tion, that a strong current run southward on the left side of the island.
There had now elapsed three months since their shipwreck, and the rainy season had set in. For this, however, they were well prepared. The banama tree stood on an eminence, and two drains, that they had cut, carried away all moisture. The roof was quite impervious to rain; and they had an ample stock of dried tamarinds, cocoa-nuts, heaps of the bread-fruit, kept in the sand like apples, their pease, almost all of which they had dried, biscuits, preserves, and salted provisions which yet remained of the ship's store. They had formed three rooms, and the rest of the banama tree, or rather grove, was like a covered garden, where Marion could run about in safety. But it soon became too evident that Michael's health was failing; he complained of dull weary pains at night; he loathed his food, and could with difficulty be prevailed on to take a little tea that was kept exclusively for him. Some arrow-root, which was found in a jar, now became invaluable; and, once or twice, Frank had the good luck to kill a bird, though the violence of the weather drove them mostly to shelter; and then, after a failure or so,
