We met no other steamers, and all we could do was to come on with the flood.
"Finally we swashed into a house, and, house, boat and all, we landed on this island, and we've been here ever since," concluded the actor. "We've been hoping against hope that someone would come to our relief, for, though we still have considerable food, it will not last forever."
"But where is the boat in which you came here?" asked Mr. Ringold. "Can't you repair the rudder and use it."
"We haven't the boat now," said Birdie. "The high water carried it away one night, and the house too, though we saved some stuff from it."
"That's right," said Mr. Levinberg, "our boat slipped her cable, and went on down stream. Luckily we had all our supplies out of her.
"We landed at the end of the island where you struck," the actor went on. "We made a camp there, and then moved up here."
"And that's how we left behind the tin of pilot biscuit for clam chowder," said Birdie.
More and detailed explanations of the experiences of the two parties were exchanged, and then preparations were made for housing the four newcomers for the night. There was an-
