"A SAIL!"
For the next five months things went smoothly at McKay's Island.
Taking every advantage of the remaining period of the dry season, the
lads worked hard. Almost everything of value was removed from the
wreck.
The heavy lengths of railway lines were safely transported to the
shore; the motor-car, its mechanism not altogether useless, was stored
under a canvas canopy on the lower terrace.
The ship's dynamos were removed, as well as the lighter portion of the
main propelling machinery, while the remaining derricks, practically
the whole of the wire rigging, and all the woodwork that could be taken
away, had found a safe storage-place on McKay's Island.
Most of the dynamite had been cautiously conveyed ashore and placed in
some of the numerous caves at a safe distance from the camp. The
remainder of the explosive had been judiciously used--under Andy's
direction, for his experiences at San Eugenio had not been thrown
away--in demolishing those portions of the wreck that prevented easy
access to the precious cargo.
Only the bare hull of the _San Martin_ now remained. No doubt the
first on-shore hurricane would sweep away every vestige of the
ill-fated vessel, but the castaways were satisfied with the knowledge
that nothing of value remained on board.
Nor had the work ashore been delayed. Already a substantial
three-roomed building of galvanised iron reared itself proudly upon the
second terrace. Its furniture--the best that the state-rooms and
cabins of the _San Martin_ could provide--would have made many a
stay-at-home Englishman green with envy.
The lads had contrived to lay a double set of rails from the shore up
the steep path to the lower terrace. Then, by means of a steel hawser
attached to two sets of trucks, they were able to draw the bulk of
their goods to the higher level with little difficulty.
The mode of locomotion, thanks to Andy's ready skill, was comparatively
simple.
At first Terence wished to utilise the motor of the "runabout"; but to
this proposal Andy objected, having another purpose in view for the
undelivered consignment for Monsieur Georges Lacroix.
Included in the rolling stock were several iron tip waggons, of the
kind generally in use in mining districts. Two of these Andy attached
to each of his "trains." Those on the upper level he filled with
earth, till the weight, being greater than the other set of waggons,
caused the former to descend the incline, and at the same time raise
the trucks filled with cargo from the beach.
This plan acted very well, but the labour in filling the trucks with
soil was tedious; so Andy conceived the brilliant idea of trapping some
of the water from the little stream, and conveying it by means of a
length of iron pipe supported on trestles into the empty tip waggons.
From that moment the "McKay's Island Express" was in full working
order, and the task of hauling the salved cargo up the terrace became a
matter of comparative ease.
Those five months had worked wonders in Mr. McKay. Though weak on his
feet, he was able to walk, and showed promise of soon throwing off all
ill-effects of his double misfortune.
As a natural result of his prolonged convalescence he had grown stout.
This was a source of worry to him, and he longed to be able to get
about again as usual.
Amongst their many undertakings, the lads found time to make use of the
remains of the disabled gig.
Realising that the work of replacing the garboards and keel would not
repay the amount of labour expended on the work, they cut the boat in
two, and built transoms to each of the sound ends. Thus they possessed
two light craft, each about ten feet in length, and easy to haul up and
down the beach.
When occasion served, they could also bolt the two transoms together,
and thus form one boat, resembling the original gig with a slice of her
'midship section missing.
The craft proved of great service while the cutter was under
reconstruction. This was a big task, for not only had the lads given
her a fairly deep keel, to make her more seaworthy, but a cabin,
water-tight well, and decked fo'c'sle were added. The rig was altered
to that of a yawl, while Andy hoped at an early date to instal the
motor in her.
Hitherto his difficulties lay in the fact that the motor was not water
cooled, nor was it adapted to consume kerosene. They had a plentiful
supply of that fuel, but of petrol they had none. Nevertheless, Andy
had firm faith in his capabilities, and trusted to overcome these
difficulties all right.
In this craft the hopes of the inhabitants of McKay's Island were
centred. Although happy in their little domain, for plenty of work had
proved the greatest factor to their well-being, they yearned at times
for the society of their fellow-men and civilisation.
Directly the rainy season was over the little party meant to try their
fate upon the broad Pacific. It was to be a risky voyage, but others
had done similar passages under worse conditions. Blythe, of H.M.S.
_Bounty_, for instance, did he not successfully accomplish a voyage of
4000 miles in an open boat in forty-one days?
The advent of the rainy season was heralded by a hurricane of terrific
force.
Giving but little warning, the storm swept over the island, uprooting
trees and turning the tiny rivulets into foaming torrents. The usually
placid surface of the lagoon became a seething cauldron, huge breakers
sweeping completely over the reef and lashing themselves upon the
rock-strewn beach.
Well it was that the lads had hauled their craft above the reach of
those breakers, for on the morning following the commencement of the
storm not a vestige of the hull of the _San Martin_ was to be seen.
Fortunately the house was solidly constructed. The hail pelted on the
iron roof, the windows rattled and the doors shook to such an extent
that it became necessary to barricade them, while almost incessantly
the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled in deafening peals.
While the rains lasted there was very little outside work done.
Welcome as were the showers at first, they soon became monotonous. It
was too hot to wear oilskins, the ground was too soft to walk on
without sinking ankle deep in mire, so that the castaways were thrown
upon their own resources to pass the time as well as they were able
within doors.
Lack of books had been their greatest discomfort, even the study of the
Spanish charts and treatises on navigation became a pleasure; paper and
writing materials they possessed, and Mr. McKay systematically wrote up
his diary.
But the task that gave the lads the greatest pleasure and amusement was
their efforts to teach Quexo English.
The mulatto was a willing though difficult pupil, and was doubly
handicapped by being unable to write even his own language.
Nevertheless, before the rainy season was over, Quexo could understand
most of what was said to him, and was able to reply in weird sentences
and phrases that often set the lads laughing.
At length the "off season"--as Terence termed it--passed, its departure
being marked by almost as severe a hurricane as the one that preceded
it.
Then for three days and nights a thick mist overspread the island. The
air resembled that of a hothouse, without the least suspicion of a
breeze.
On the morning of the fourth day the sun shone in an unclouded sky, the
mud disappeared as if by the touch of a magic wand, and the inhabitants
of McKay's Island awoke to their life of outdoor activity.
"I think we will do well to postpone the time of our departure for
another month," remarked Mr. McKay. "We shall then have more chance of
a wind, and the zone of the Trades will extend farther north by then.
We shall have plenty to see, too, in a month."
"I want to get the motor fixed up," observed Andy. "I think my plan
for making a water-jacket will succeed, and installing the engine and
tuning it up will take quite a week."
"If you succeed the motor will prove invaluable, especially if we lose
the benefit of the Trades," replied his father.
Andy was hard at work making a propeller. This he did by means of two
sheets of steel plating riveted to an iron boss; for, in order to
prevent the boat from being unduly kept back while under sail alone, he
had decided to have but two blades, which when at rest were up and
down, in line with the boat's stern-post.
Terence, who was also of an engineering turn of mind, had embarked upon
a somewhat ambitious programme. He meant to use the dynamo for
lighting purposes.
"But," objected Ellerton, "what's the use? We are leaving the island
shortly."
"Possibly; but I am looking beyond then, Hoppy. Provided I could be
sure of a passage to 'Frisco occasionally I would not mind settling
down here. No doubt I am indulging in wild day-dreams, but still, my
plans may mature, and there's a living to be made out of the island.
But to deal with present events; the dynamo will be of great service to
us, as we can recharge those accumulators we brought ashore. Then Andy
will be able to use electrical ignition for his motor instead of the
slower and more uncertain lamp ignition."
"Quite so, Terence," assented Andy. "So carry on, my boy."
Thus encouraged, Terence, assisted by Ellerton and Quexo, dug a deep
trench close to the brink of the lower terrace, the side of which he
lined with thick planks from the wreck.
Next a water-wheel, twelve feet in diameter, was constructed, the
paddle floats being cut from the iron plates obtained from the same
source. A portion of the ship's piston rods formed the axle of the
wheel, a grooved drum being attached to take the driving belt of the
dynamo.
At length came the critical test of Terence's work. The stream, once
more diverted, was conducted into the trench, and as the last barrier
to its progress was removed the water rushed through its new channel.
Then, with a cascade of silver splashing from its floats, the wheel
began to gather way, and was soon spinning merrily.
"That's all very fine," exclaimed Andy, who had left his work to view
the opening ceremony of the McKay Island Power Company. "But how are
you going to stop the wheel? It will soon wear its axle out at that
rate; and, besides, we can't have that noise day and night."
"Never thought of that!" replied Terence. "We must make a hatch to
trap the water when we don't require the power."
Two days later the dynamo was in full working order. The lads were
highly delighted, and suggested several schemes for making use of the
electric current.
Then came Andy's triumph. After many difficulties and failures he
succeeded in duly installing the motor in the yawl, and on a trial trip
inside the lagoon the boat behaved magnificently under power.
"We'll have a trip round the island to-morrow," he exclaimed, as the
craft was moored for the night. "Let's turn in early so as to make a
start immediately after sunrise."
The morning dawned bright and calm, with no wind.
"It will mean running under power," observed Andy, as the lads, laden
with provisions and tins of kerosene, wended their way to the shore.
"I mean to----"
He stopped, his eyes fixed seaward.
His companions followed his gaze, and simultaneously there was a shout
of:
"A sail!"