to the party. The magazine was wisely placed at a
distance, in case a spark from the kitchen or a tobacco-pipe might
chance to find its way to the gunpowder. Everyone was in high spirits
and supremely happy. As soon as the work of the day was over, the men
took to playing leap-frog, diversified by bowls and quoits, which had
been brought on shore. The officers had not forgotten foils and
boxing-gloves, as well as books and writing-desks and drawing materials.
All was not play, however; the arms had to be cleaned every morning,
the men inspected, and a bright look-out kept from dawn to sunset, and
even at night, when the moon afforded sufficient light to distinguish a
sail at any distance gliding over the dark waters. For this purpose a
platform was erected between the summits of two trees, which grew
conveniently close together at the west end of the island, with steps
cut in the trunk of one of them, a man-rope hanging from the top making
it an easy matter to get up.

Jerry Bird, Green's old shipmate, the man who had been taken off from
Tristan d'Acunha, was the wit of the party. He was the cook the first
day. "Now, my boys, I'll give you a treat," he exclaimed, as he carried
off the various provisions served out by the storekeeper; "don't suppose
that I have lived among savages for no end of years without learning a
trick or two." The fire was lighted, and Jerry put on a huge kettle to
boil. He was soon busily plucking a couple of the fowls which had been
obtained from the last place at which the ship had touched. It was
naturally supposed that there was to be roast fowl for dinner. While
the rest of the party went in various directions,--some to collect
oysters, which clung to the rocks, with hammers and tomahawks to break
them off; others to the look-out man up the tree; and some to lie down
and read under the shade of the tents,--Jerry proceeded with his
culinary operations. A frying-pan and a ladle served him instead of a
gong. When dinner was ready, he commenced a loud clanging, which
sounded from one end of the island to the other. The hungry party soon
collected. There were rows of plates, with knives and forks and basins
with spoons laid out in order, while Jerry stood, ladle in hand, before
his kettle, stirring away with might and main.

"Here, Tim, stand by with a plate and basin, and take the officers their
dinner," he said. Tim Curran was one of the ship's boys who did duty as
officers' se