,
evidently crowded with fish, and the fringe of cocoa-nut trees on their
left; while from time to time, as the groves opened, they obtained
glimpses of the volcanic cone.

Bruff and Jack took it as a matter of course that they were to belong to
the foraging party, and trotted along over the sand, the one eagerly on
the search for something that he might hunt, the other with his little
restless eyes watching for fruit. But neither met with any reward.

Picking out the firm sand where the tide had gone down the hunters found
good walking, and were able to leave the encampment several miles behind
without feeling any fatigue, but the game-bags which they had this time
slung over their shoulders, remained empty, and the guns seemed to
increase in weight.

"I wish we co