FINDING MR. TARBILL
Bob hurried forward as fast as he could through the water, no
longer swimming, but wading. Soon he reached the beach and saw,
beyond it, that the land was covered with green grass, while trees,
which he easily recognized as the kind found in warm countries,
grew to a great height.
"I'm on a tropical island," thought the castaway. "Just like
Robinson Crusoe, only I haven't any of the things he had and the
wreck of the _Eagle_ isn't near enough for me to get anything from
the ship. Still I ought to be thankful I'm not drowned or eaten by
a shark."
Bob was tired after his long swim and stretched out under the trees
on the grass to rest. It was already beginning to get much warmer,
though the sun was only just peeping up, seemingly from beneath the
ocean.
"Wonder if I'm going to find anything to eat here," the boy
thought. "Doesn't look as if any one lived here. I'll have to
take a look around. It's going to be very lonesome here. I wonder
if any ships ever pass this place?"
There were so many questions that needed answering he did not know
where to stop asking them of himself. But he decided the first and
best thing to do would be to get off his wet clothes. Not that he
was afraid of taking cold, but he knew he would be more comfortable
in dry garments.
So, taking everything out of his pockets, which was no small
operation by the way, as Bob was a typical boy, he stripped himself
of his heavier garments and hung them on tree limbs to dry.
"Now if I could find something to eat I'd be right in it--at least
for a while," thought the castaway as he walked around on the warm
grass. "And I need a drink, for I swallowed a lot of salt water
and I'm as dry as a powder horn." He looked out on the ocean, but
not a trace of a boat was visible.
Bob walked some distance from where he had landed, keeping a sharp
lookout for a spring of water. All the while he was getting more
and more thirsty, and he began to think he would have to dig a
little well near shore with clam shells, as he had read of
shipwrecked sailors doing. But, fortunately, he was not forced to
this. As he penetrated a little way into the wood, he heard the
gurgle of water.
"That sounds good," he remarked.
Stepping cautiously, because of his bare feet, he went on a little
farther and presently saw a small waterfall, caused by a stream
tumbling over a little ledge of rocks and splashing into a pool
below.
"That looks better than it sounds," thought Bob. And a moment
later he was drinking his fill. "Seems as if there might be fish
in there," he went on, glancing at the pool. "Guess I'll try it."
Bob was fond of hunting and fishing and knew considerable about
wood-lore. Searching under the stones he soon found some worms,
and, tossing one into the middle of the pool, he saw a hungry fish
rise to it.
"Now if I had a pole, hook, and line I'd soon have a breakfast," he
went on to himself. "I have the line, all right, and I ought to
have a hook in one of my pockets. I generally do. As for a pole I
can easily cut one."
Bob hurried back to where he had piled the things he took from his
pockets. It did not take him long to discover that he had a stout
cord that would answer for a line, while he also had several hooks.
With his knife he cut a pole, and baiting the hook with a worm, he
cast in.
Probably no one, unless it might have been some unfortunate
castaway in years gone by, had ever angled in that pool. The fish
at once rose to the bait, and soon Bob had several beauties on the
grass beside him.
"Now to cook them," he said to himself. "Lucky I bought a
water-proof match box before I started on this voyage. I can now
make a fire."
Bob went back to the place he called "home"--where he had first
landed--and looked in the water-tight match box which he always had
carried since he had come aboard the _Eagle_. To his delight the
little fire-sticks were not harmed by his bath. He only wished he
had more of them.
Finding his clothes were now nearly dry, he put part of them on and
proceeded to kindle a fire. Then he cleaned the fish and set them
to broil by the simple process of hanging them in front of the fire
on a pointed stick, one end of which was thrust into the ground.
"That smells good!" exclaimed Bob, as the fish began to brown.
"But, I almost forgot. There's plenty of fruit to be had." For he
had noticed several trees well laden as he passed through the
woods. "I'll not starve here as long as I have fruit and fish."
He gathered some things that looked a cross between an orange and a
tangerine and ate several, finding them delicious. By the time the
fish were well done Bob, preparing to eat his odd breakfast, was
suddenly startled by a groan. It seemed to come from behind a pile
of rocks off to the left.
"I wonder what that was?" thought Bob. "An animal or a human
being? I wonder if there are any South Sea natives on this island?"
He put down his fish on some big green leaves he had plucked for
plates and went toward the rocks. As he approached, the groans
became louder. Peering cautiously over the stones, Bob saw the
figure of a man lying on the sand, as if he had managed to crawl
out of the water.
[Illustration: "Bob saw the figure of a man lying on the sand."]
For an instant the boy could scarcely believe his eyesight. Then,
with a cry, he rushed forward.
"It's Mr. Tarbill!" he exclaimed. "He, too, must have fallen
overboard and been washed ashore. But he seems to be hurt."
The man's eyes were closed and he was scarcely breathing.
"He's dying!" thought Bob, his heart beating hard.
Then, thinking perhaps the man might be partly drowned, the young
castaway began to put into operation as much of the directions as
he remembered for restoring partially drowned persons to life. He
had not worked long before he saw Mr. Tarbill's eyes open. Then
the nervous passenger began to breathe better.
"Where--where am I?" he asked faintly.
"You're safe," replied Bob. "On an island with me. But where is
the captain--and the others?"
"Boat foundered. Wave washed over it--soon after you fell
overboard. No chance to get life-preservers. It was every one for
himself."
"Are they drowned?"
"I don't know! Oh, it is terrible! I swam as long as I could,
then I seemed to be sinking."
"You're all right now," said Bob cheerfully. "You're just in time
to have some breakfast."
He helped Mr. Tarbill to his feet. The nervous man seemed to
recover rapidly, and when, at Bob's suggestion, he had taken off
most of his wet clothes and was drying out near the fire, his face
took on a more cheerful look.
"Those fish smell fine," he said. "I'm very fond of fish. Are you
sure those are not poisonous?"
"I'm not sure," replied Bob, "and I'm too hungry to care much.
They're a sort of big sun-fish, such as I used to catch at home.
The meat looks nice and white. Better have some. I'll warm them
again."
He put them once more on the pointed sticks near the fire, and when
they were sizzling he laid them on the green leaves. Then, with
sticks for knives and forks, the two castaways made a fairly good
meal.
"I thought I never would see land again," said the nervous man, as
he began to dress in his dry clothes after the breakfast. "This
has been a terrible experience for me."
"I guess it has," admitted Bob. "And for all of us. I wish I knew
what has happened to the captain and the others."
"Our boat was swamped by a big wave," said Mr. Tarbill, "and
suddenly we were all thrown into the water. That is the last I
remember. Perhaps the captain and some of the crew may have swum
ashore on another part of this island."
"I hope so. We'll search for them. I guess we're in for a long
stay."
"Have we got to remain here?" demanded Mr. Tarbill.
"I don't see what else there is to do," replied Bob. "We haven't
any boat, we can't walk on the water, and we'll have to stay until
a ship comes and takes us off."
"Oh, dear!" exclaimed the nervous man. "I wish I had stayed at
home!"
Bob thought he might at least be thankful that his life was spared
and that he was not where he would starve, but the lad concluded it
would be wise to say nothing.
"If you like we'll take a walk around the island, see how large it
is and if there's a place where we can make a sort of shelter,"
proposed Bob.
"I guess that will be the best thing to do. I leave it all to you.
My nerves are in such shape that I can do nothing."
Bob felt not a little proud of the responsibility thus thrust upon
him. He resolved to act wisely and cautiously, for there was no
telling how long they would have to live on the island.
With the boy in the lead the two started off. The sun was now hot
and strong, and they found it advisable to keep in the shade of the
woods as much as possible.
Bob saw a big turtle crawling down the beach toward the water, and,
knowing the flesh was good for food, he ran forward to catch it.
He was too late, however, and when he turned, with a feeling of
disappointment, to catch up with Mr. Tarbill, who had continued on,
Bob was surprised to hear the man utter an exclamation. He had
come to a halt near a pile of rocks and was looking over the tops.
"What's the matter?" asked the boy.
"There are two men down there on the beach! Perhaps they are
cannibals! We had better go back!"
"Let me take a look," proposed Bob.
Cautiously he went forward, gave one glance at the figures to which
Mr. Tarbill pointed, and then he uttered a cry.
"Hurrah!" he shouted. "They are Captain Spark and Tim Flynn, one
of the sailors! They've managed to get to shore! Ahoy, captain!
Ahoy! Here we are!" and he ran down the beach toward them.