Robert watched the receding boat, and for an instant he regretted his determination. But it was only for an instant. “I have done what I thought to be right,” he said, “and I don’t believe I shall have cause to repent it. I must see what is best to be done.” He got up and set about exploring his small island kingdom. It was very rocky, the only vegetation being some scant grass and some whortleberry bushes. Luckily it was the height of the berry season and there was a good supply on the bushes. “I shan’t starve just yet,” he said cheerfully. “These berries will keep me alive for a day or two, if I am compelled to remain as long.” There was this advantage about the berries, that, in a measure, they satisfied his thirst as well as his hunger. Robert did not immediately begin to gather berries, for it was yet early, and too short a time had elapsed since breakfast for him to have gained an appetite. He wandered at random over his small kingdom and from the highest portion looked out to sea. Far away he saw several sails, but there was little chance of being rescued by any. If he were seen, it would not be supposed that he was confined a prisoner on an island so near the mainland. Still Robert did not feel that he was likely to be a prisoner for a long time. There were other fishermen, besides his uncle, at Cook’s Harbor, and by next morning, at the farthest, he would be able to attract the attention of some one of them as he cruised near the island. But it would not be very pleasant to pass a night alone in such an exposed spot. Not long before a sloop had been wrecked upon the southwest corner of the island, and though no lives were lost, the vessel itself had been so injured that there had been no attempt to repair or remove it. In coasting near the island Robert had often thought he would like to examine the wreck, but he never had done so. It struck him now that he had a capital opportunity to view it at his leisure. Of leisure, unfortunately, he had too much on his hands. There was a patch of sand at the corner where the sloop had run ashore and the frame of the vessel had imbedded in it. A portion had been swept away, but a considerable part still remained. Robert clambered down and began to make an examination of the stranded vessel. “I suppose it belongs to me if I choose to claim it,” he said to himself. “At any rate, no one else is likely to dispute my claim. Wouldn’t it be jolly if I could find a keg of gold pieces hidden somewhere about the old wreck? That would keep aunt and me for years and we wouldn’t feel any anxiety about support.” This was very pleasant to think about certainly, but kegs of gold pieces are not often carried on sloops nowadays, as Robert very well knew. The chief use the old wreck was likely to be to him was in affording materials for a raft by which he might find his way to the mainland.