But the birds used the pools for drinking places and they were consequently far from clean.
"How long are we to stay on this island ?" asked Mr.Tarbill, while they were eating a breakfast of broiled birds, fish, and crackers.
"Not very long, I'm thinking," answered the captain.

"In a storm it wouldn't be a very safe place.

The water must sweep the land pretty well, and our boat would be stove to pieces." "But where are you going ?" "We'll try to make that big island I spoke about," went on the captain.

Then of a sudden, he bent closer to the nervous man.
"What's that on your watch chain ?" he demanded.
"My watch chain ?" "Yes.

It looks like a tiny compass to me." "Why--er--it is a compass," stammered Mr.Tarbill.
"And you never told us that you had it!" roared the captain.
"I--I forgot it!" stammered the passenger.