CHAPTER V
THE CAMP
Slowly the cutter was backed in till its sternpost stuck on the smooth,even bottom.
The castaways could not have chosen a better harbour. On either handthe rocks, smooth and flat-topped, allowed a boat to be mooredalongside without danger of being left high and dry at low water, whilethe ledge shelved so gradually that it was possible to bring the boat'sgunwale level with the natural pier at any state of the tide.
"I think we had better make a tour of exploration as we did before,"said Andy. "Not that I think this part of the island is inhabited anymore than yonder bay."
"Say, Andy," exclaimed Terence, "isn't it about time I had a spellashore?"
"All right, Terence," replied Ellerton. "You go with Andy and takeQuexo; I'll stay with Mr. McKay."
"Thanks, Hoppy," replied Terence, and without further ado he jumpedashore.
"Here, take this rope and make her stern fast before you go," saidEllerton. "And you, Andy, stand by with the painter."
"Where shall I make fast to?" asked Terence. "This rock is as smoothas a table."
"See if there's a lump of rock on the other side."
Terence crossed the landing-place, holding the rope's-end in his hand.Suddenly he shouted:
"Come here, you fellows! Here's a boat!"
There was a rush to where Terence stood, while even Mr. McKay raisedhimself on his elbow, eager to hear the news.
Lying bottom upwards on the sandy shore was the ill-fated boat in whichthe last of the crew attempted to reach the shore. Her bows wereconsiderably damaged, while amidships a portion of her keel and bothgarboards had been stove in, leaving a jagged hole nearly two feet indiameter.
Four or five oars lay on the shore within a few feet of the boat, butthere were no signs of the hapless crew; the sand above high-water markwas innocent of footprints.
"They are drowned, sure enough," said Andy sadly.
Alas! though they did not know it, the fate of the crew was far moreterrible. Holed on the outer reef, the boat, rapidly filling, had beenswept into the lagoon, where the waves, though high, were not soterrific as outside the coral barrier.
Well it was that the watchers on the wreck heard not the awful shrieksas the sharks fought for and seized their helpless prey.
Ellerton returned to the cutter to inform Mr. McKay of their discovery,while the others set off to explore.
In less than an hour they were back, and reported that there were nosigns of human habitation, although the shore was strewn with theremains of the first boat that left the wreck, including most of theoars, gratings, also a quantity of timber, presumably from theshattered decks of the _San Martin_.
"But we've found a fine place to pitch the tent," continued Andy. "Yousee the second terrace? Well, at the extreme right is a steep ravine.The other two sides are enclosed by a wall of rock, while on this sidethere is a natural path, although you can't distinguish it from wherewe are."
"That sounds all right," said his father. "But how are we to get thegear up there--including the useless lump of animated clay in the shapeof myself?"
"I hadn't thought of that," replied Andy.
"We must find a more convenient spot at first," continued Mr. McKay."Then, when we have landed all the gear from the ship that we canpossibly manage to move, we can devise some means of setting up a moresubstantial dwelling on the terrace you mention. Now, if you willplease carry me ashore, you can proceed to unload the boat."
In spite of the adaptable jetty, the work of getting Mr.McKay--crippled as he was--on shore was no easy task. The patient borethe discomfort gamely, uttering a heartfelt sigh of relief as the ladsset the improvised stretcher down in the shade of a thin grove ofcocoanut palms.
"How far away is the stream--I think you mentioned there was a streamin the bay?" asked Ellerton.
"Less than a hundred yards away. It's very clean, but not so full asthe one we found," replied Andy.
"Then let's set up the tent. This place will do for a day or two atleast."
The chosen site consisted of soft springy turf, sloping very graduallytowards the lagoon. In the background was a wall of rock, about fortyfeet in height, forming the limit of the next terrace, while on eitherhand the trees served as an efficient screen from all winds save thoseblowing from the sea.
By the aid of their axes the lads felled five young palms, and soonstripped them of their heads. Four of the trunks were then lashed inpairs, and set up with guy-ropes at a distance of about fifteen feetapart, and one end of the fifth pole was placed over the crutch formedby one of the pairs.
This done, Ellerton swarmed up the other pair of poles and fastened asmall pulley to the extremity of one of them. A rope was passedthrough the block, one end being lashed to the lower part of the fifthpole that rested on the ground.
"Haul away, lads!" he shouted.
And the pole, lifted into a horizontal position, was quickly placedbetween, thus forming the ridge of the tent.
One of the fore and aft sails was then thrown over the ridge pole andits end pegged down; while to make doubly sure, the lads piled stonesand sand upon the ends of the canvas. Filling in the back and front ofthe tent with portions of another sail took an hour's steady work, andthe dwelling was then pronounced ready for occupation.
The box of ammunition, the rifles, bread cask, and water-beakers wereneatly stowed against the afterpart of their dwelling, till, on Mr.McKay's suggestion, a low barricade was erected close to the flap ofthe tent. Then pieces of canvas were cut and laid down to serve asbeds, the cripple having the use of the cushions that had been broughtashore.
"I don't see why we should sleep on the hard ground," remarked Terence."Of course, we have been used to it, but, after sleeping in acomfortable bunk, we are bound to feel the difference. So let us cut anumber of small trees and fasten the strips of canvas to them like astretcher."
This was accordingly done, the beds being raised from the ground bymeans of two stout planks lashed to short uprights driven firmly intothe earth.
"There we are, all in a row," exclaimed Terence, as they surveyed theresult of their labour with evident satisfaction.
"Now, Quexo," said Andy, "go down to the beach and gather as muchdriftwood as you can carry. And, Hoppy, you start opening that tin ofbeef there, and I'll slice up the bread. But----"
"What?" exclaimed Terence and Ellerton.
"We are a set of donkeys! We haven't brought a pot or a kettle ashorewith us."
"Boil the water in the beef-tin," said Ellerton.
"Spoil the coffee," objected Andy.
"Either that or nothing. But how about a light? Has anyone anymatches?"
More disappointment. Terence suggested using the object glass of thetelescope as a burning glass, but the sun was low in the heavens; Andywas for sprinkling some powder on a heap of dry leaves and firing it bymeans of a blank cartridge; while Ellerton vaguely remembered that firemight be obtained by rubbing two pieces of dry wood together.
"Have you ever tried to make a blaze that way?" asked Mr. McKay. "Idon't think you would succeed. Savages can do the trick, I know, butI've never seen a white man obtain fire by that means. I would havesuggested flint and steel. We have plenty of steel, only,unfortunately, flints are as scarce as diamonds on this island, Ifancy. However, now you have exhausted your brains over the problem,allow me to assist you. Andy, put your hand in the inside pocket of mycoat and you'll find my metal match-box.
"Now you are satisfied," he continued, as his son produced the requiredarticle. "The fact of the matter is, you were all in such a hurry toget ashore that you never gave a thought to the things most urgentlyrequired. Lucky for you, my lad, you've a father to think for you.Now will you please empty that case of biscuits? I am afraid somespray splashed over it, and in time the salt will make the biscuitssoft."
Andy did as he was requested, but a moment later he uttered anexclamation of surprise, for on opening the lid he discovered a kettle,s
aucepan, and coffee-pot, knives, forks, and spoons, while wedged inbetween the metal articles were bottles containing salt, pepper,vinegar, and several useful drugs in tabloid form.
"I say, pater, you are----"
"Merely one who has learnt by experience the value of forethought.While you were busy on deck I sent Quexo to gather these things andstow them in a box."
Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by a series of shrieks. Thelads seized their rifles and rushed to meet the mulatto, whose face waslivid with fear.
"A caiman is after me, senor," he shouted in his native tongue.
"Nonsense," replied Andy; then turning to his companions he explainedthat the mulatto had declared that an alligator had run after him.
"It's impossible," he added. "However, we'll see what's frightenedhim."
On emerging from the edge of the wood that had obstructed their view ofthat part of the bay where Quexo had been to gather dry sticks, thelads burst into a roar of laughter. Sedately waddling over the sandwas a huge turtle.
"Follow me, Hoppy," exclaimed Andy. "Get between him and the sea; wecan't afford to lose this chance."
Finding its retreat cut off, the turtle began to throw up showers ofsand with its flippers, but Andy rushed it, and, seizing one of thecreature's horny limbs, strove to capsize the reptile.
The task was beyond him; even with the aid of his two chums he couldnot raise the shell-clad creature from the sand.
"Get hold of an oar and one of the empty tubs," he exclaimedbreathlessly. "You go, Terence. Hoppy and I will prevent the turtlegetting away."
Presently Terence returned with the desired article, and using the oaras a lever the three lads succeeded in turning the turtle on its back,when Andy, with a dexterous sweep of his knife, cut the animal's throat.
"Hurrah! Turtle steak to-morrow, pater!" he shouted on their return tothe camp.
Quexo gathered up the firewood that he had dropped in his flight, andas darkness set in, a roaring fire was kindled, and a gorgeous suppereaten.
Then, ere the last dying embers had ceased to glow, Terence, who hadvolunteered to keep the first two hours' watch, shouldered his rifleand took up his position in the shelter of the neighbouring palm-trees.