The still water glittered under the sun as the light south-east air drew over it, and they could hear a single lark singing on the mainland, somewhere out of sight. “Somehow we can swim ever so much better here than we used to at home,” said Mark, as they were dressing again. “Ever so much,” said Bevis; “twice as far.” This was a fact, whether from the continuous outdoor life, or from greater confidence now they were entirely alone. “How I should like to punch somebody!” said Mark, hitting out his fist. “My muscles are like iron,” said Bevis, holding out his arm. “Well, they are hard,” said Mark, feeling Bevis’s arm. So were his own. “It’s living on an island,” said Bevis. “There’s no bother, and nobody says you’re not to do anything.” “Only there’s the potatoes to clean. What a nuisance they are!” They began to dimly perceive that, perhaps, after all, women might be of some use on the earth. They had to go back to the hut to get the dinner ready. “The rats have been at the potatoes,” said Bevis. “Just look!” Mark came, and saw where something had gnawed the potatoes. “And lots are gone,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a lot gone since yesterday.” “Pan, why don’t you kill the rats?” cried Bevis. Pan looked up, as much as to say, “Teach me my business, indeed.” “Bother!” said Mark. “Bother!” said Bevis. “Hateful!” “Yah!” They flung down knives and potatoes. “Would the raft be wrong on Sunday?” “Not if it was only a little bit,” said Bevis. “Just to Pearl Island?” “No--that wouldn’t hurt.” “Let the cooking stop.” “Come on.” Away they ran to the raft, and pushed off, making Pan come with them, that he should not disturb the rabbits again. The spaniel was so lazy, he would not even follow them till he was compelled. He sat gravely on the raft by the chest, or locker, while they poled along the shore, for it was too deep to pole in the middle of the channel. But at the southern end of New Formosa the water shoaled, and they could leave the shore. One standing one side, and one the other, they thrust the raft along out among the islets, till they reached Pearl Island, easily distinguished by the glittering mussel shells. A summer snipe left the islet as they came near, circled round, and approached again, but finding they were still there, sought another strand. Pan ran round the islet, sniffing at the water’s edge, and then, finding nothing, returned to the raft and sat down on his haunches. The water on one side of Pearl Island was not more than four or five inches deep a long way out, and it was from this shelving sand that the crows got the mussels. They carried them up on the bank and left the shells, which fell over open, and the wind blew the sand into them. They found one very large shell, a span long, and took it as spoil.