end
of the island; our path being sometimes over the short tender grass with
which the ground was thickly clad, and at others along the sandy beach,
to which we were occasionally compelled to diverge in consequence of the
dense undergrowth, through which it would have been impossible for my
companion to force her way.

We picked up several very beautiful shells on the beach, and Ella
promised herself a long ramble before leaving the island, expressly for
the purpose of collecting a few of the choicest varieties.

I was rather disappointed to find such a scarcity of fruit, there being
none, as far as we could discover, beyond the cocoa-nuts and a few wild
figs: the latter rather insipid to the taste, though still a welcome
change after the food we had all been accustomed to.

Ella very thoughtfully collected a little of this fruit for Bob, when we
chanced to meet with a tree bearing figs of a superior flavour to the
average, and I promised her that on our return I would secure a few
cocoa-nuts, and treat her to a draught of the delightfully refreshing
cool new milk. We found walking to be far more fatiguing than we had
expected, after being pent up so long on shipboard, and I think I found
it even more so than my companion, she having had until recently the
comparatively wide range of a ship's deck upon which to take exercise;
whilst we of the _Water Lily_ could only boast of "a fisherman's walk,
two steps, and overboard."

I kept a sharp look-out for fresh water, intending to entirely refill
our tank and casks; and Ella was equally anxious for such a discovery,
as she gave me notice that she intended to hold a grand wash. We
strolled slowly along, chatting gaily together, until we had completed
the circuit of the island; but, unfortunately, failed to discover any
sign whatever of fresh water.

The boat still remained moored to the shrub, as we had left her, so I
concluded that Bob had grown tired of inactivity and had gone off, in
the opposite direction to ourselves, for a stroll. I therefore proposed
to Ella that she should rest awhile upon the soft, velvety turf, whilst
I returned to the cutter for a piece of rope, to aid me in my ascent
after the cocoa-nuts.

The rope was soon obtained; and, returning to the shore, I passed it in
a loose band round the trunk of one of the trees, leaving room in the
band for the introduction of my own body.

By bearing against this whilst I raised my feet and then slipping