WRECKING.
As nearly as could be ascertained after the boys were on board the wreck
once more, she had not sustained any very serious damage so far as the
hull was concerned.
Ned lowered himself down over the port side by means of a rope, and
reported that the timbers appeared to be intact.
“I can’t see that a single plank has been started, an’ it wouldn’t be
such a terrible job to get her afloat once more.”
“I guess we won’t try anything of that kind yet awhile,” Roy replied
with a laugh. “It’s positive that some accident happened to the
machinery, and neither Vance nor I could repair it.”
“I thought you said you had been learnin’ how to run her.”
“So we did; but we weren’t so far advanced in the study as to be able to
repair a broken engine.”
“Perhaps there isn’t so very much the trouble. I’ve seen boilers in
Treat’s sawmill blow out a tube or two, an’ it didn’t require any skill
to repair that kind of damage.”
“There must have been something more serious than that happen, otherwise
she wouldn’t have stopped so suddenly,” Vance replied. “At all events,
we needn’t talk yet awhile of trying to float her. We’ll get the movable
property ashore, and tackle your old hulk before doing anything more in
the way of wrecking.”
The boys had not anticipated having such a task as was really before
them, until after working at it an hour.
Very many of the fittings they were most eager to save belonged, or had
fallen, on the starboard side, and in order to reach these it was
necessary to dive, for the hull was filled with water to about half its
breadth.
When noon came they were glad of a breathing-spell.
The tent had not yet been put up, and that labor was to be performed
immediately after dinner.
They had on the shore a large collection of goods, however, and Ned said
as he surveyed the pile:
“It won’t take us much more than a week to finish the job in great
shape.”
“Have we got to wait all that time before finding the dollars?” Vance
grumbled.
“It isn’t certain we shall ever see any more, so there’s no use in
worryin’ about what may not exist.”
“That’s where you’re right, Ned,” Roy cried. “It may be Vance will have
a chance of learning that there are other things in this world more
valuable than money, although I hope he won’t get the lesson in quite so
rough a manner as is possible.”
“It isn’t so much the money as it is the pleasure of finding it that I’m
after,” Vance replied laughingly. “To hear you fellows talk any one
would think I had suddenly turned miser.”
“Then don’t be so impatient to dig,” Roy replied, and just then it was
necessary for him to cease his part in the conversation because the soup
he was making needed his immediate attention.
Despite the fact that he appeared so eager to hunt for treasure, Vance
was not willing to cut the “nooning” short by so much as a single
minute, for the unusual exertion had tired him thoroughly, and he
insisted that the party should rest not less than two hours.
“If, as you say, we are likely to be here a long while, there isn’t any
very great need of hurrying, and I feel as if I’d been shoveling coal
for a week.”
The others were quite as willing as he to delay the labor during the
heat of the day, and the result was that the task of wrecking was not
resumed until nearly three o’clock, when the greater portion of the
remaining time was spent in putting up the tent.
It was necessary this work be done in a thorough manner, lest the next
gale should level it to the ground, and each fastening was looked to
carefully.
When the task was finished the young wreckers had good reason to feel
proud of their arrangements for “housekeeping.”
The cook-tent was placed at right angles with the other, so that one end
of the sleeping apartment would be partially screened from the wind, and
both were lashed together in such a manner as to add to the solidity of
each.
“It will be a case of losing both or holding all,” Roy said in a tone of
satisfaction as he surveyed the result of their labors. “Now when such
provisions as have not been spoiled by the salt water are under cover, I
shall feel as if we were in fair condition for a long stay here.”
“Don’t you suppose your fathers will search for you when the yacht fails
to show up at Savannah?” Ned asked.
“Of course; but the chances they will ever find this little island seem
to me mighty slim,” Roy replied. “It won’t pay to discuss the matter
just now, though, for all that stuff on the shore should be under cover
by sunset. Come on; we shall have to work mighty hard to finish before
dark.”
And the young wreckers soon learned that Roy was correct.
The sun had been behind the sea fully an hour before the last package
was sheltered from the weather and the labor of getting supper could be
begun.
It had been unnecessary to light the lanterns in order to finish the
job. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the stars gave sufficient
light to enable them to see their way to and fro from the beach to the
tent.
Both Ned and Vance assisted the cook in preparing the evening meal, and
what a delicious sense of comfort was theirs when, supper having been
eaten, all three lay on the soft beds where they could look out over the
ocean!
“For shipwrecked mariners I think we’re fixed mighty well,” Vance said
dreamily. “We’ve got as good a shelter as could be asked for in this
climate, plenty of water, provisions enough to last several months with
economy, a supply of fish whenever we feel disposed for such food, and a
bank on which to draw for what gold and silver we need to pay with.”
“Don’t count too much on that, for your checks might not be honored,”
Roy replied with a laugh. “Say, are we going to leave Ned’s treasure out
of doors all the time?”
“Certainly not. It must be hidden in the store-tent to-morrow.
“Why do you call it mine?” Ned asked. “I’m livin’ on the stuff brought
by you fellows, an’ it’s only right we should divide the dollars as
well.”
“I don’t think that would be fair,” Roy replied. “If we find any more
it’ll be the square thing to whack up even, but the pile near the fire
belongs to you entirely.”
“That’s so,” Vance added, and although Ned insisted he should divide it,
his companions stated positively that they would not take a single
dollar.
This decision afforded Ned no slight amount of satisfaction, for, even
though he would not have envied them the possession of a full
two-thirds, he felt very much relieved in mind when they refused to
allow him to share the treasure with them.
But little time was spent over the matter, however. All hands were so
sleepy that even in the midst of quite a heated argument one after
another fell asleep until the camp was in a state of complete repose.
The sea, which had been so cruel to two of them a few hours previous,
now sang the softest lullaby, and the stars twinkled above them as if
their faces had never been hidden by the angry storm clouds which sent
the wind and rain to overwhelm travelers upon the ocean.