daylight, however, before the beach was reached,
when they hunted about and found shelter under some rocks, which would
prevent their being seen by the people on shore.

Here they waited until daylight, when Tom eagerly looked out for the
ship.

"There she is!" he cried out, as the gloom of night clearing away he saw
her standing in towards the land, though at some distance to the
northward of where he was. Presently a gun was fired, followed shortly
afterwards by another. He was about to set off to try and make his way
along the beach, feeling sure that the guns were fired as signals to
some of the crew on shore, when he saw through his telescope a boat pull
out from behind a point and make her way towards the ship, which at the
same time swept round until her head was off shore. He had no means of
making a signal. Even should he fire his rifle, it would not be heard.
To shout would be of no avail. He watched the boat until she was
alongside, when she was hoisted up and the ship steamed away. It was
high time that she should get off the shore, for a heavy gale had sprung
up, sending the heavy breakers with fury against the rock-bound coast.

"There is no chance of our getting off if this continues," said Tom to
himself; "we are left to our own resources, I see that. The best thing
would be to start to the southward, as Pipes recommends."

Tom was eager to return and consult with Desmond, but Pipes earnestly
entreated him to remain concealed during the day, and then at night
there would be but little difficulty in making their way back to their
companions.

It was a melancholy day, as he sat on the sea-shore under the rocks,
watching the departing ship. A few shell-fish was the only food he and
Pipes could procure. As soon as night came on and the inhabitants had
returned to their huts, he and his faithful companion set out. As the
storm was howling and making a tremendous noise, there was little danger
of being discovered.

Desmond and Billy had become very anxious and were thankful to see them,
although Billy uttered a deep groan when he heard that the ship had
sailed away, and that he would have some hundreds of miles to trudge
through the country. None of them indeed knew what they were about to
undertake, and, with the exception of Billy, looked upon the journey as
a pleasant excursion.

As Tom had had plenty of time to rest during the previous day, he was
ready to set off early in the morning.