The party now loaded themselves with the various articles which were to
be taken from the hut. The heavier stores had been housed close to the
beach. Tom took a look round to see that nothing was left behind. They
then all set off to the boat, which floated in the calm water of the
bay. Some time was occupied in loading her and stowing the stores
judiciously away, so that those first required might be uppermost.
Their live stock were the last articles carried on board, consisting of
a couple of turtle, which they hoped would live and serve them for fresh
provisions. The survivors of those in the pen they allowed to scramble
back into the water, a proceeding at which Billy sighed deeply.

"Can't we tow them after us," he said, "or haul them on board as we
might want them, or during calms make them tow us?"

"Bosh!" was the only answer Tom made to Billy's remark. It was with
considerable anxiety that Tom watched the depth to which the stores, as
they were placed on board, gradually brought down the boat. They had
still more water in cocoa-nuts and pigskins to bring on board. He, soon
saw that should they meet with bad weather they might have to heave
overboard a considerable portion; still, as long as the sea remained
smooth, she was not considered much overloaded.

Pat having lighted a fire on the beach, the party sat down to take their
last breakfast on the shore. It was a hearty one, it may be supposed,
as after this they could not venture to have more than one hot meal in
the day. They had found a small cooking apparatus on board the wreck,
which could be heated either by an oil-lamp or by wood chips.

"All hands on board," cried Tom at length. He stood the last on the
beach. Having a gain cast an eye around to see that nothing was left
behind, he once more gave a look at the boat. "She is indeed deep in
the water--almost too deep," he said to himself. "She will, however, I
trust, weather any gale we are likely to meet with. We must, at all
events, run the risk, and trust to providence to take care of us."

Having cast off the warp, Tom waded out to the boat and got on board.
Before giving the order to weigh anchor, he saw that everything was
properly stowed, and that the chart, quadrant, and compass were in the
locker ready for use. The wind in the bay was very light, but by the
colour of the water outside, it could be seen that a breeze was blowing,
though from what quarter it was difficult to de