Part 19 (2/2)

Neither Tom nor Desmond were made of stuff which could easily be defeated

”We ain,” said Tom ”I have heard of a missionary in the South Seas who built a vessel entirely by hile white man to help hiin without tools, and with only a shi+p's anchor and chain cable, and trees still growing in the forest He set up a forge, ht the natives to use them They cut down trees, which they sawed up He ; and the necessary iron-work, of which there was very little in the whole craft, was formed from the re voyages and during several years visited numerous islands in the Pacific Surely if one ht to be ashamed of ourselves if, with materials all ready to our hands, we cannot build such a craft as ant”

”Yes, my friend; but the missionary you speak of--the late lamented Williams, as murdered not far off to the west of us--was a practical land, and e amount of mechanical talent, such as none of us can boast of”

Encouraged by Tom, the doctor recovered his spirits, and once ressed at fair speed The main beams had been fixed up, and the skeleton was almost complete, but as yet not a plank had been fixed on This, however, appeared to them comparatively easy work, and no one entertained a doubt of the success of their undertaking

Regular discipline had been maintained all the time At daybreak To, and took a look round In the evening, when the flag was hauled down, generally tent up, in case a distant sail ht escape the observation of one, and be discovered by the other, when they intended to light the beacon fire, in the hopes of attracting her attention

Billy Blueblazes, who had got a sharp pair of eyes, whateveracco the horizon, but not a speck was visible in the blue sky except here and there, where a sea-foinging its way towards the shore

”It would save us a great deal of trouble if a vessel would come,”

observed Billy ”If we could build a steaether, and I should not like to go through e had to endure in the boat--ot the taste out of s into it, though, since then,” said Desmond ”For my part, after we have done so much, I should be almost disappointed if ere to be taken off before our craft was finished

I should not exactly wish to go round Cape Horn in her, but I would go anywhere else I hope Rogers will decide on sailing for Hong-kong”

”At all events, I wish she was finished, for I a work,” cried Billy

”Well, Billy, ill haul down the flag, as there appears to be nothing in sight; but before we go, just swar-staff, and take another look round; the horizon is reht see a shi+p's royals, even though they were but just above it”

Billy did as Desmond asked hi it, shouted--

”A sail! a sail! to the eastward!”

”Are you certain of it?” asked Desmond

”As sure as if I had it in my hand,” answered Billy ”A shi+p's royals, I a this way”

”Coh the glass” He had a telescope slung at his back He swarmed up until he reached the head of the shrouds, when, securing hilass to bear in the direction Billy had pointed

”You are right, Billy,” he exclaih it ”I can make out the fore, e shi+p too, and, as you say, she is standing this ith the wind from the eastward She will not pass far frolance through the glass, Deslooht He and Billy hurried back to the camp

”Hurrah! hurrah!” they shouted out in one breath ”There is a shi+p co to take us off!”

The rest of the party were incredulous until Desmond fully described the appearance of the sail ”And now let us get the beacon fire alight,” he exclaireat hurry for that,” said Tom