y
making him for the moment almost forget the horrors of the scene. How
to rescue the body from the grasp of the monster was our next
consideration. Returning on shore, we cut some long sticks, intending
to attack him with them. Again we launched the canoe, but when we
reached the spot the squid and the body of the pirate had disappeared.

This dreadful catastrophe had a great effect on me. Mr Brand also was
very much grieved when we got back and told him of what had occurred.
When one out of a small number, cut off as we were from the rest of our
fellow-creatures, is taken away, the loss must always be much felt. It
was many days before we recovered our spirits. When I thought of the
sharks, and the dog-fish, and these still more horrid polypi, I could
not help feeling as if we were on an enchanted island, surrounded by
terrific monsters to prevent our escape.

As time wore on, even Mr Brand began to talk of the possibility of
building a canoe in which we might endeavour to get away. One great
difficulty seemed to be that of carrying a sufficient quantity of water
and fuel with which to cook our food. Of provisions we had an ample
supply. Jerry proposed filling all the cocoa-nuts we could collect with
water. The idea did not seem a bad one; but the first thing to be done
was to get our canoe built.

We all the time kept a constant look-out from our flag-staff head. One
forenoon I was up there as usual, when I thought I saw a speck on the
water. It grew larger and larger. I watched it eagerly, till I saw
that it was a canoe with a large sail. It was approaching the island at
a point a mile or so from the house. I hailed to say what I had seen,
and advised my friends to get our arms ready, that we might be able to
defend ourselves should the strangers come as enemies. Mr Brand told
me to come down. He then went up, and, after watching the craft for
some time, pronounced her to be a large double canoe, and probably full
of people. On his coming down, a council of war was held. As we could
not tell what sort of savages those on board the canoe might be, we
agreed that it would be wise to be prepared, if necessary, to meet them
as enemies. Accordingly, we put ourselves under Mr Brand's orders. He
took the musket, and Jerry and I were armed with our fowling-pieces--Ben
and the doctor providing themselves with hatchets and knives and long
pointed sticks. Thus prepared, we hastily advanced towards the s