, the contents of it poured into a kid, and after
they had given a portion in the small kid to the woman, who still
remained huddled up in the blanket by the fire, they all sat round the
large kid, and commenced their supper.

"Come, boy, and join us," said the mate, "you can't have had your
supper; and as you've found one for us, it's hard but you should share
it with us."

I was not sorry to do as he told me, and I must say that I never enjoyed
a repast so much in my life.

"I say, boy, have you a good stock of them dried chickens of yours?"
said the mate.

"Yes, I have a great many, but not enough to last long for so many
people."

"Well, but we can get more, can't we?"

"No!" replied I, "not until the birds come again, and that will not be
for these next five moons?"

"Five moons! What do you mean?"

"I mean, five full moons must come, one after another."

"Oh, I understand; why then we must not remain on the island."

"No," replied I, "we must all go, or we shall starve; I am so glad that
you are come, and the sooner you go the better. Will you take Nero with
you?"

"Who is Nero?"

"Nero--my seal--he's very tame."

"Well, we'll see about it; at all events," said he, turning to the other
men, "we must decide upon something, and that quickly, for we shall
starve if we remain here any time."

It appeared, that they had left the whaler in such a hurry, that they
had only had time to throw into the boat two breakers of water, four
empty breakers to fill with salt-water for ballast to the boat, and the
iron pitch-kettle, with a large sack of potatoes.

As soon as supper was finished, they went to the cask for the rum, and
then the mate said to me:--

"Now I'll go and speak to the woman, and you shall take her to sleep in
your cabin."

During the whole of this time, the woman, as the mate called her, had
never spoken a word. She had taken her supper, and eaten it in silence,
still remaining by the fire, huddled up in the blanket. On the mate
speaking to her, she rose up, and I then perceived that she was much
taller than I thought she could have been; but her Panama hat still
concealed her face altogether.

"Now then, my lad," said the mate, "show the lady where she is to sleep,
and then you can join us again if you like."

"Will you come with me?" said I, walking away.

The woman followed me up the path. When we arrived at the platform
opposite the cabin, I recollected Nero, whom I had or