is had been the work of my father and myself,
aided in the lifting, turning over, and shifting generally by the
natives, Bob and Winter busying themselves meanwhile in the manufacture
of a suit of sails from those belonging to the _Amazon_. Our rigging
was not very trustworthy, being manufactured, for the most part, out of
the old rigging of the wreck; but there had been a good supply of new
rope also on board, as a stand-by, and this we had used in, as far as it
would go, in the most important parts.

We decided to rig the craft complete upon the stocks, and then launch
her, and tow her down alongside the wreck, to take in ballast, and her
water-tanks, stores, etcetera. This we accordingly did, finishing off
everything, even to the bending of the sails; and four months to a day
after the _Water Lily's_ arrival saw her caulked, her seams paid, her
hull painted, and, in short, everything ready, even to wedging up, for
launching.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE TREASURE.

This eventful day, it was unanimously agreed, should be observed as a
strict holiday, no work except what was absolutely necessary beyond the
launch being permissible. Every preparation had been completed the day
before, all of us having worked like galley-slaves to achieve this
result, as soon as it became apparent that launching on this day might
be possible.

The morning dawned fair and serene, the sky was without a cloud, each
quivering leaf and blade of grass glittered with diamond-like dew-drops,
and the air was laden with the perfume of numberless flowers. Nature
appeared in fact to have arrayed herself in gala attire, in honour of
the occasion. Bob and Winter were up by daybreak to dress the schooner
out with the flags of the old _Amazon_, in addition to a bran-new
burgee--red, with a white border, and the name _Ada_, after my sister,
in white letters--which floated gallantly in the breeze from the main-
topmast-head, and which, I need scarcely inform the sagacious reader,
was the work of Ella's skilful fingers. The cutter's flags were equally
divided between her and the tube-boat, both craft being moored a short
distance apart in the little bay. Our gun, which had never been
dismounted from the time of the fight with the pirate's boats, was
loaded with a blank cartridge, well rammed down, and the muzzle
plentifully greased to create a louder report, so that the schooner
might be honoured with a salute as she took the water; and one of the