The meal which awaited us was as unlike the first supper we had there
enjoyed as possible. My wife had improvised a table of a board laid on
two casks, on this was spread a white damask tablecloth, on which were
placed knives, forks, spoons and plates for each person. A tureen of
good soup first appeared, followed by a capital omelette, then slices
of the ham; and finally some Dutch cheese, butter and biscuits, with a
bottle of the captain's canary wine, completed the repast.
While we thus regaled ourselves, I related to my wife our adventures,
and then begged she would remember her promise and tell me all that had
happened in my absence.
Chapter 3
`I will spare you a description,' said my wife, `of our first day's
occupations; truth to tell, I spent the time chiefly in anxious thought
and watching your progress and signals. I rose very early this morning,
and with the utmost joy perceiving your signal that all was right,
hastened to reply to it, and then while my sons yet slumbered, I sat
down and began to consider how our position could be improved.
`"For it is perfectly impossible," said I to myself, "to live much
longer where we are now. The sun beats burningly the livelong day on
this bare rocky spot, our only shelter is this poor tent, beneath the
canvas of which the heat is even more oppressive than on the open
shore.
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