For the first few days of their stay on what they styled Pirate Island, our castaways were too much taken up with the wondrous¹ and varied² contents of the robbers’ cave, and the information Meerta and Letta had to give, to pay much regard to the island itself, or the prospect³ they had of quitting it. But when their interest and curiosity began to abate⁴, and the excitement to decrease, they naturally bethought them of the nature and resources of their now home.

 

Of course they did not for a moment regard it in the light of home. It was merely a resting-place,—a refuge, where, after their escape from the sea, they should spend a few weeks, perhaps months, until a passing vessel⁵ should take them off. They did not know, at that time, that the islet was far removed from the usual track of ships, and that, like the Pitcairn Islanders, they might be doomed⁷ to spend many years, perchance a lifetime, on it. Indeed, a considerable time elapsed before they would admit to themselves that there was a possibility of such a fate, although they knew, both from Meerta and Letta, that no ship of any kind, save that of the pirates, had been seen for the last eighteen months, and the few sails that did chance to appear, were merely seen for a few hours like sea-gulls on the horizon, from which they arose and into which they vanished.

 

Having then, as we have said, bethought them of examining the resources and nature of the island, they one morning organised an expedition. By that time the sailor, although by no means fit for it, insisted that he was sufficiently⁸ restored to accompany them. Letta, who was active and strong like a small gazelle, besides being acquainted with the whole region, agreed to act as guide. Stumps⁹, having

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