"Not in the least. I shall engrave it in _alto-rilievo,_ make the words with pebbles on the turf just above high-water mark. Now tell me _your_ wants." "Well, I want--impossibilities." "Enumerate them." "What is the use?" "It is the method we have agreed upon." "Oh, very well, then. I want--a sponge." "Good. What next?" "I have broken my comb." "Good." "I'm glad you think so. I want--Oh, Mr. Hazel, what _is_ the use?--well, I should like a mattress to lie on." "Hair or wool?" "I don't care which. And it is a shame to ask you for either." "Go on." "I want a looking-glass." "Great Heaven! What for?" "Oh, never mind; I want one. And some more towels, and some soap, and a few hair-pins; and some elastic bands; and some pen, ink and paper, to write my feelings down in this island for nobody ever to see." When she began Hazel looked bright, but the list was like a wasp, its sting lay in its tail. However, he put a good face on it. "I'll try and get you all those things; only give me time. Do you know I am writing a dictionary on a novel method." "That means on the sand." "No; the work is suspended for the present. But two of the definitions in it are--DIFFICULTIES--things to be subdued; IMPOSSIBILITIES--things to be trampled on." "Well, subdue mine. Trample on--a sponge for me." "That is just what I was going to do," said he; opened a clasp-knife and jumped coolly into the river. Helen screamed faintly, but after all the water was only up to his knees. He soon cut a large sponge off a piece of slimy rock, and held it up to her. "There," said he, "why, there are a score of them at your very door and you never saw them." "Oh, excuse me, I did see them and shuddered; I thought they were reptiles; dormant and biding their time." When he was out of the river again, she thought a little, and asked him whether old iron would be of any use to him. "Oh, certainly," said he; "what, do you know of any?" "I think I saw some one day. I'll go and look for it." She took the way of the shore; and he got his cart and spade, and went posthaste to his clay-pit.