This latter remark had reference to the baling-dish of soup which was being passed round the party, so that each might help himself to two mouthfuls of soup before passing it on. As they had no spoons, the doctor had extemporised ladles of folded bark, which served the purpose pretty well. "Haven't ye a small bit o' 'baccy in the corner o' wan o' yer pockets, doctor, dear?" asked Terrence, insinuatingly. "May be ye'd find a morsel if ye'd try." "Quite useless to try, my poor fellow," returned the doctor, with a look of affected pity, "for I'm a non-smoker. I never indulge in such an absurdity." "Sure, it's a true proverb that says `doctor's differ,'" retorted O'Connor, "for most o' the saw-bones of my acquaintance have smoked like lime kilns." "More's the pity, Terrence, but if you'll heave on some more firewood you'll have a smoke that may do as a substitute at present." By heaping quantities of fresh branches on the fire till it was large enough to roast an ox, the party managed to pass the night in comparative comfort, in spite of cold and sleet. Hayward watched the fire during the first part of the night. Then he was relieved by our coxswain, who was succeeded by Joe Slag, and no Vestal virgins ever tended their fire with more anxious solicitude than those three men guarded theirs during that first night on the island. As if to make up for the sufferings of the past few days, the morning that followed broke with unclouded splendour, and the rising sun shone upon as beautiful a scene as could well be imagined, for it revealed an island richly clothed with verdure, which, rising out of a calm blue sea, sloped gradually upwards, until its western ridge met the bright sky. Evidently that terminating ridge was the place whence descended the precipitous cliffs, along which they had sailed immediately after leaving the cave of the wreck. There is no accounting for the eccentricities of weak-minded females, whether pretty or plain. The first thing that pretty little Mrs Mitford exclaimed on opening her eyes and beholding the glorious view was-- "Oh! I _do_ so wish that we had oysters for breakfast!" If she had expressed a desire for elephant chops, she could not have taken Eva Hayward more by surprise. As for Nell Massey, she went off into a hilarious giggle. "I fear there are no oysters hereabouts," said Hayward, "but I shouldn't wonder if we were to find mussels and things of that sort. Come, lads, we'll go and have a search for them, while the ladies fill and boil our kettle." Limpets, mussels, and other shell-fish were found in great abundance. With these warm soup was soon made, and after a hearty breakfast, Hayward organised the party in two bands which were sent off in different directions to explore the island, Peggy and her husband being left behind to cook the dinner and keep up the fire. STORY ONE, CHAPTER 9.