in dry weather there was a risk of the ponds becoming
empty.

As soon as the town was finished, Adair had a flag-staff erected and
fully rigged, in a way which Desmond, with only one assistant, had been
unable to accomplish. A couple of men and a midshipman were stationed
there with spy-glasses, to watch the horizon, and to hoist a flag
directly a ship was seen, a hut having been built for their
accommodation. A small six-pounder, used on board for signalising, was
also hauled up to be fired in case of a stranger coming near enough for
it to be heard. A pile of wood was also collected in order that a
beacon fire should be kindled at night, and rockets and blue-lights were
kept ready for letting off should a ship appear in the offing.

A hag of fish-hooks and lines had been found on board, and a party every
day were told off to fish, and who never failed to return with an
abundant supply.

"Our friend `Blueblazes' would have been perfectly happy here," said
Desmond, laughing, as he and the captain sat at the wardroom mess table,
at which they daily dined. They had had some especial fine fish for
dinner that day--indeed, they were never at that time on short commons.
Of articles of luxury, as well as of meat and biscuit, which must,
should they be kept there many months, ultimately come to an end, a
small allowance only was of course served out. To keep up good feeling,
dinner-parties were given by one mess to another. The first lieutenant
invited the warrant officers and the engineers, who ranked with them, on
one occasion, and the midshipmen invited them on another. Some of the
seamen occasionally dined with the marines, and _vice versa_. Then they
had games; though there was no ground for cricket, quoits could be
played, and of course there was a fiddler on board, and hornpipes were
danced. On Sunday no work was done after the first week or two, and the
chaplain had service regularly twice in the day, and occasionally also
on other days in the week when they became settled on the island.

Adair and Desmond had been walking a short distance from the town one
afternoon, just after the men's dinner hour, when, as they came in sight
of the marines' barracks, which were, as has been described, at a short
distance from the high street, they heard a slight explosion, while a
jet of white vapour ascended above the roof of the huts, and at the same
instant the "jollies" were seen rushing out, shouting in English,
S