opper on the starboard side, of course, received its due share of
scouring, for the sake of uniformity; and about an hour before sunset,
the tackles were eased up, and the little craft floated on an even keel
once more, with her slight damages made good, and everything in as
perfect condition (the ordinary wear and tear excepted) as when she came
out of the builders hands.

The next day was devoted to a thorough cleansing of the little, craft's
interior, fore and aft, so favourable an opportunity not being likely to
offer again until after our return to England, unless, indeed, we really
should prove fortunate enough to find our treasure; but she required it
even now, so we gave it her, finishing off with a coat of paint.

Before leaving her for the night, we unscrewed all the dead-lights in
the deck, took off the skylight-top, and left the companion wide open,
so as to ensure a thorough draught through her, this answering the
double purpose of drying the paint and removing its objectionable odour.

The following day saw us as busy as ever, getting things back into their
places, filling up our water, etcetera; but we did not strike our tents
that day, a stronger smell than was quite agreeable still remaining from
the new paint.

To fill up our time, therefore, we turned to upon our fire-arms, and
gave them a thorough cleaning up, so that they might be in perfect
order, and ready for service at a moment's notice.

We were up betimes next morning; and, after our matutinal bath and a
good breakfast, dowsed the tents, got our spars on board and in their
places, bent the sails, and put the few finishing touches which were
necessary to make the cutter all ready for sea once more.

This done, it was time to see about finding a way out from among the
numerous reefs which girt the island, as we believed, entirely round.

We had come through, or, rather, over them once, it is true, but it was
in a fashion that I should have been very sorry to see repeated; and on
that occasion we had no choice; but as I had no fancy for the little
craft's again _scraping_ such rude acquaintance with the rocks, I
resolved to take the boat and make a trip in her along the western side
of the island, in search of a safe channel to sea.

Accordingly, Bob and I got the light spars and sails of the boat out,
rigged and stepped the former, bent the latter, and then we all sat down
to an early dinner.

It was my original intention to have gone a