, "there is a shed or building of
some kind among the trees, on the other side of the lake, where he has
alighted."

On shifting our ground a little, we could all perceive between the
boughs of the trees, something, that did in fact look like a low wooden
building, and after a moment's consultation, it was agreed that Morton
and Max should cross the stream, (which could easily be done where it
poured into the lake), and reconnoitre, while the rest awaited their
report.

By leaping from stone to stone, and wading occasionally for short
distances, they picked their way to the other side, and presently
disappeared among the casuarinas. After about fifteen minutes they
returned to the shore, and called for us to come over, saying that they
had discovered a building, which appeared, however, to have been long
deserted. Browne took Johnny upon his back, and we forded the rapids as
the others had done.

Following Max and Morton, we soon reached a kind of landing-place,
half-way between the lake and the top of the ascent, in the centre of
which was a low wooden building, surrounded by a rude fence of pointed
stakes. Entering through a gate, hung upon leather hinges, we found
ourselves in front of the hut. It appeared to be built of timber which
had once composed part of a ship, and was put together with considerable
skill. The yard was full of rank weeds, and damp masses of lichen and
moss hung from the eaves of the house, and covered its roof. The door,
which was furnished with a lock and brass-handle, was closed, but not
fastened; we opened it, and entered a large square-room, lighted by four
windows, two of which had evidently been taken from the stern of a
vessel; the remaining two seemed to have once constituted the upper
parts of sash-doors. These windows were well put into the sides of the
house, and from the appearance of all the work about the room, I
inferred that it had been done by persons accustomed to that kind of
labour. A pine-table, which had lost half of one leg, and two chairs
without backs, composed the entire furniture of this apartment. A rude
shelf was fastened against the wall between two of the windows, upon
which a number of earthen-ware dishes were arranged. A smaller
apartment was partitioned off with rough boards from the first, with
which it communicated by a simple opening or doorway, without any door.

In this second room were several low wooden frames, probably designed as
bedstea