CHAPTER XIV
SETTLING DOWN ON THE ISLAND
"What's wrong, lad?"
"A snake! It has wound itself around my legs!"
"Ye don't say!" gasped Captain Jerry, and then leaped down to thehollow. "Well, by gosh! Take that, ye beast!"
"That" was a blow aimed at the reptile's head with the sailor's stick.Old Jerry's aim was both swift and true and the head of the reptilereceived a blow which knocked out one eye and bruised its fang. Butthe body wound itself around Dick tighter than ever.
Fortunately the youth had not lost his wits completely, and as theneck of the reptile came up, he grasped it in his hand with thestrongest grip he could command.
"Cut it--cut its head off!" he panted. "Get your pocket-knife!"
At once Captain Jerry dropped his stick and pulled out his jack-knife,a big affair, such as many old sailors carry. One pull opened themain blade, and then old Jerry started in to do as Dick had suggested.It was no easy job and the body of the snake squirmed and whipped inevery direction, lashing each on the neck and the cheek. But the headcame off at last and then they left the body where it fell, and leapedout of the way of further danger.
"A close shave, lad," said the old sailor, as he peered around formore snakes.
"I--I should sa--say it wa--was," panted Dick. He was deadly pale."I--I thought it would strangle me sure!"
"If it had got around your neck, that is what would have happened.Reckon as how we had better git out o' this neighborhood, eh?"
"Yes, yes, let us go at once," and Dick started off once more.
After that both were very careful where they stepped and kept theireyes wide open for any new danger which might arise. So they went onuntil they came in sight of the seashore.
"We had better say nothing about the snake," said the eldest Rover."It will only scare the girls to death."
"No, lad, you are wrong. We must warn them of danger. Otherwise theymay run into it headlong."
All of the others were glad to have them back and plied them withquestions.
"So there are seven islands," said Tom. "Well, as there are seven ofus, that is one island apiece. I don't think we need complain," andhis jolly manner made all laugh.
When Jerry told the story about the snake Dora set up a scream.
"Oh, Dick, if it had really strangled you!" she gasped. "You must bevery, very careful in the future!"
"Yes, and you must be careful, too, Dora," he answered.
"There is a nice beach right around the edge of the island," saidold Jerry. "So, when we want to visit the other islands, we can walkaround on the sand. That is better than climbing the hill."
"But the beach doesn't run to the other islands, does it?" asked Sam.
"No, but we can carry our rowboat around with us, to that bay betweenthe islands. There the water is smooth enough for anybody to row in."
"The six islands are shaped exactly like a ring," said Dick. "Andthis island is the big stone on top."
"As the island is uninhabited I suppose we'll have to settle downand build ourselves huts or something," came from Nellie.
"To be sure. We'll be regular Robinson Crusoes," answered Tom. "Why,I can tell you it will be jolly, when we get used to it."
"Where will we build our huts?" asked Sam.
"We can build them here, if we wish," replied Dick. "But I ratherfavor the side fronting the other islands."
"Yes, that's the best side," said Captain Jerry. "If we build here,a strong storm may knock our huts flat. That side is more shelteredand, consequently, safer. Besides, there is more fruit there, andI'm sure better fishing in the bay, and that's what counts, too."
"Of course it counts--since we must live on fruits, fish, and whatbirds and animals we manage to knock over," said Tom.
The boys had been fairly successful in hunting and fishing, havingknocked over half a dozen birds and caught four fair-sized fish.Everything had been done to a turn over the camp-fire, and Dick andold Jerry did full justice to what was set before them--on some driedpalm leaves Nellie had found. Their coffee they drank out of somecocoanut shells. They had no forks, but used sharp sticks instead,and the knives the boys carried in their pockets.
The weather continued fine and that night the moon shone as brightlyas ever. The boys took a stroll on the beach to talk over their plans.
"I am sorry to say there is no telling how long we may have to stayhere," said Dick. "It may be a day, a week, or for years."
"Oh, some ship is bound to pick us up some day," returned Tom. "Andif we can find enough to live on in the meantime, what is the use ofcomplaining? I am glad my life was spared."
"So am I, Tom."
"I would like to know what became of Dan Baxter," put in Sam. "Canit be possible that all of the rest perished?"
"Certainly it is possible, Sam. You know what a time we had of it."
"It is an awful death to die--in the midst of the ocean," and theyoungest Rover shuddered.
"I agree with you," said Tom. "But I am more sorry for Captain Blossomthan for Baxter."
"The wrecking of the ship was the fault of the mate. He was drunk,"said Dick. "The man at the wheel was doing what was right until JackLesher came along."
"Well, I guess the mate went down with the rest."
"Look!" cried Sam, pointing to sea. "I see something dark on the water."
All gazed in the direction he pointed out and made out a mass ofwreckage. They watched it steadily until the breakers cast it almostat their feet.
"Some wreckage from the ship!" cried Dick, on examination. "See, hereis the name on some of the woodwork. I reckon the vessel went topieces on the rocks."
The wreckage consisted mainly of broken spars and cordage. But therewere also some boxes, which, on being opened, proved to containprovisions.
"It's not such a bad find, after all," said Tom. "I hope some morecomes ashore." But though they waited the best part of the night,nothing more came to view.
In the morning the boys felt tired and they did not rouse up untilnearly noon. They found old Jerry at the beach, inspecting the wreckage.
"The ropes may come in handy," he said. "But the wood is of smallaccount, since' we have all we want already to hand."
It was decided to remain at the beach for the next day, to look formore wreckage. But none came in, and then they started in a body toskirt the shore around to the South Bay, as old Jerry called it. Atfirst they thought to carry the boat around, but concluded to comeback for that later.
It was a journey full of interest, for the sandy beach was dottedwith many strange and beautiful seashells, and just back of the sandwas the rich tropical growth already mentioned. The woods were fullof monkeys and birds, and once Tom thought he caught sight of somegoats or deer.
They reached an ideal spot fronting the little bay a little beforenoon, and then the girls were glad enough to sit down in the shadeand rest. The bay was full of fish, and before long they had caughtthree of the finny tribe. Fruit was also to be had in plenty, and aspring of fresh water gushed from the rocks of the hill behind them.
"This is certainly a beautiful place," murmured Dora, as she gazedaround. "Were it not for the folks at home worrying about us, I couldspend quite some time here and enjoy it."
"Well, as our situation cannot be helped, let us make the best ofit," said Dick cheerfully. "There is no use in being downhearted whenwe ought to be glad that we were saved."
Close to the rocks they found several trees growing in something oftwo circles, and they decided that these trees should form the cornerposts of a double house or cabin.
"If we had an ax we might cut down some wood, but as it is we willhave to use strong vines and cover the huts with palm leaves," saidCaptain Jerry.
The boys were soon at work, cutting the vines and gathering the palmleaves, and the girls assisted as well as they were able in fasteningup the vine-ropes and binding in the leaves. It was slow work, yetby nightfall one half the house was complete and the other had thero
of covered.
"Now, if rain comes, we can keep fairly dry," said Tom.
It rained the very next day and they were glad enough to crowd intothe completed part, while the rain came down in torrents. When theworst of the downpour was over the wind arose and it kept blowingfiercely all of the afternoon and the night.
"We can be thankful we are sheltered by the hill," said Sam. "Werewe on the other side of the island, the wind would knock the hut flatand drench us in no time."
The storm kept all awake until early morning and when it went downthey were glad to sink to rest. All slept soundly and it was notuntil ten o'clock, when the sun was struggling through the clouds,that Tom arose, to find the others still slumbering.
"I'll let them sleep," he said to himself "They need it and thereis no need for them get to up."
Stretching himself, he walked quietly from the hut and down to thebeach. His first thought was to try to collect some wood, more orless dry, and start a fire.
Gazing across the bay to one of the other islands, he saw a sightwhich filled him with astonishment. There, on the beach of the island,lay the wreck of the _Golden Wave_.