A short search along the shore enabled them to find mussels and other
shell-fish, which they hoped would serve for bait; and, shoving off,
they went down towards the mouth of the harbour, where they quickly
caught as many fine fish as they could eat. Returning to the beach,
sticks were collected, and a tinder-box, which was in the tub with other
articles always carried in a whale-boat, enabled them to light a fire.

An ample meal raised their spirits. They once more embarked and pulled
down to the mouth of the harbour, in the hope of seeing the ship
standing towards the island. The heavy surf which rolled in, however,
made it impossible for them to get out. Old Tom and the two boys,
therefore, landed and climbed to the summit of a high cliff overlooking
the ocean. Hence they gazed round in every direction, but no ship was
in sight. In the far distance they could discern here and there some
dark rocks, over which the sea broke in masses of foam. Harry's heart
sank within him as he thought that possibly the _Steadfast_ might have
been driven upon those fearful rocks, when, as he knew too well, she
must speedily have gone to pieces without a chance of any one on board
escaping. He scarcely liked to ask Tom Hayes what he thought, but he
observed that the old man looked unusually grave as his eye turned in
that direction.

"This is no place for us to build our hut on, though it is the best spot
for a look-out," observed old Tom, as he surveyed the rough broken
ground all around them. "We must take it by turns, however, to spend
the day here, though it will be best to take up our quarters near where
we first landed."

They waited for some time watching the dark, heaving sea, which still
rolled and tumbled in huge billows before them; but not even a speck
which might be the topsails of the _Steadfast_ appeared above the
horizon. At length they returned to the boat.

The men had, in the meantime, caught a large supply of fish, and, in
better spirits than before, they pulled back to the head of the bay.

Old Tom advised that they should put up some shelter for the night; and
while one of the men cooked the fish, the remainder cut down some young
trees and a quantity of boughs, with which they formed a tolerably
substantial arbour, while some dried leaves and smaller boughs supplied
them with as good beds as they required.

"If we had a good stock of grog, and some bread and potatoes, we should
be as happy as prin