CHAPTER XVII
A MIGHTY SHOCK
Tom Swift turned to gaze at Mr. Barcoe Jenks. That individualcertainly had a strange manner. Perhaps it might be caused by theterror of the earthquakes, but the man seemed to be trying to holdback some secret. He was constrained and ill at ease. He saw theyoung inventor looking at him, and his hands, which had gone to hisbelt, with a spasmodic motion, dropped to his side.
"You don't really mean to say, Parker, that you think the wholeisland is undermined, do you?" asked the owner of the RESOLUTE.
"That's my theory. It may be a wrong one, but it is borne out by thefacts already presented to us. I greatly fear for our lives!"
"But what can we do?" cried Mrs. Nestor.
"Nothing," answered the scientist, with a shrug of his shoulders."Absolutely nothing, save to wait for it to happen."
"Don't say that!" begged Mrs. Andersen.
"Can't you gentlemen do something--build a boat and take us away.Why, the boat we came here in--"
"Struck a rock, and stove a hole in the bottom as big as a barrel,madam," interrupted Captain Mentor. "It would never do to put to seain that."
"But can't something else be done?" demanded Mrs. Nestor. "Oh, it isawful to think of perishing on this terrible earthquake island. Oh,Amos! Think of it, and Mary home alone! Have you seen her lately,Mr. Swift?"
Tom told of his visit to the Nestors' home. Our hero was almost indespair, not so much for himself, as for the unfortunate women ofthe party--and one of them was Mary's mother! Yet what could he do?What chance was there of escaping from the earthquake?
"Bless my gizzard!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Don't let's stand hereworrying! If you folks are hungry come up to our camp. We haveplenty. Afterward we can discuss means of saving ourselves."
"I want to be saved!" exclaimed Mr. Jenks. "I must be saved! I havea great secret--a secret--"
Once more he paused in confusion, and once more his hands nervouslysought his belt.
"I would give a big reward to be saved," he murmured.
"And so, I fancy, we all would," added Captain Mentor. "But we arenot likely to. This island is out of the track of the regular lineof vessels."
"Where are we, anyhow?" inquired Mr. Fenwick. "What island is this?"
"It isn't down on the charts, I believe," was the captain's reply,"but we won't be far out, if we call it Earthquake Island. That nameseems to fit it exactly."
They had walked on, while talking, and now had gone past the brokencliff. Tom and his two friends of the airship led the way to thecamp they had made. On the way, Mr. Hosbrook related how his yachthad struggled in vain against the tempest, how she had sprung aleak, how the fires had gone out, and how, helpless in the trough ofthe sea, the gallant vessel began to founder. Then they had taken tothe boats, and had, most unexpectedly come upon the island.
"And since we landed we have had very little to eat," said Mrs.Nestor. "We haven't had a place to sleep, and it has been terrible.Then, too, the earthquakes! And my husband and I worried so aboutMary. Oh, Mr. Swift! Do you think there is any chance of us everseeing her again?"
"I don't know," answered Tom, softly. "I'll do all I can to get usoff this island. Perhaps we can build a raft, and set out. If westay here there is no telling what will happen, if that scientist'stheory is correct. But there is our camp, just ahead. You will bemore comfortable, at least for a little while."
In a short time they were at the place where Tom and the others hadbuilt the shack. The ruins of the airship were examined withinterest, and the two women took advantage of the seclusion of thelittle hut, to get some much needed rest until a meal should beready.
One was soon in course of preparation by Tom and Mr. Damon, aided byMate Fordam, of the RESOLUTE. Fortunate it was that Mr. Fenwick hadbrought along such a supply of food, for there were now many mouthsto feed.
That the supper (which the meal really was, for it was getting late)was much enjoyed, goes without saying. The yacht castaways hadsubsisted on what little food had been hurriedly put into the lifeboat, as they left the vessel.
At Tom's request, while it was yet light, Captain Mentor and some ofthe men hunted for a spring of fresh water, and found one, for, withthe increase in the party, the young inventor saw the necessity formore water. The spring gave promise of supplying a sufficientquantity.
There was plenty of material at hand for making other shacks, andthey were soon in course of construction. They were made light, aswas the one Tom and his friends first built, so that, in case ofanother shock, no one would be hurt seriously. The two ladies weregiven the larger shack, and the men divided themselves between twoothers that were hastily erected on the beach. The remainder of thefood and stores was taken from the wreck of the airship, and whendarkness began to fall, the camp was snug and comfortable, a bigfire of driftwood burning brightly.
"Oh, if only we can sleep without being awakened by an earthquake!"exclaimed Mrs. Nestor, as she prepared to go into the shack withMrs. Anderson. "But I am almost afraid to close my eyes!"
"If it would do any good to stay up and watch, to tell you when onewas coming, I'd do so," spoke Tom, with a laugh, "but they comewithout warning."
However, the night did pass peacefully, and there was not the leasttremor of the island. In the morning the castaways took courage and,after breakfast, began discussing their situation more calmly.
"It seems to me that the only solution is to build some sort of araft, or other craft and leave the island," said Mr. Fenwick.
"Bless my hair brush!" cried Mr. Damon. "Why can't we hoist a signalof distress, and wait for some steamer to see it and call for us? Itseems to me that would be more simple than going to sea on a raft. Idon't like the idea."
"A signal would be all right, if this island was in the path of thesteamers," said Captain Mentor. "But it isn't. Our flag might flyfor a year, and never be seen."
His words seemed to strike coldness to every heart. Tom, who waslooking at the wreck of the airship, suddenly uttered anexclamation. He sprang to his feet.
"What is it?" demanded Mr. Fenwick. "Does your sore leg hurt you?"
"No, but I have just thought of a plan!" fairly shouted the younginventor. "I have it! Wait and see if I can work it!"
"Work what?" cried Mr. Damon.
Tom did not get a chance to answer, for, at that moment, theresounded, at the far end of the island, whence the yacht castawayshad come, a terrific crash. It was accompanied, rather thanfollowed, by a shaking, trembling and swaying of the ground.
"Another earthquake!" screamed Mrs. Nestor, rushing toward herhusband. The castaways gazed at each other affrighted.
Suddenly, before their eyes, they saw the extreme end of that partof the island on which they were camping, slip off, and beneath thefoaming waves of the sea, while the echoes of the mighty crash cameto their ears!