Holloa!" he exclaimed; "I've got leave to go with you. I suppose
you'll take some grub?"

"We'll be afther finding that on shore," answered Desmond; "game, or
fish, and fruit. I propose we carry a couple of muskets; we shall be
sure to find something or other."

"Elephants or rhinoceroses," suggested Billy.

"Not quite such big beasts as they are," answered Tom. "We should find
them rather too cumbrous to stow away in our game-bags."

"But we'll take some bread, and rum, and some cold beef--they are not
likely to grow on the island, at all events; or potatoes either, or a
pot to boil them in," remarked Desmond.

The articles they fancied would be required were quickly collected.

"Shure, if we haven't forgotten the powder and shot!" exclaimed Desmond,
as they were committing the things to the charge of Tim Nolan, who was
to accompany them, that he might stow them away in the boat. Pat Casey,
the other Irishman who had been saved from the savages, with Jerry Bird,
formed the crew of the boat. Bird and Nolan were tried, steady men.
Casey, who was accustomed to a savage life, might be useful in searching
for fruits or any animals which might be found in the island. He was
also a first-rate fisherman, having had plenty of experience during his
residence with the Indians.

The party shoved off soon after the second lieutenant and master had
left the ship.

"The only thing I'm sorry for is that Archie is not with us," said Tom.
"However, we are sure to have plenty of fun of some sort or other."

At the further end of the bay was a small piece of sandy beach, towards
which Tom steered the boat. As there was no surf, they ran her up on
it, and stepped out without difficulty. A nearer acquaintance, however,
showed them that the country was not of so tempting a character as they
had at first supposed. There were a few trees close to the beach, some
of which had been broken in two by the storm, and now lay prostrate on
the ground. Even larger trees, a species of mahogany, lay uprooted in
all directions, so that they found it very difficult to make their way
among them. Still, by dint of climbing over the fallen trunks, and
cutting a road through the brushwood, they had made some progress, when
they discovered a circle of rocky hills, in many places almost
precipitous. It seemed almost hopeless to attempt climbing over them,
especially as Desmond acknowledged that he "did not feel very well up to
that sort of