The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

124 THE MUTINY ON THE FLYING CLOUD. most suitable for the purpose ; and he saw, too, that now they need no longer be dependent upon the old ship timber, full of bolt and treenail holes, for the timber and planking of their craft, as they would be enabled with the assist- ance of the saw to provide themselves with all the planking, and, indeed, timber of every description which would be necessary in their work, from the magnificent teak and other trees which grew in such abundance on the island. ai CHAPTER *<XI.—CAPpTAIN BLAKE AND MANNERS REAPPEAR. HAVING now secured from the wreck every scrap which it was possible to obtain, the little party on Refuge Island had more leisure than they had had since the moment of their landing ; for there was now no longer any fear that if a gale sprang up they would sustain any material loss. True, the greatest part of their work still remained to be done; but there was no longer the same necessity for hurry that there had been whilst any portion of the cargo remained at the mercy of wind and wave, and they therefore resolved that in future they would take matters a little more easy. The next portion of their task consisted in the conveyance of eveything landed from the wreck round to the islet. The men of the party were by this time beginning to feel that of late they had somewhat overworked themselves; they needed rest and they determined to indulge in a couple of days’ holiday before engaging in the task of transhipment. Up to this time the ladies had found themselves unable to render any very material assistance; yet they had not been altogether idle, for under Dr. Henderson’s directions, and with his assistance, they had succeeded in luring into large wicker work baskets, which the doctor had very in- geniously framed, the whole of the fowls; the capture consisting of three cocks, fourteen or fifteen hens, and a couple of broods of chickens. With a little careful management they now believed they need never be at a loss for eggs, or even an occasional dinner of roast fowl. During the two days of holiday which the men permitted theniselves, Henderson employed himself in wandering about the island, gun in hand, in search of botanical and natural history specimens; and he not only secured several rare birds, the skins of which he managed to cure, but also some very valuable medicinal plants. Grant and Nicholls, on the other hand, chose to devote their time to a further and more complete examination of the island, the result being that they discovered a very much more suitable site for the shipbuilding yard than ~ the one already fixed upon—a spot which, though somewhat further away from the spot where they had intended to build their house, was much more secure and less liable to discovery by an enemy, should such unhappily make his appearance. | Nothing worthy of mention occurred during these two’ days, and on the morning of the third, work was once more resumed with a will. The task of reloading the raft proved, as had been anticipated, a somewhat laborious one. (ele) I "| 6) 2 OMmIichboo