as I did that of Juan Fernandez.
If we had our choice, we would rather be there, I should think."

"Very likely; but as you see, Jerry, we have not our choice, we must
make up our minds to be content where we are," answered Mr Brand
cheerfully. "Probably, if we were at Juan Fernandez, supposing it still
uninhabited, we should be wishing to be on the mainland. Let us strive,
therefore, wherever we are, or whatever happens to us, to be content.
Depend on it, we were not placed here by our merciful and all-loving
Maker without an object, though we may never discover it. I do not for
a moment mean to say that we are to sit down idly and not to endeavour
to improve our condition. We are sent into this world to struggle--that
we may in a variety of ways be tried--that all our trials may tend to
our improvement. What I wish to impress on you, my lads, is, that we
should be contented in every condition in which we are placed; we should
be thankful for every step we gain, while our chief aim in life is our
religious and moral improvement. But remember, above all things, that
we must always look beyond this world. This is not our abiding-place--
this is not even our resting-place--there is no rest here. If we only
strive for something in this world--however noble, however great the
position--we shall altogether fall short, very short of the aim, the
object of life."

Mr Brand warmed with his subject, and much more he said of a similar
nature, which I will not now repeat. Jerry and I listened very
attentively, and old Ben Yool tried also to take in what he was saying.
I think he succeeded, and, certainly, on all occasions after that he
bore without a grumble all the hardships to which we were exposed. Poor
Silva lay on his bed all this time, suffering much from his wounds,
while Mr McRitchie, when he could leave his side, went off with his gun
to explore the island, and to search for specimens of its natural
history. There was, however, a good deal to be done before we could
accompany him. First, we had to finish our house, and then to store
within it all the provisions and articles which the pirates had left
with us. The doctor had kept his gun, and we had ours, which had been
brought from the _Dove_, given to us as we left the schooner. These
fire-arms would have been of no use to us, had not Silva given us a keg
of powder and a bag of shot. These treasures we resolved to husband
with great care, as we knew that