which it was doomed to continue on without cessation,
with ever and for ever the same motion, now that its wild, brief orgy
was o'er, and its regular routine of duty had to be again resumed!

Tom Bullover was the first to break the silence.

"Come boys," he said, when the sun's lower limb was just dipping into
the sea, leaving a solitary pathway of light across the main, while all
the rest of the sea became gradually darker, as well as the heavens
overhead, telling us that the evening was beginning to close in. "Come,
Mr Steenbock and you fellows, we'd best go back to the cave for the
night, so as to be out of the damp air. Besides, it won't be so
lonesome like as it is here!"

"Ay, bo," acquiesced Hiram. "Thaar's Sam's old sail thaar, which 'll
sarve us fur a bed anyhow."

"Dat so," chimed in the darkey. "I'se belly comf'able dere till Mass'
Tom friten me wid duppy. I'se got some grub dere, too; an' we can light
fire an' boil coffee in pannikin, which I'se bring ashore wid me from
ship."

"Bully for ye!" cried Hiram, waking up again to the practical realities
of life at the thought of eating, and realising that he was hungry, not
having, like, indeed, all of us, tasted anything since the morning, the
events of the day having made us forget our ordinary meal-time, "I guess
I could pick a bit if I'd any thin' to fix atween my teeth!"

"Golly! don't yer fret, massa," said Sam cheerfully, in response to this
hint, leading the way towards his whilom retreat. "I'se hab a good hunk
ob salt pork stow away dere, an' hard tack, too!"

"Why, what made you think of getting provisions up there?" observed I,
laughing, being rather surprised at his precaution, when everyone else
had been taken up with the treasure, and believed that we were on the
point of leaving the island for good and all. "Were you going to give a
party, Sam?"

"I'se make de preparations fo' 'mergencies, Cholly," he replied gravely.
"Nobuddy know what happen, an' dere's nuffin' like bein' suah ob de
grub!"

"Thet's true enuff, an' good sound doctrine. Don't ye kinder think so,
mister?"

Jan Steenbock, to whom this question was addressed, made no reply; but,
as he got up and followed Sam, Hiram took this for his answer, and went
after him, the five of us entering the cave in single file.

Here, we found that, from its position on the higher ground, the tidal
wave had not effected any damage, the only alteration being that made by
the first s