CHAPTER XVII
EXPLORING THE SEVEN ISLANDS
Another rainy spell, lasting three days, followed, but after thatthe sky cleared in a fashion which Captain Blossom thought betokenedgood weather for some time to come.
"We can now explore the seven islands and learn just what theycontain," he said.
The question now arose as to who should go along and who should stayat home with the girls. Lots were cast, and by this it was decidedthat the exploring party should consist of Captain Blossom, Sam, andTom, leaving Dick and old Jerry with Dora, Nellie, and Grace.
It was decided that the exploring party should take the lightest ofthe rowboats and enough provisions to last for a week. Each was alsoprovided with a pistol, and Captain Blossom carried a rifle in addition.
"If all goes well we will be back inside of four days," said thecaptain, when he and Tom and Sam were ready to depart. "But if weare not back at that time do not worry until at least a week has goneby." And so it was arranged. It was also arranged that three shotsfired in succession should be a signal that one party or the otherwas in trouble.
Tom and Sam were pleased over the prospect of going with the captainand they willingly took up the oars to row to the nearest island,which, as we already know, was close at hand. The boat was left onthe beach and without delay the captain and the two boys plunged intothe interior.
The island was small, with but a slight rise of ground in the center.It was of small importance and they soon came out on the ocean side,where there was a beach strewn with shells and with oysters scarcelyfit to eat. The growth on this island was mostly of young palms andthe captain was of the opinion that the ground was not many years old.
"This has been thrown up by an earthquake or a volcano," he said."There is nothing here to interest us," and he turned back.
They already knew something of the island on which the wreck waslocated, but, nevertheless, made a trip across it and up the outwardcoast. Here they found a number of orange and lemon trees, and alsoa great quantity of tropical nuts and some spices. The lemons provedto be very refreshing, and Tom said he meant to come back some dayand get a bagful for general use.
The next island was visited the next day, the party spending thenight on the wreck. The passage to this island was rather a roughone, and they had all they could do to keep from having their provisionsspilt overboard.
"It is a blessing that the sea is comparatively calm," said CaptainBlossom. "Otherwise we could never make such a trip in a small boat."
This island was the largest of the group outside of the one on whichthe castaways had settled. It was almost square in shape and had adouble hill with a tiny valley running between. In this valley thetropical growth was very dense, and the monkeys and birds were thickerthan they had before seen them. There were also large quantities ofblue and green parrots, filling the air with their cawing and screaming.
"This is a very nice island," said Tom, while they were resting undersome calabash trees. "The wood is very valuable--indigo, rosewood,mahogany, and lots of others. And what a sweet smell!" And he drewin a long breath of satisfaction.
"It is certainly a lazy man's paradise," re-turned Sam. "A fellowneed do next to nothing to feed and clothe himself here, and a houseisn't absolutely necessary excepting when it storms real hard."
On this island they found numerous land crabs, some as large as theirtwo hands, and many fierce-looking spiders, with long, hairy legsand bulging eyes. Ants were also numerous, and in one spot theylocated fifteen anthills, each as large as a big beehive. Insectsof all sorts were numerous, and they had to continually slap at aspecimen of red fly that annoyed them greatly.
"How those ants would like to get at our provisions," said Tom. "Wecan be thankful that we didn't locate here. Once they got at thestuff, they would eat us out of house and home."
After resting, and partaking of some of the food brought along, theycontinued their journey across the island.
The way was up one of the hills, and Tom was slightly in advance,when a noise ahead attracted his attention.
"Something is there," he called out, as he came to a halt.
"What is it?" asked Sam.
"I don't know. Perhaps some wild animal, or else a snake."
"Go slow there," cautioned Captain Blossom, coming up. "We don't wantto run into unnecessary danger."
"What did it sound like, Tom?"
"I can't describe it. Something like a snarl, I guess."
"Perhaps it was only a monkey."
All stopped to listen, but no, sound reached their ears but the humof insects and the chirping of some distant birds.
"I reckon I had best go first," said Captain Blossom, but he did notseem to relish the task.
Gun in hand, the captain advanced very cautiously. The boys cameclose behind him, each with his pistol ready for use.
Of a sudden there was a snarl with a strange "yow-yawing," and agreat beast leaped up on all-fours directly in their path and dartedthrough the bushes. The captain raised his gun and the boys theirpistols, but before they could fire the beast had disappeared.
"What was it?" asked Sam, trembling with excitement.
"I give it up, unless it was a bear," said Tom.
"I think I know what it was," said the captain. "A big baboon or agorilla."
"I guess you are right, captain," answered Tom. "I saw a gorilla ina menagerie, and it was exactly like that beast. But what a big fellowhe was!"
"Gorillas are highly dangerous, especially when cornered," saidCaptain Blossom. He himself was more frightened than he cared toadmit. "They have been known to carry a man off in their arms andbite him to death."
"Thanks, but I want no gorillas around me," declared Sam.
They waited several minutes before advancing again. But the gorillahad disappeared, nor did it show itself again during that trip onthe island.
Half an hour brought them in sight of the seashore once more. Theywere gazing at the sea when Tom happened to glance back, and on thehill behind them saw four goats standing in a bunch, looking at themin astonishment.
"Quick! out of sight!" he cried, and dragged the others behind sometrees.
"What did you see?"
"Several goats. Perhaps, if we are careful, we can get a shot atthem. Fresh goat meat won't go bad."
"What's the matter with capturing some of the goats and getting themilk?" came from Sam.
"You'll have a job catching wild goats," answered Captain Blossom."They are as fleet of foot as deer."
It was decided to try two shots at the goats, providing they couldget close enough. With care they plunged into the undergrowth andmade their way back up the hillside until they thought they must bewithin fifty yards of the game.
"There they are!" cried Tom softly.
Bang! went the captain's gun, and crack! Tom fired immediately after.Two of the goats were hit, and one fell dead. The other staggeredaway with a broken foreleg.
"We must get that second fellow!" cried Sam, and rushed after thegame. The goat tried to turn on him, but Sam hit the beast over thehead with a club he carried. Two other blows finished the animal.
"That isn't bad," said the captain. "They both look to be young. Theyought to make good eating."
"We are going to have no easy work of it, getting these animals downto the shore," said Tom.
"After we get them to the shore, what then?" questioned his brother."We can't keep them in the boat all the time that we are exploringthe other islands."
"We had best make a trip back to the house," answered Captain Blossom."If the others heard the shots they'll be wondering what has happened;besides, a storm is coming up."
The captain said he would carry the smaller of the goats alone,leaving the two Rovers to carry the larger game between them. Aftera rest and another look around the vicinity, they started for theboat and reached it after a walk which almost exhausted every one ofthe party.
"I'll be glad enough to lay around our camp and rest for a day,"a
nnounced Sam. "This task of exploring is not as easy as it looks."
A little later they were in the boat and rowing back to where theyhad left the others, little dreaming of the strange events that hadhappened in their absence.