the arched roots, for they required air and a shady place; but the oranges, citrons, mulberries, olives, cherries, and other fruits containing kernels were planted on the way to the bridge over the Jackal River, where they could obtain light and warmth.

I wished also to make the rocks at Tent House a kind of fortification, as all our ammunition lay there. I resolved, therefore, to choose two slight elevations near the river, on which to fit the two cannon from the pinnace, and also to plant a thick hedge of thorns around the whole spot.

These engagements employed us for six weeks; but the hard work had completely worn out our clothes, and this with other important reasons made me consider it necessary to return to the wreck once more. I wished, if possible, to bring away one or two more of the cannon, to place on the heights of our fortification.

On the first fine day I set out in the pinnace for the wreck with the three elder boys. We found everything as we had left it; but the wind and waves had loosened the beams and damaged the powder casks. The sailors' chests were in fairly good condition, and these we placed on board the pinnace, as well as a box containing a quantity of ball and shot and two small cannon.

On the second trip, we towed our tugboat behind the pinnace, quickly loading it with planks, doors, windowshutters, locks and bolts, and as many other precious things as we could carry.

At last, when it seemed as if we had plundered the wreck of every useful article, I resolved to blow it up with gunpowder, in the hope that the wind and the waves would cast on shore wood and beams, as well as other articles suitable for house building, which were too heavy for us to bring away in our boats. I had discovered a large, heavy copper caldron, which I thought might be saved, so I attached it to two empty casks strong enough to support it when launched into the sea.

When ready to start, I rolled a powder barrel into the hold of the ship, fastened to it carefully the end of a fusee, and after lighting it, sprang into the boat where the boys were already seated, and with outspread sail hastened toward the shore.

We had scarcely reached the bay when a roar as of majestic thunder resounded from the rocks, and at the same moment a brilliant column of fire rising into the air announced that my plan had succeeded. A feeling of sadness came over me; it seemed as if the last tie that bound us to our dear home was broken; and when my wife and Frank, in great aların, met us as we landed, she and the boys seemed overcome by the same sad feeling. It was as if we had lost in the ship an old and dear friend.

A night's rest enabled us to shake off all feelings of regret, especially when we saw that the beach was strewn with wooden planks and beams, while on the sea near the shore floated broken fragments of all descriptions, and

amongst them the copper caldron, floating between the two casks to which I had fastened it. Many days were employed in collecting all these useful articles, in piling them on the shore, and in covering the powder casks with earth and moss till we could store them at Tent House.

My wife, in assisting us with the wreck, made the agreeable discovery that two of our ducks and one goose had each hatched a brood, and were leading their noisy young families to the water. This reminded us of our domestic comforts at Falcon's Nest, and we determined to defer the rest of our work at Tent House, and to return the next day to our shady summer home.

On our way I observed that the newly planted fruit trees were beginning to droop, and I resolved to proceed to Cape Disappointment the next morning to cut bamboos to make props for them. We started in high spirits from Falcon's Nest, and I led my household by the newly discovered road to the plantations of potatoes, through which Fritz and I had passed, until at length we reached the bird-colony tree.

The waxberry tree soon came in sight, and the boys eagerly gathered berries enough to fill two sacks, which were stowed away safely in a spot which we should pass on our way home. When we reached the india-rubber tree, I made several incisions in the bark, from which the gum oozed freely and soon filled all our little vessels. These also were left for our homeward journey.

We continued to advance till we reached the cocoanut wood, and, leaving it on the left, presently arrived at an open spot situated between the grove of sugarcanes and the bamboo bushes, which lay at a little distance beyond. Here we paused to admire a beautiful landscape which lay stretched out before us. On our left was the sugar-cane grove, to the right the bamboos, and before us a splendid avenue of palm trees. Cape Disappointment could be seen beyond, stretching out into the deep sea.

We felt inclined to remove from Falcon's Nest, and take up our abode here; but the safety of our night castle in the great tree, and other advantages which we enjoyed at Falcon's Nest, made us decide to remain at the dear old home.

We determined, however, to make a halt for our midday meal. The animals were unharnessed from the cart and set at liberty to graze on the rich pasture, and we produced from our store of provisions enough for a slight repast for ourselves. Then we set to work to cut down and tie together bamboo and sugar-canes, in bundles of a size suitable for placing on the cart.

The boys cast longing eyes on the cocoanuts, and Fritz and Jack attempted to climb the trees, but the trunk was too large and too smooth for them, and sliding to the ground, they measured with discouraged eyes the height of the smooth and polished stem.