"Well, then, boy, you run back and get the women to give you a couple of cans, and tell four or five of the men to come along and take the seals' flesh to the village, while we three remain here fishing." Young Broke ran off in high glee; and as the Miss Morleys came out of their cottage in the morning, he appeared with a bowl of fresh milk in his hands. "Where have you got that, my boy?" asked Fanny. "Please, miss, we killed some cows this morning, and I have brought it for little Bessy," answered the boy. "Some cows!" exclaimed Mrs Twopenny, who had just joined her friends. "I had no idea there were any on the island. And could the men have been so foolish as to kill them?" "They are not real cows, please, marm," answered young Broke, "but those fish sort of creatures. The doctor has tasted the milk, and he says it is much better than goats' milk, and will do the little girl a great deal of good. There's more than she can want, and I hope that you ladies will take the rest. I must be off again, because I have to bring some fish for Mrs Rumbelow to cook for your breakfast." Without waiting to receive the thanks of the ladies, the lad hurried away. Mrs Rumbelow boiled some of the seals' milk, of which there was a good supply, with sugar, in order to preserve it. So beneficial was its effect on the children, with the assistance of the fish, that the doctor was now able to commence his proposed exploring expedition. He and Captain Twopenny, carrying their guns, set out at daybreak the next morning, accompanied by Willy and Peter, with axes in their belts, and Tom Wall and Dick Sharp, the two latter taking their clubs to do battle with any seals they might encounter. The doctor had also a wooden spade with a sharp point which he had manufactured, and carried like a sword by a belt round his waist. Willy had a similar implement, which he had made after the doctor's model. "If I mistake not, Dicey, we shall find our tools of as much value as our guns," observed the doctor. "By their means we may discover the treasures hidden beneath the soil, and which we can at all times obtain; whereas the birds may fly away, and the beasts, if any exist besides seals, may not always be found." The explorers soon began to climb the steep sides of a mountain which rose beyond the harbour. "Why, surely this country must be inhabited," exclaimed Willy, as they got into a pathway which led up the mountain. "It is very evident that such is the case, but we have already made acquaintance with the inhabitants," said the doctor. "This is a seals'-track; and, see, there are others leading up from the water. The creatures are fond of travelling inland, though I should not have supposed they would have made their way up the mountains."