l as to how to make the
best of our circumstances, and as a result set to work to tidy up the
saloon and cabins, which was not difficult as what remained of the ship
lay on an even keel. Also we got out some necessary stores, including
paraffin for the swinging lamps with which the ship was fitted in case
of accident to the electric light, candles, and the guns we had brought
with us so that they might be handy in the event of attack. This done,
by the aid of the tools that were in the storerooms, Bickley, who was an
excellent carpenter, repaired the saloon door, all that was necessary to
keep us private, as the bulkhead still remained.

"Now," he said triumphantly when he had finished and got the lock and
bolts to work to his satisfaction, "we can stand a siege if needed, for
as the ship is iron built they can't even burn us out and that teak door
would take some forcing. Also we can shore it up."

"How about something to eat? I want my tea," said Bastin.

"Then, my reverend friend," replied Bickley, "take a couple of the fire
buckets and fetch some water from the stream. Also collect driftwood of
which there is plenty about, clean those fish and grill them over the
saloon stove."

"I'll try," said Bastin, "but I never did any cooking before."

"No," replied Bickley, "on second thoughts I will see to that myself,
but you can get the fish ready."

So, with due precautions, Bastin and I fetched water from the stream
which we found flowed over the edge of the cliff quite close at hand
into a beautiful coral basin that might have been designed for a bath of
the nymphs. Indeed one at a time, while the other watched, we undressed
and plunged into it, and never was a tub more welcome than after our
long days of tempest. Then we returned to find that Bickley had already
set the table and was engaged in frying the fish very skilfully on the
saloon stove, which proved to be well adapted to the purpose. He was
cross, however, when he found that we had bathed and that it was now too
late for him to do likewise.

While he was cleaning himself as well as he could in his cabin basin and
Bastin was boiling water for tea, suddenly I remembered the letter from
the Danish mate Jacobsen. Concluding that it might now be opened as we
had certainly parted with most of the Star of the South for the last
time, I read it. It was as follows:

"The reason, honoured Sir, that I am leaving the ship is that on the
night I tore up the pape