CHAPTER XIX
FINDING MR. TARBILL
Bob hurried forward as fast as he could through the water, nolonger swimming, but wading. Soon he reached the beach and saw,beyond it, that the land was covered with green grass, while trees,which he easily recognized as the kind found in warm countries,grew to a great height.
"I'm on a tropical island," thought the castaway. "Just likeRobinson Crusoe, only I haven't any of the things he had and thewreck of the _Eagle_ isn't near enough for me to get anything fromthe ship. Still I ought to be thankful I'm not drowned or eaten bya shark."
Bob was tired after his long swim and stretched out under the treeson the grass to rest. It was already beginning to get much warmer,though the sun was only just peeping up, seemingly from beneath theocean.
"Wonder if I'm going to find anything to eat here," the boythought. "Doesn't look as if any one lived here. I'll have totake a look around. It's going to be very lonesome here. I wonderif any ships ever pass this place?"
There were so many questions that needed answering he did not knowwhere to stop asking them of himself. But he decided the first andbest thing to do would be to get off his wet clothes. Not that hewas afraid of taking cold, but he knew he would be more comfortablein dry garments.
So, taking everything out of his pockets, which was no smalloperation by the way, as Bob was a typical boy, he stripped himselfof his heavier garments and hung them on tree limbs to dry.
"Now if I could find something to eat I'd be right in it--at leastfor a while," thought the castaway as he walked around on the warmgrass. "And I need a drink, for I swallowed a lot of salt waterand I'm as dry as a powder horn." He looked out on the ocean, butnot a trace of a boat was visible.
Bob walked some distance from where he had landed, keeping a sharplookout for a spring of water. All the while he was getting moreand more thirsty, and he began to think he would have to dig alittle well near shore with clam shells, as he had read ofshipwrecked sailors doing. But, fortunately, he was not forced tothis. As he penetrated a little way into the wood, he heard thegurgle of water.
"That sounds good," he remarked.
Stepping cautiously, because of his bare feet, he went on a littlefarther and presently saw a small waterfall, caused by a streamtumbling over a little ledge of rocks and splashing into a poolbelow.
"That looks better than it sounds," thought Bob. And a momentlater he was drinking his fill. "Seems as if there might be fishin there," he went on, glancing at the pool. "Guess I'll try it."
Bob was fond of hunting and fishing and knew considerable aboutwood-lore. Searching under the stones he soon found some worms,and, tossing one into the middle of the pool, he saw a hungry fishrise to it.
"Now if I had a pole, hook, and line I'd soon have a breakfast," hewent on to himself. "I have the line, all right, and I ought tohave a hook in one of my pockets. I generally do. As for a pole Ican easily cut one."
Bob hurried back to where he had piled the things he took from hispockets. It did not take him long to discover that he had a stoutcord that would answer for a line, while he also had several hooks.With his knife he cut a pole, and baiting the hook with a worm, hecast in.
Probably no one, unless it might have been some unfortunatecastaway in years gone by, had ever angled in that pool. The fishat once rose to the bait, and soon Bob had several beauties on thegrass beside him.
"Now to cook them," he said to himself. "Lucky I bought awater-proof match box before I started on this voyage. I can nowmake a fire."
Bob went back to the place he called "home"--where he had firstlanded--and looked in the water-tight match box which he always hadcarried since he had come aboard the _Eagle_. To his delight thelittle fire-sticks were not harmed by his bath. He only wished hehad more of them.
Finding his clothes were now nearly dry, he put part of them on andproceeded to kindle a fire. Then he cleaned the fish and set themto broil by the simple process of hanging them in front of the fireon a pointed stick, one end of which was thrust into the ground.
"That smells good!" exclaimed Bob, as the fish began to brown."But, I almost forgot. There's plenty of fruit to be had." For hehad noticed several trees well laden as he passed through thewoods. "I'll not starve here as long as I have fruit and fish."
He gathered some things that looked a cross between an orange and atangerine and ate several, finding them delicious. By the time thefish were well done Bob, preparing to eat his odd breakfast, wassuddenly startled by a groan. It seemed to come from behind a pileof rocks off to the left.
"I wonder what that was?" thought Bob. "An animal or a humanbeing? I wonder if there are any South Sea natives on this island?"
He put down his fish on some big green leaves he had plucked forplates and went toward the rocks. As he approached, the groansbecame louder. Peering cautiously over the stones, Bob saw thefigure of a man lying on the sand, as if he had managed to crawlout of the water.
"Bob saw the figure of a man lying on the sand."]
For an instant the boy could scarcely believe his eyesight. Then,with a cry, he rushed forward.
"It's Mr. Tarbill!" he exclaimed. "He, too, must have fallenoverboard and been washed ashore. But he seems to be hurt."
The man's eyes were closed and he was scarcely breathing.
"He's dying!" thought Bob, his heart beating hard.
Then, thinking perhaps the man might be partly drowned, the youngcastaway began to put into operation as much of the directions ashe remembered for restoring partially drowned persons to life. Hehad not worked long before he saw Mr. Tarbill's eyes open. Thenthe nervous passenger began to breathe better.
"Where--where am I?" he asked faintly.
"You're safe," replied Bob. "On an island with me. But where isthe captain--and the others?"
"Boat foundered. Wave washed over it--soon after you felloverboard. No chance to get life-preservers. It was every one forhimself."
"Are they drowned?"
"I don't know! Oh, it is terrible! I swam as long as I could,then I seemed to be sinking."
"You're all right now," said Bob cheerfully. "You're just in timeto have some breakfast."
He helped Mr. Tarbill to his feet. The nervous man seemed torecover rapidly, and when, at Bob's suggestion, he had taken offmost of his wet clothes and was drying out near the fire, his facetook on a more cheerful look.
"Those fish smell fine," he said. "I'm very fond of fish. Are yousure those are not poisonous?"
"I'm not sure," replied Bob, "and I'm too hungry to care much.They're a sort of big sun-fish, such as I used to catch at home.The meat looks nice and white. Better have some. I'll warm themagain."
He put them once more on the pointed sticks near the fire, and whenthey were sizzling he laid them on the green leaves. Then, withsticks for knives and forks, the two castaways made a fairly goodmeal.
"I thought I never would see land again," said the nervous man, ashe began to dress in his dry clothes after the breakfast. "Thishas been a terrible experience for me."
"I guess it has," admitted Bob. "And for all of us. I wish I knewwhat has happened to the captain and the others."
"Our boat was swamped by a big wave," said Mr. Tarbill, "andsuddenly we were all thrown into the water. That is the last Iremember. Perhaps the captain and some of the crew may have swumashore on another part of this island."
"I hope so. We'll search for them. I guess we're in for a longstay."
"Have we got to remain here?" demanded Mr. Tarbill.
"I don't see what else there is to do," replied Bob. "We haven'tany boat, we can't walk on the water, and we'll have to stay untila ship comes and takes us off."
"Oh, dear!" exclaimed the nervous man. "I wish I had stayed athome!"
Bob thought he might at least be thankful that his life was sparedand that he was not where he would starve, but the lad concluded itwould be wise to say nothing.
"If you like we'
ll take a walk around the island, see how large itis and if there's a place where we can make a sort of shelter,"proposed Bob.
"I guess that will be the best thing to do. I leave it all to you.My nerves are in such shape that I can do nothing."
Bob felt not a little proud of the responsibility thus thrust uponhim. He resolved to act wisely and cautiously, for there was notelling how long they would have to live on the island.
With the boy in the lead the two started off. The sun was now hotand strong, and they found it advisable to keep in the shade of thewoods as much as possible.
Bob saw a big turtle crawling down the beach toward the water, and,knowing the flesh was good for food, he ran forward to catch it.He was too late, however, and when he turned, with a feeling ofdisappointment, to catch up with Mr. Tarbill, who had continued on,Bob was surprised to hear the man utter an exclamation. He hadcome to a halt near a pile of rocks and was looking over the tops.
"What's the matter?" asked the boy.
"There are two men down there on the beach! Perhaps they arecannibals! We had better go back!"
"Let me take a look," proposed Bob.
Cautiously he went forward, gave one glance at the figures to whichMr. Tarbill pointed, and then he uttered a cry.
"Hurrah!" he shouted. "They are Captain Spark and Tim Flynn, oneof the sailors! They've managed to get to shore! Ahoy, captain!Ahoy! Here we are!" and he ran down the beach toward them.