FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

59

a mere observer, the men had not been idle. A fire of dry wood-quantities of which were to be found strewed in different directions-had been lighted upon an eminence as a signal to the expected vessel. The glare which it threw enabled Paul to perceive that he was standing upon a beach of rocky stone, here and there patched with moss and tufts of grass, while towards the centre of the island there appeared a huge black mass, that might be trees, or rocks, or fields—it was impossible by that light to descry. Upon the level space where he was standing, the goods were piled and covered in the way that has been mentioned, and he saw at no great distance a real hut, about which the men were busied, as if to make it habitable.

This appeared necessary, as night had now arrived, and it was more than probable that they must make themselves as comfortable as circumstances would allow till the following day, for there seemed little chance of their being taken off before daylight.

Paul drew nigh the working-party to observe them better, and see the sort of accommodation the place afforded.

It was but a primitive habitation, raised, perhaps, by fishermen, who occasionally visited the island, as a temporary place of shelter. The walls were of mud, into which shells and pumice-stone had been thrust when the rude plaster was wet, and boughs of trees, intertwined over beams of unsquared timber, formed the roof. It was divided into two

parts by a mud partition, with a hole in it as a doorway, but there was no door.

A couple of the men were engaged in clearing out the dirt that had been allowed to accumulate; two others gathered dry leaves to serve as beds, in case of their having to pass the night upon the island, while the fifth was erecting an apparatus with three stout poles, on which to suspend a kettle over a fire to make water boil for coffee. The two principals were not idle. Each with a flaming torch of pine-wood was giving light to the men, and directing their movements, and the whole place was animated with the busy sounds of life.

Paul's nature was too active to wish to remain unemployed where every one else was at work. There was something, too, so novel about the whole scene, that it roused at once all the Robinson Crusoe in his breast. He gave himself up heartily to the enjoyment which such an adventure was sure to excite in a daring and spirited boy. Going to Signor Giorgio, he begged that some work might be allotted for him to do, and was delighted when told that he might assist in the preparation of

supper.

The man engaged in the cooking department found in Paul a capital helpmate. That indefatigable youth soon collected wood enough to last for a week, and when he had performed that duty, he assisted to feed the flame which was shortly produced by flashing a little powder upon some of the dryest brushwood. A capital fire soon rewarded

the exertions of Paul and the temporary cook—a fire which brought the whole scene out strongly for a good distance round. Soon, the water in the large iron pot suspended over the flame gave indications of furious boiling, and two coffee-pots were at once produced for the use of masters and

men.

With what enjoyment did Paul sip the portion which fell to his share! Although drunk out of a tumbler instead of a cup, in the true Italian fashion, it was not the less pleasant for that; and though there was no milk, there was plenty of sugar, and Paul made his allowance pretty sweet, for he liked it, as he said, palatable.

As the whole party sat, or rather squatted and reclined, in the neighbourhood of the cheerful blaze, drinking their coffee and munching their biscuit and cold meat, Paul looked round him with an air of intense satisfaction.

“Ah!” thought he, "this is something like adventure—it beats common pic-nicing hollow. And to-morrow! Wont it be glorious to clamber over yon rocks and wander over the island! I hope the Giglio wont think of coming till to-morrow night, at all events, so that I shall be able to see something of the place."

The meal being over, the two chiefs of the party lighted their cigars, and began walking up and down near the hut, conversing in their usual low tone. Paul accompanied one of the men to the watch-fire on an eminence at some few paces off, and collected