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Inside, the walls were twenty feet high all round, all bare rock; but the floor was covered with grass, and moss, and wild flowers. Aralia and Pansy were wild with delight, and Pansy said she would now be able to sleep without ugly dreams. Veevee would be her bed-fellow, and Floss would curl up with Sissie, and big Briton could sleep at the entrance. So it was all arranged.

When they had finished, Briton had a huge dish of scraps; Veevee sat watching him eat, and the children were very much surprised to see Briton shove one of the biggest and best morsels towards him. The tiny dog picked up the titbit and wagged his tail. After he had eaten it, he went and lay down beside Briton on the hearth-rug. The "something nice" that Uncle had to tell was soon told now.

"No, no," cried Tom, "it was only Flossy that the bear wanted! He just wanted a bit of seal for supper." "Wowff!" barked Briton. "Wiff!" barked Veevee, as much as to say: "No bear shall touch Flossy while we are alive." But nobody thought of sleeping any more, and as they were all very hungry, Tom served out more snow. The tempest howled for many hours more.

"But first let us have a look through this beautiful isle of the sea, while the girls are asleep. There may be more bears. Briton, you must stay and watch. Veevee, you may come." Though Veevee searched every bush and grove, no bear was found. The one Tom had so cleverly killed must have crossed to the island alone by the bridge of rocks. So, after breakfast, the boys built their fire.

The cave seemed to be a vast one, and he had to feel his way in the dark with his rifle, for fear of falling down some hole. As he could hear nothing, he thought poor Veevee must be dead, and slowly and sadly turned back.

"Oh, dear!" cried Pansy, as the sound of a shot startled everyone in the fort. "Tom's gone and killed something!" "Let's run and see," said Frank. Veevee and Briton had already rushed off. They found Tom at the lake-side, standing over a huge dead bear, with Flossy near him. "That bear," said Tom, laughing, "was keeping poor Floss in the lake; but he won't do so again. Isn't he a fine one?"

"Oh, I was so frightened, Unky dear, but I is so happy now!" cried Pansy. "Bless my soul and body," cried Staysail at last, "how did all this happen?" Then he went forward a few paces, the little ones clinging to him all the time, and Veevee racing round the deck like a live muff. "Tom, you young rascal, jump down here at once. This is all your work. Now, give a full account of it, sir."

A stiff breeze sprang up, and all the clouds and vapours were blown away, the last thing seen being a rainbow in the east. The joy of the Crusoes now knew no bounds. The dogs dashed about, Veevee barked "Wiff!" Briton barked "Wowff!" and Flossy frisked her tail and went off to fish. The children now set out for a stroll, and saw many curious sights.

The two dogs became great friends, but, strangely enough, both disliked Broomberg, and kept out of his way whenever they could. Once, indeed, when the man bent down to stroke Veevee, Briton stood guard over his little friend and growled. "Hands off!" the mastiff seemed to say, "hands off till we know more about you!"

"Come on, Veevee," cried the mastiff, "come for a run in the sunshine." And off they set. But the day soon ended, for the sun quickly disappeared. Yet the Crusoes had seen it, and that was joy enough for once. And now the days began to lengthen out, but at the same time earthquakes and thunder-storms became more and more frequent.