"Surely," they thought, "some day some ship must come."
Yes; and one day a ship did come,
Summer and autumn had ended. It was winter now, if the name can possibly be applied to such a climate as this. The time was June anyhow, which is midwinter in these regions, and it was the season of clouds and storms and dense fogs at times.
They had fully prepared for it, however, having greatly strengthened their hut, and thatched it round and round with pandanus leaves and cocoanut fibre.
The coneys or cavies had been very abundant of late, and the skins were stretched, salted, and dried. They might come in handy by-and-by to make articles of dress.
One day all hands had gone to the Beacon Hill for the purpose of repairing the broom, which had got nearly blown away.
They had been working very hard and earnestly, and had seldom looked about them, but having finished the work, they sat merrily down to eat their well-earned luncheon.
Quambo and Mac were lighting their pipes afterwards, and Fred was scanning the ocean with his glass.
"Oh, Frank!" he cried suddenly. "A ship! a ship!"
"A ship! Oh, you don't say so!"