"Of course," said Oliver. "That would have been very awkward, for the men would have had to go to and fro morning and evening."

"But," said Panton, "a hut might have been run up for them to sleep in."

"Which means dividing a force already too weak. If the blacks make another serious attack upon us we shall have enough to do to hold our own here together, without having part of us defending a flimsy hut, which they would serve at once as they will us here if we don't take very great care."

"Eh? How?" said Oliver, startled by the mate's manner.

"Burn us out as sure as we're alive."

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

A NOVEL LAUNCH.

The idea was revived again by the mate.

"That's a pleasant way of looking at things," said Panton.

"Horrible!" exclaimed Drew, with a shiver.

"Yes, we've had enough of fire from the volcano," said Oliver, with a glance in its direction, forgetting as he did that it was invisible from their side of the mist.

"We have, gentlemen," said the mate, "but that will be their plan. We may beat them off times enough, but so sure as they set thoroughly to work to burn us out, we're done for, sir."

"You think so?"

"No, I don't think. We're as inflammable as can be, and they've only got to bring plenty of dry, fierce, burning wood and pile it up, and there we are as soon as they set light to it. They can have a good feast then."

"What?" cried Drew.

"Feast, sir. There'll be plenty of roast men done to a turn."

"Don't!" cried Oliver. "You give me quite a turn."

The discussion arose one morning some weeks after the ascent to the crater, and when, after a tremendous amount of collecting, the three naturalists had owned that it was getting on toward the time for helping Mr Rimmer a little over the preparations for getting away from the island.

"Really, Mr Rimmer," Oliver said, "I am ashamed of my selfishness."

"Eh? What have you been doing selfish, my dear sir?" was the reply.

"Thinking of nothing but my own pleasure."

"Pleasure, sir? Why, I haven't seen you playing any games but a bit or two of chess with Mr Panton."

"I mean in thinking of nothing else but my collecting."

"Why, that was your work, sir."

"It is a pleasure to me, and I have thought of nothing else."

"And quite right too, my lad. You came out on purpose to make a collection, didn't you?"

"Well, yes."

"And you've made a splendid one, sir. I never saw such birds and b.u.t.terflies 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."

"You know we'll all do our best, Mr Rimmer," said Panton. "You've helped us whenever we have hinted at wanting a hand."

"Why, of course, sir, of course," said the mate, interrupting the speaker. "It's all right: turn for turn."

"But why not begin to-day?" said Oliver.

"To be sure," said the others.

"I didn't want to be hard upon you, gentlemen, and so I thought I'd give you a day's notice, but if you would all tackle to at once, why, I should be glad."

"Then as far as we're concerned," said Oliver, "the lugger's launched."

"Thank you, gentlemen, all of you," said the mate; and then drily, "but I don't think we shall get her in the water to-day."

There was a hearty laugh at this, but they were all serious directly, and the question of the launching was taken up.

"Two miles to the lagoon," said Oliver; "it's a long way."

"Yes, sir, but every foot we get her along, will be one less."

"Of course," said Oliver. "And do you think your plans will work?"

"I hope so, sir. We'll give them a good try first, before we start upon another."