We need only just mention that since his arrival at French Den Briant had had everything necessary done to his wound, and that it had healed in a few days. There remained a certain amount of discomfort in the arm, but that soon disappeared.
October was near its end, and Walston had not been seen in the neighbourhood of Zealand River. Had he repaired his boat and left the island? It was not impossible. He had an axe — as Kate remembered — and could make use of those large knives which sailors always have in their pockets; and wood there was in abundance near Severn Reefs. But in ignorance of what he had done, the every-day life at French Den had been entirely changed. There were no more distant excursions, except once when Baxter and Donagan went off to the crest of Auckland Hill and lowered the flagstaff.
From this elevated point Donagan examined through his glass all the masses of verdure to the eastward. And although he could see right away to the sea, not a trace of smoke rose to indicate that Walston and his companions were encamped on the island. Neither in that direction nor in the direction of Schooner Bay did Donagan see anything suspicious.
Now that all expeditions were forbidden and the guns lay idle, the sportsmen of the colony had to give up their favourite amusement. Fortunately the nets and snares set about French Den, yielded game in sufficient quantity, and the tinamous and ostriches in the poultry-yard had multiplied so much that Service and Garnett were obliged to sacrifice a good many of them. As they had gathered a lai^e crop of the leaves of the tea-tree, and a good deal of the maple syrup that changes so easily into sugar, there was no necessity to go to Dike Creek to renew the stock of provisions. And even if the winter came before the boys recovered their liberty, they were sufficiently provided with oil for their lamps, and with preserved provisions for their larder. All they had to do was to get some more wood,
