They gathered the stores from the first al fresco dining-room and reached the cave without incident.  Another fire was lighted, and whilst Iris attended to the kitchen the sailor felled several young trees.  He wanted poles, and these were the right size and shape.  He soon cleared a considerable space.  The timber was soft and so small in girth that three cuts with the axe usually sufficed.  He dragged from the beach the smallest tarpaulin he could find, and propped it against the rock in such manner that it effectually screened the mouth of the cave, though admitting light and air.

He was so busy that he paid little heed to Iris.  But the odor of fried ham was wafted to him.  He was lifting a couple of heavy stones to stay the canvas and keep it from flapping in the wind, when the girl called out—­

“Wouldn’t you like to have a wash before dinner?”

He straightened himself and looked at her.  Her face and hands were shining, spotless.  The change was so great that his brow wrinkled with perplexity.

“I am a good pupil,” she cried.  “You see I am already learning to help myself.  I made a bucket out of one of the dish-covers by slinging it in two ropes.  Another dish-cover, some sand and leaves supplied basin, soap, and towel.  I have cleaned the tin cups and the knives, and see, here is my greatest treasure.”

She held up a small metal lamp.

“Where in the world did you find that?” he exclaimed.

“Buried in the sand inside the cave.”

“Anything else?”

His tone was abrupt She was so disappointed by the seeming want of appreciation of her industry that a gleam of amusement died from her eyes and she shook her head, stooping at once to attend to the toasting of some biscuits.

This time he was genuinely sorry.

“Forgive me, Miss Deane,” he said penitently.  “My words are dictated by anxiety.  I do not wish you to make discoveries on your own account.  This is a strange place, you know—­an unpleasant one in some respects.”

“Surely I can rummage about my own cave?”

“Most certainly.  It was careless of me not to have examined its interior more thoroughly.”

“Then why do you grumble because I found the lamp?”

“I did not mean any such thing.  I am sorry.”

“I think you are horrid.  If you want to wash you will find the water over there.  Don’t wait.  The ham will be frizzled to a cinder.”

Unlucky Jenks!  Was ever man fated to incur such unmerited odium?  He savagely laved his face and neck.  The fresh cool water was delightful at first, but it caused his injured nail to throb dreadfully.  When he drew near to the fire he experienced an unaccountable sensation of weakness.  Could it be possible that he was going to faint?  It was too absurd.  He sank to the ground.  Trees, rocks, and sand-strewn earth indulged in a mad dance.  Iris’s voice sounded weak and indistinct.  It seemed to travel in waves from a great distance.  He tried to brush away from his brain these dim fancies, but his iron will for once failed, and he pitched headlong downwards into darkness.