She began to spin with so much earnestness, that she would hardly take a walk, and reluctantly left her wheel to make dinner ready.

She employed Francis to reel off the thread as she spun it, and would willingly have had the elder boys to take her place when she was called off; but they rebelled at the effeminate work, except Ernest, whose indolent habits made him prefer it to more laborious occupation.
In the mean time we walked over to Tent House to see the state of things, and found that winter had done more damage there than at Falcon's Nest.

The storm had overthrown the tent, carried away some of the sailcloth, and injured our provisions so much, that great part was good for nothing, and the rest required to be immediately dried.
Fortunately our beautiful pinnace had not suffered much,--it was still safe at anchor, and fit for use; but our tub boat was entirely destroyed.
Our most important loss was two barrels of gunpowder, which had been left in the tent, instead of under the shelter of the rock, and which the rain had rendered wholly useless.

This made us feel still more strongly the necessity of securing for the future a more suitable shelter than a canvas tent, or a roof of foliage.

Still I had small hope from the gigantic plan of Fritz or the boldness of Jack.