Looking now upon the scene before them, they saw at last the signs of man. On the shore was a small cottage, and near the shore, in the harbor, was a small schooner. These were both only a short distance away, and to these they hastened. On reaching the cottage they went up to it, but to their great disappointment found that it was deserted and in ruins. The door was gone, and it seemed as though it had not been inhabited for some time. “We’ve got to go on further,” said Pat. “There must be more houses further on.” “I wish we could find out where we are,” said Phil. “I wonder if any one is on board of that schooner.” Saying this, he cast longing eyes upon the schooner before mentioned. It was anchored in front of the cottage, not far away from the shore. It was a small vessel, and somewhat shabby, and behind it there was a boat floating in the water. “It looks as if there was some one on board,” said Pat. “They’ve got the boat there!” “I wish I could go and ask them where we are,” said Phil; and saying this, he walked towards the beach. As he did so he saw a boat upon the beach. It was old and dilapidated, like the house to which it seemed to belong. No sooner had he seen it, than he was struck by the thought that he might manage to get to the schooner by means of this; so he began to examine it very narrowly. It was very clumsily constructed, and looked more like a box than a boat; but it was strong, and though dilapidated, it still looked as though it might float for the short distance that separated the schooner from the shore. “I’ll try it,” said Phil. “Thry what?” asked Pat. “Why, I’ll go out to the schooner in this boat.” “How’ll we row her?” said Pat. “We haven’t any oars.” “Well, in the first place, it can’t hold more than one; so you’ll have to stay, unless you want to go very particularly.” “Niver a bit do I,” said Pat. “I’m not brakin my heart about it, so I ain’t. I’ll stay an welcome.” “Then I’ll go,” said Phil, “and you wait. I’ll have to get something though, that’ll do for an oar.” Saying this, he went back to the house, and looked about for some time. At length he found a pole lying near the well, and taking this, he went back to the boat. Pat and he then pushed it from the shore into the water. It floated. “Hurrah!” said Phil. “It’ll carry me out that far any way.” “Sure an don’t ye see the wather, how it’s rowlin an rushin in?” cried Pat. Phil looked, and saw that the boat was, indeed, anything but water-tight, for the water was oozing in through numerous cracks and crevices. “It’ll take me out that far,” said he; and with these words he jumped into the boat, and thrusting the pole into the ground, he pushed her off. Pat stood watching his movements with great interest.