THE CRUSOES OF SEVEN ISLANDS
All on board of the rowboat watched the thin trail of smoke with
interest.
"I believe it is going away from us," said Dora.
"No, it is coming closer," said Nellie.
"It is certainly moving to the northward," put in Sam.
A quarter of an hour went by and the smoke came only a little nearer.
"She is a big steamer," said Captain Jerry. "But she aint comin' jest
this way."
"You are sure?" cried Tom.
"Yes, lad. It's too bad, but it can't be helped."
The old sailor was right; half an hour later the smoke had shifted,
and after that it faded gradually from sight.
It was a heavy blow, after their expectations had been raised so
high, and tears stood in the eyes of all of the girls, while the boys
looked unusually sober.
What was to do next? All asked that question, yet it was only Captain
Jerry who answered it.
"Let us pull southward," said he.
And they did so, although with hearts that were as heavy as lead in
their bosoms.
Slowly the night came on. Shortly after the sun set the moon showed
itself and the sky became studded with stars, the Southern Cross
standing out boldly among them. The pale light made the bosom of the
ocean glisten like silver.
"A beautiful night," said Dora. "But who can enjoy it when we do not
know what to-morrow will bring forth," and she sighed deeply.
The boys and old Jerry continued to take turns at rowing, while the
girls sank into fitful slumber.
Presently the old sailor raised his head.
"Listen!" he said, and they did so, and far away heard a strange booming.
"What's that?" questioned Sam.
"It's breakers!" cried Tom. "We must be near some coast!"
"The lad is right," came from Captain Jerry. "We are near an island,
after all!"
Dick stood on a seat, and, as the boat rode to the top of a wave,
took a look around.
"An island!" he cried. "Dead ahead!"
"Hurrah! We are saved!" ejaculated Sam. "What is the matter?" questioned
Dora, rousing up, followed by the other girls.
"There is an island ahead."
"We must be careful how we approach the shore, lads," cautioned Jerry.
"If we strike the rocks, it may cost us our lives. Perhaps we had
better hold off until daylight."
"I see a stretch of sand!" came from Tom, who was standing up. "If
we can reach that, we'll be all right."
Old Jerry took a careful look. The sand was there, true enough, but
there were dangerous breakers between the boat and that shore.
"If you say so, we can run our chances," he said. "The young ladies
must hold tight, and not mind a good ducking."
The force of the waves was now carrying them closer and closer to
the breakers. Under old Jerry's directions the boys took a short,
sharp stroke, keeping the rowboat straight up to the waves. The noise
was like thunder, and soon the spray was flying all over them.
"Now pull!" cried Captain Jerry. "One, two, three! Hold tight, girls!"
And away they went into the breakers. One wave dashed over the craft,
but it was not swamped, and before another could hit them they darted
up a swell and onto a long, sandy beach.
In a twinkle the old sailor was out, along with Dick, and, aided by
another wave, they ran the boat well up the beach, out of the harm
of the waves. It was a hard struggle, and when it was over Dick sank
down almost exhausted.
"Saved!" murmured Dora, as she leaped out on shore. "Thank Heaven!"
And all of the others echoed the sentiment.
The empty boat was pulled up out of harm's way and chained fast to
a palm tree growing near, and then the party of seven sat down to
rest and to talk over the new condition of affairs. They were on a
wild, tropical coast, with a long, sandy beach running to the ocean,
and back of this a dense mass of tropical vegetation, including palms,
plantains, cocoanuts, and date trees. Back of the heavy growth was
a distant hill, standing out dimly in the moonlight.
"This looks like a regular Crusoe-like island," said Dora, as she
gazed around. "There is not a sign of a habitation anywhere."
"A good many of the South Sea islands are not inhabited," said Dick.
"The natives won't live on them because they are subject to volcano
eruptions, earthquakes, and tidal waves."
"Well, I hope we don't have any of those things while we stay here," came
from Nellie. "An earthquake would scare me almost to death."
"I do not see that we can do better than to stay right here for the
rest of the night," said Tom. "I am too tired out to walk very, far."
It was decided to follow Tom's advice, and all made themselves as
comfortable as circumstances permitted. They had some matches in a
waterproof safe, and soon a camp-fire was started, at which they
dried some of their garments. Then, after eating some of the provisions
that were left, they laid down to rest. Strange as it may seem all
slept soundly until sunrise, and nothing came to disturb them.
When the girls arose they found the boys and Captain Jerry already
preparing breakfast. On the shore Tom, had found some oysters and
shell-fish, and these were baking. Among the provisions were a little
tea and coffee, and old Jerry had made a pot of coffee, which did
one good to smell. Sam had brought down some cocoanuts from a nearby
tree, and also found some ripe bananas.
"We won't starve' to death here, that's certain," said Dick, when
they all sat down to eat. "The island is full of good things. If I
had a gun I could bring down lots of birds, and monkeys, too."
"I don't think I'd care to eat a monkey," said Grace. "But I wouldn't
mind eating birds."
"There must be plenty of fish here, too," said Tom. "In fact I saw
some sporting in the waters of a little bay up the coast."
"Shall we go up and down the coast after breakfast?" asked Sam.
"My advice is to climb yonder hill and take a squint around," came
from Captain Jerry.
"That's a splendid idea, providing we can get to the tap," said Dick.
"There is no use of all of us going, lad. You can go with me while
the rest stay here."
"What shall we do in the meantime?" asked Sam.
"Better try your hand at fishin', lad, and see if you can knock some
birds over with sticks and stones. If ye get anything, let the girls
cook us somethin', for we'll be powerful hungry by the time we get back."
Half an hour later Captain Jerry and Dick set out. Each carried a
few ship's biscuits and also a heavy stick which had been cut in the
thickets. Each wished he had a gun or a pistol, but those articles
were not to be had.
The climb up the hill was by no means an easy one. The rocks were
rough and in many spots the jungle of brush and vines was so thick
that to get through was next to impossible. It was very warm, and
they had to stop often to cool off and catch their breath.
"I don't wonder that people in hot countries move slowly," said Dick.
"I feel more like resting than doing anything else."
It was almost noon when they came in sight of the top of the hill.
There were still some rough rocks to climb, and these they had to
ascend by means of some vines that grew handy.
"What a magnificent view!" cried Dick.
It certainly was magnificent. Looking back in the direction they had
come they could see the Pacific Ocean, glittering in the bright
sun-light and stretching miles and miles out of sight.
The island they were on looked to be about half a mile in diameter.
Northward, eastward, and westward was the ocean, but to the southward
was a circlet of six islands, having a stretch of calm water between
them. Between some of the islands the water was very shallow, while
elsewhere it looked deep.
"Seven islands in all," said old Jerry. "And not a sign of a house
or hut anywhere."
"We are the Crusoes of Seven Islands," said Dick. "But do you really
believe they are uninhabited?"
"Do ye see any signs of life, lad?"
"I must say I do not. It's queer, too, for I rather imagined one at
least of the other boats had reached this place."
"I thought the same. But it looks now as if they all went to Davy
Jones's locker, eh?"
"It certainly does look that way."
From the top of the hill they took a careful survey of the situation.
The elevation was in the very center of the island. Down toward the
other islands the slope was more abrupt than it was in the direction
from which they had come.
"We can take a look at those other islands later on," said old Jerry.
"Reckon as how we have done enough for one day. If we don't git back
soon, they'll become anxious about us."
"I wish we had a flag," said Dick. "Here is a tall tree. We could
chop away the top branches and hang up a signal of distress. If we
did that, perhaps some ship would come this way and rescue us."
"Right ye are, lad, but it aint many ships come this way. They are
afraid o' the rocks we run on."
Having looked around once more, to "git the lay o' the land," as
Captain Jerry expressed it, they started to descend the hill. This
proved as difficult as climbing up had been.
Dick went in advance, and was half-way down when he stepped on a
loose stick and went rolling into a perfect network of vines and
brushwood.
"Are ye hurt?" sang out old Jerry.
"No--not much!" answered the eldest Rover. "But my wind--Oh, goodness
gracious!"
Dick broke off short, and small wonder. As 'he arose from the hole
into which he had tumbled, a hissing sound caught his ears. Then up
came the head of a snake at least eight feet long, and in a twinkle
the reptile had wound itself around the boy's lower limbs!