he cliff, than should we catch a boat-load of fish.

"Suppose then, sir, that we start the first thing for the cliff, and we
can then return and land you if you do not wish to remain for the
fishing," I observed.

"A very good idea, Walter," he answered. "You and Roger Trew can go,
then, to manage the boat, and I will take my rifle. It is difficult to
approach those birds near enough to shoot one, and I have long wished to
obtain some specimens in full feather."

It was arranged, therefore, that the next morning we should start
directly after breakfast. As, however, there was time during that
evening, we carried out our lobster-pots, and placed them in a long row
on a rocky bed, where we had every hope that lobsters would be found,
and we agreed to take them up on our return. We hurried over breakfast,
as Mr Sedgwick was eager to be off, and we then pulled away along the
shore, looking into the various indentations and bays as we passed, in
the hope of finding a spot where our proposed vessel might be launched,
and which might at the same time serve as a harbour. It was very
important to find a small harbour of some sort, where we might fit her
out after she was afloat. We had not gone far when we came to a point
with a reef running almost at right angles with it, which served as a
breakwater. Inside was a sandy beach.

"Why, that is just the place we are looking for, Walter," observed Mr
Sedgwick. "See! we shall find, I think, an entrance at the other end of
this reef; and if so, nothing can be more perfect."

We eagerly pulled round the reef, sounding as we went with our oars, and
had the satisfaction of finding that there was ample water for such a
vessel as we proposed to build. We could see the forest coming close
down to the water's edge, and affording an ample supply of timber. We
should therefore have but a little way to carry it. We agreed to take
Mr Thudicumb there the following day, and if he agreed with us, to lose
no further time in laying the keel for our vessel. A little further on
we came in sight of the cliff on which we had seen the birds. No sooner
did we point them out to Mr Sedgwick than he exclaimed--

"Yes; those, from their flight, must be frigate-birds. No ordinary
_cormorant_ would fly as they do. They have come there to breed; for it
is seldom, except on that occasion, that those wonderful birds ever
visit the land. What extraordinary power of wing they possess! It is
sa