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 hand
the rocks, smooth and flat-topped, allowed a boat to be moored
alongside without danger of being left high and dry at low water, while
the ledge shelved so gradually that it was possible to bring the boat's
gunwale 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 any
more than yonder bay."
"Say, Andy," exclaimed Terence, "isn't it about time I had a spell
ashore?"
"All right, Terence," replied Ellerton. "You go with Andy and take
Quexo; I'll stay with Mr. McKay."
"Thanks, Hoppy," replied Terence, and without further ado he jumped
ashore.
"Here, take this rope and make her stern fast before you go," said
Ellerton. "And you, Andy, stand by with the painter."
"Where shall I make fast to?" asked Terence. "This rock is as smooth
as 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 raised
himself on his elbow, eager to hear the news.
Lying bottom upwards on the sandy shore was the ill-fated boat in which
the last of the crew attempted to reach the shore. Her bows were
considerably damaged, while amidships a portion of her keel and both
garboards had been stove in, leaving a jagged hole nearly two feet in
diameter.
Four or five oars lay on the shore within a few feet of the boat, but
there were no signs of the hapless crew; the sand above high-water mark
was 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 more
terrible. Holed on the outer reef, the boat, rapidly filling, had been
swept into the lagoon, where the waves, though high, were not so
terrific as outside the coral barrier.
Well it was that the watchers on the wreck heard not the awful shrieks
as 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 no
signs of human habitation, although the shore was strewn with the
remains of the first boat that left the wreck, including most of the
oars, gratings, also a quantity of timber, presumably from the
shattered decks of the _San Martin_.
"But we've found a fine place to pitch the tent," continued Andy. "You
see 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 side
there is a natural path, although you can't distinguish it from where
we are."
"That sounds all right," said his father. "But how are we to get the
gear up there--including the useless lump of animated clay in the shape
of 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 can
possibly manage to move, we can devise some means of setting up a more
substantial dwelling on the terrace you mention. Now, if you will
please 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 bore
the discomfort gamely, uttering a heartfelt sigh of relief as the lads
set the improvised stretcher down in the shade of a thin grove of
cocoanut palms.
"How far away is the stream--I think you mentioned there was a stream
in the bay?" asked Ellerton.
"Less than a hundred yards away. It's very clean, but not so full as
the one we found," replied Andy.
"Then let's set up the tent. This place will do for a day or two at
least."
The chosen site consisted of soft springy turf, sloping very gradually
towards the lagoon. In the background was a wall of rock, about forty
feet in height, forming the limit of the next terrace, while on either
hand the trees served as an efficient screen from all winds save those
blowing from the sea.
By the aid of their axes the lads felled five young palms, and soon
stripped them of their heads. Four of the trunks were then lashed in
pairs, and set up with guy-ropes at a distance of about fifteen feet
apart, and one end of the fifth pole was placed over the crutch formed
by one of the pairs.
This done, Ellerton swarmed up the other pair of poles and fastened a
small pulley to the extremity of one of them. A rope was passed
through the block, one end being lashed to the lower part of the fifth
pole that rested on the ground.
"Haul away, lads!" he shouted.
And the pole, lifted into a horizontal position, was quickly placed
between, thus forming the ridge of the tent.
One of the fore and aft sails was then thrown over the ridge pole and
its end pegged down; while to make doubly sure, the lads piled stones
and sand upon the ends of the canvas. Filling in the back and front of
the tent with portions of another sail took an hour's steady work, and
the dwelling was then pronounced ready for occupation.
The box of ammunition, the rifles, bread cask, and water-beakers were
neatly stowed against the afterpart of their dwelling, till, on Mr.
McKay's suggestion, a low barricade was erected close to the flap of
the tent. Then pieces of canvas were cut and laid down to serve as
beds, the cripple having the use of the cushions that had been brought
ashore.
"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 a
comfortable bunk, we are bound to feel the difference. So let us cut a
number of small trees and fasten the strips of canvas to them like a
stretcher."
This was accordingly done, the beds being raised from the ground by
means of two stout planks lashed to short uprights driven firmly into
the earth.
"There we are, all in a row," exclaimed Terence, as they surveyed the
result of their labour with evident satisfaction.
"Now, Quexo," said Andy, "go down to the beach and gather as much
driftwood as you can carry. And, Hoppy, you start opening that tin of
beef 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 ashore
with 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 any
matches?"
More disappointment. Terence suggested using the object glass of the
telescope as a burning glass, but the sun was low in the heavens; Andy
was for sprinkling some powder on a heap of dry leaves and firing it by
means of a blank cartridge; while Ellerton vaguely remembered that fire
might be obtained by rubbing two pieces of dry wood together.
"Have you ever tried to make a blaze that way?" asked Mr. McKay. "I
don't think you would succeed. Savages can do the trick, I know, but
I've never seen a white man obtain fire by that means. I would have
suggested flint and steel. We have plenty of steel, only,
unfortunately, flints are as scarce as diamonds on this island, I
fancy. However, now you have exhausted your brains over the problem,
allow me to assist you. Andy, put your hand in the inside pocket of my
coat and you'll find my metal match-box.
"Now you are satisfied," he continued, as his son produced the required
article. "The fact of the matter is, you were all in such a hurry to
get ashore that you never gave a thought to the things most urgently
required. 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 some
spray splashed over it, and in time the salt will make the biscuits
soft."
Andy did as he was requested, but a moment later he uttered an
exclamation of surprise, for on opening the lid he discovered a kettle,
saucepan, and coffee-pot, knives, forks, and spoons, while wedged in
between 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 and
stow them in a box."
Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by a series of shrieks. The
lads seized their rifles and rushed to meet the mulatto, whose face was
livid with fear.
"A caiman is after me, senor," he shouted in his native tongue.
"Nonsense," replied Andy; then turning to his companions he explained
that the mulatto had declared that an alligator had run after him.
"It's impossible," he added. "However, we'll see what's frightened
him."
On emerging from the edge of the wood that had obstructed their view of
that part of the bay where Quexo had been to gather dry sticks, the
lads burst into a roar of laughter. Sedately waddling over the sand
was a huge turtle.
"Follow me, Hoppy," exclaimed Andy. "Get between him and the sea; we
can't afford to lose this chance."
Finding its retreat cut off, the turtle began to throw up showers of
sand with its flippers, but Andy rushed it, and, seizing one of the
creature's horny limbs, strove to capsize the reptile.
The task was beyond him; even with the aid of his two chums he could
not raise the shell-clad creature from the sand.
"Get hold of an oar and one of the empty tubs," he exclaimed
breathlessly. "You go, Terence. Hoppy and I will prevent the turtle
getting away."
Presently Terence returned with the desired article, and using the oar
as 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 to
the camp.
Quexo gathered up the firewood that he had dropped in his flight, and
as darkness set in, a roaring fire was kindled, and a gorgeous supper
eaten.
Then, ere the last dying embers had ceased to glow, Terence, who had
volunteered to keep the first two hours' watch, shouldered his rifle
and took up his position in the shelter of the neighbouring palm-trees.