“And you’ve made a splendid one, sir. I never saw such birds and butterflies and beetles before, let along the snakes and things.”
“Yes, I have been grandly successful,” said Oliver; “certainly.”
“And so have your friends. You’re satisfied, I hope, Mr Panton?”
“More than satisfied,” cried that gentleman. “I’ve a wonderful collection of minerals, and I’ve picked up some grand facts on volcanic and coral formation.”
“Oh, yes,” cried Drew. “I’m satisfied, too. I’m only afraid that you’ll have to build another boat to carry my specimens.”
“All right, we’ll build one if it’s necessary, but we’ve got to tackle this one first. Everything’s done that can be done before she’s in the water. No likelihood of another earthquake wave, is there, sir?”
“There might be one at any time,” said Panton; “but it might be five hundred years.”
“And it would be tiresome to wait as long as that, eh, sir?” said the mate, with a droll twinkle of the eye.
“Yes, you’d better get her down to the sea first. What do you mean to do?”
“Begin to-morrow morning, gentlemen; and if you would be so good as to let the birds and stones and flowers alone now, and help me till we get the Little Planet afloat, I should be obliged.”