“We hail from New Zealand, and are bound for San Francisco, but we have had such bad weather and been delayed so long that our stock of fresh water, which was not large at the start, has given out and under this devilish hot sun we can’t stand it long without water. So, sighting this island, the captain made up his mind he would land in search of fresh water and run the chance of meeting with unfriendly natives, but by George, we didn’t expect to find the island inhabited by whites.”
“Well, the island not exactly inhabited by whites, as you suppose, for we are only a small party of shipwrecked travellers. We have been here for three years, and I can tell you we will be glad enough to get a chance to leave.”
While this conversation was taking place the two boats had reached the shore where a large body of natives had collected. The two girls were also there. The excitement was intense, as, of course, all realized that the coming of this vessel furnished means of escape from the island.
“Where do you live?” inquired Mate Jenkins. “This don’t look like the likeliest place in the world to live in, now, does it?”
“I must say, this side of the island is not a promising looking place,” replied the captain, “but the other side is quite different, in fact, it is a delightful place, if it were not that we are in exile here.”
“How is the water supply on this side?”
“Fine; it couldn’t be better or handier. Right beyond that next turn, is a stream of water as sweet and pure as one could find in many a month’s travel.”
“Now, I swan, that’s good. I didn’t know but what we’d have to bring it over from the other side.”
The work of filling casks which they had brought with them, and conveying them to the ship was soon begun.