CHAPTER XXIX.
PREPARING THE BEACONS.
After leaving the sentinel on duty Bob and Joe walked around the shoreat a rapid pace, for it was their purpose to explore the island whilesearching for food and wreckage; and since it would be almost dangerousto remain on the open beach after the sun was high in the heavens, therewas really but a few hours during which their investigations could bepursued.
As a matter of course they were eager to get some definite idea of wherethe Bonita had been stranded in order to know at which point thewreckage would be likely to come ashore, and this information was soongained. After a brisk walk of half an hour the searchers were at themost northerly end of the key, and directly before them, not more thanhalf a mile from the beach, in a westerly direction, was the wreck.
The gale which had driven the Sea Bird ashore had torn and riven theill-fated brig until she was little more than a shapeless mass oftimbers, and then thrown her high up on the sands, where she presented amournful-looking spectacle. In every direction could be seen casks,spars, cordage and splintered timbers, some half-buried on the beach,while others dotted the shoals along the west side of the key.
"It will be a good week's work to overhaul all that stuff," Joe saidafter the two had surveyed the scene of desolation several moments insilence. "There is plenty of material with which to make a flare in caseit should be needed."
"That's what we'd better prepare fer before doin' anything else," Bobreplied. "Those casks are full of alcohol, an' by rollin' half a dozento different points along the shore from here to where we left Walter, Ireckon we can make sich a show of fireworks that none but a blind crewcould get past without seein' us."
"I'm beginning to think vessels don't come this way. We shouldn't haveseen a single one since we've been here if that schooner hadn't put infor the express purpose of capturing those men."
"Don't get sich an idee into your head, lad," the old sailor saidcheerily. "We're right in the track of traders an' steamers; but this isthe wrong season of the year. A month from now you'll see two or three aweek."
"That's a long while to wait on short allowance."
"It's way ahead of how we might 'a' been fixed. Now, instead of moonin''bout what can't be helped, s'pose we get the casks where they can beused when the right time comes."
Joe's depression was but momentary. He understood quite as well as didhis companion the evils of giving way to dismal thoughts when so muchdepended upon their own efforts, and without further words the task wasbegun.
To roll the heavy casks over the loose sand was fatiguing, and when thesun climbed so high that the heat became almost unbearable, only threeof the barrels were in position. The first of these was at the mostnortherly point of the island; another had been set on end beyond reachof the tide, two hundred yards south, and the last was about the samedistance down the shore.
These could be made ready for lighting in a few seconds, since it wasproposed only to knock in the heads, pour out half the contents toprevent the possibility of an explosion, and set fire to the remainder.
"By rollin' thirty or forty casks beyond high-water mark we shall haveplenty of fuel in case the first attempt is a failure!" Bob said as theywalked down the beach to where Walter was on watch. "There won't be anychange in the weather for a week or more, an' in that time we can gathera good stock of alcohol."
When Bob and Joe arrived at the point there was little need of asking ifthe sentinel had sighted anything resembling a sail, for while workingthey were able to gain even a more extended view than he, and not somuch as a sea-gull's wing could be seen.
Jim and Harry were with Walter, they having accomplished their task inthe most satisfactory manner.
"It didn't take ten minutes to catch all we can eat between now an'mornin'!" Jim said in reply to Joe's question. "If the Mary Walker washere she could get a full fare in half a day, for the fish bite likemackerel. Jes' say the word an' I'll roast some now, so we sha'n't haveto walk back to the tent."
"Go ahead, lad; an' after the sun gets a little lower we'll take you an'Harry up the beach, where there's considerable work to be done."
Anticipating that his proposition would be accepted, Jim had made readyfor the culinary operations to the extent of collecting a goodly supplyof fuel, and in less than an hour the little party were feasting on fishroasted in leaves among the hot ashes.
Until about three o'clock they remained within shelter of the foliagenear the sea enjoying the siesta, even though their condition was wellcalculated to dishearten the most sanguine, and then Bob proposed thatthey continue the work of preparing beacons.
In this labor the two boys could accomplish quite as much as Bob andJoe, and half an hour before sunset ten casks were in the desiredpositions. Now it would be possible in a very short time to send up sucha volume of flame as would illumine all that portion of the coast, andfrom a craft within ten miles of the key it could readily be seen.
"We can reckon on leavin' this place aboard the first vessel that heavesin sight," Bob said in a tone of satisfaction as they walked leisurelyalong the shore of the harbor toward the camp. "Of course it wouldn'tdo any good to stand watch after dark; but some one must be on the pointevery hour of daylight, an' the boys can divide that work to suitthemselves."
It would not be the most cheerful task, this remaining alone on theshore gazing out over the restless ocean; but only through such work wasthere a probable chance of rescue, and the discomfort or weariness didnot have so much as a place in their thoughts.
The preparations for attracting attention had caused the boys to believetheir time of imprisonment was rapidly drawing to a close. Bob'spositive statement that the chain of flares could not fail of being seencaused them to appear like the first real step taken toward home, andthe thought of the pirates' treasure came uppermost in the minds of all.
"Why not begin work on it to-morrow?" Jim asked, when Bob referred tothe task as one easy of accomplishment. "Harry an' I can catch fishenough in half an hour to last a week, an' if we wait too long anotherstorm may break up the hull so that the gold can't be found."
"I reckon we've got little to fear from storms yet awhile," Bob repliedcarelessly. "This weather is likely to hold for a week or more."
"That may be," Joe said; "and then, again, it's possible for you to bemistaken. I think as Jim does--that we ought to save it while there's achance. If this weather holds, the casks of alcohol will stay wherethey are, and it is as well to let that portion of the work wait asdelay the other and more important."
"I'm agreeable to anything, only I didn't feel as if there was a greatcall to be in a hurry, 'cause it would have to be a roarin' old galethat could do much damage to the hulk;" and Bob looked across the harborto the narrow line of charcoal and blackened timbers which might be seenjust above the surface of the water. "If things are as I think, it won'tbe a long job, an' we can finish it up in one day."
"Then what's the use of wasting time? If a vessel puts in here we wouldbe ready to leave at once; and her crew might think themselves entitledto a good slice of the money if they helped us get it out of the wreck."
The boys agreed perfectly with Joe, and since Bob had no objections tothe plan, it was decided that the work should be begun on the followingmorning.
The little party were in the tent by the time this decision was arrivedat; and the shelter had been gained none too soon, for the gloom ofanother night had already settled down over the key. Although all handswere tired no one cared to go to sleep just then because of theexcitement caused by mention of the treasure, and a small fire was builtfor the double purpose of driving away mosquitoes and lending a morecheerful aspect to the encampment.
While Bob and Joe discussed plans for the next morning's work the boyslistened intently, and it was not until a very late hour in the nightthat any one thought of retiring. Then the old sailor said gruffly, asif some peremptory command of his had been disobeyed:
"Don't you ever mean to turn in, or must I lay every
blessed son of youaway? All hands want to become divers; but unless we get some sleepbefore mornin' there won't be much work done!"
"I s'pose we can keep awake as long as the skipper does," Jim saidlaughingly; and for reply Bob picked him up bodily and threw him on oneof the mattresses, with strict injunctions to "snore in five minutes orexpect a taste of the rope's-end."
Never since the day when the Bonita ran away with the crew of the SallyWalker had the boys been so cheerful, and this enviable frame of mindwas brought about by the preparations made for signaling a vessel. Theywere not one whit nearer being rescued; but yet it seemed as if the timefor leaving the key was already very close at hand.
"If ten casks of alcohol can make this crowd feel so good we'd betterend-up about a hundred to-morrow," Joe said as the camp-fire wasextinguished and all hands crept under the canvas.
"It seems as if we were going to see home at last," Harry replied. "Bobsays we are certain of being sighted by the first crew that passes, andin that case it isn't likely we shall have to stay here much longer."
"You can take my word for it, lad, that before another week goes by weshall be on our way either to the States or Nassau; so go to sleep, forI reckon on callin' all hands mighty early in the mornin'."
It was not so easy for the boys to close their eyes in slumber owing tothe unusual excitement; but they did finally succeed, and when Bobshouted "All hands on deck!" just as the sun showed his glowing faceabove the waters once more, every member of the party leaped to his feetready for the day's work.
Their toilets were soon made by a hurried plunge into the sea, and a notvery pleasant "rub-down" with a piece of canvas--which does not make asatisfactory towel--and then, while Jim prepared breakfast from thelimited material at his command, Bob went out to the point for hisregular morning's survey of the surrounding waters.
"There's nothin' in sight," he reported on his return in obedience tothe cook's summons; "but we mustn't get discouraged if a craft don'tshow up for a week. Walter is to go on guard as soon as he getsbreakfast, an' one of you boys can spell him toward noon."
The toasted pork and ship's-biscuit was not so inviting as to induce anyof the party to linger very long over the meal, and in a few momentsafter the old sailor's return all hands were ready to begin the workwhich would settle the question as to whether the treasure could berecovered, or if it had been found only to be lost forever.