, if it were His will, to bring us out of that peril.

We spent the time during the boat's absence in clearing the decks as
well as we might, in renewing our efforts to pacify our women-kind, and
in fresh attempts, which, however, were unavailing, to get our mast
overboard. Captain Amber had gathered together those of his men who were
old soldiers, and, having addressed them in a stirring speech, which
made my blood beat more warmly, he set them to various tasks in
preparation for what now appeared to be inevitable--our leaving the
ship. The brave fellows behaved as obediently as if they had been on
parade, as courageously as if they had been going into action. They were
picked men of fine mettle, and they were yet to be tested by severer
tests, and to stand the test well.

At about nine o'clock or a little later the boat returned. We could see
it, of course, a long way off, as it made its course towards us, but
none of those on board made any sign to us, which we took, and rightly,
too, to be a sign of no great cheer. Then our hopes, which had begun to
run a little higher, ebbed away again, and we waited in silence for the
boat to come alongside and for Hatchett to climb on board and to make
his report to Captain Marmaduke. This he did in private, Captain
Marmaduke taking him a little apart, while we all looked on and hungered
for the news.

We had not long to wait, and when it came it was not so bad as we had
feared, if it was not so good as some of us had hoped for.

Captain Amber came forward to the middle of the deck, where everybody
was assembled waiting for the tidings.

'Friends and companions,' he said, 'our explorers report that yonder
island is far from inhospitable. It is not covered by the sea at high
water, as we feared at first; it is much larger than it seems to us at
this distance; there will be ample room for us all during the short time
that we may have to abide there before we sight a ship. I must indeed
admit to you that the coast is both rocky and full of shoals, and that
the landing thereupon will not be without its difficulties, and even its
dangers, but we came out prepared to face difficulties and dangers if
needs were, and these shall not dismay us. As for the further island, we
may learn of that later.'

He looked very gallant as he said all this, standing there with the
morning sunlight shining upon his brave face and upon his fine coat--for
by this time he was fully habited and in his