Part 6 (1/2)
”I should think not, indeed,” answered Desmond ”It would have been rather inconvenient if she had coot the boat afloat
However, we , in case she should appear, that they reed with Des-staff the first thing the next day, and ht be seen fro the rock, they returned to their companions, ere still hard at work Pat, however, had been sent back, to light the fire and prepare supper The party continued digging in the sand until darkness at length coive over They had no little difficulty in laddened by the sight of Pat's blazing fire
”We must co up the re with the help of his clasp knife ”I'll trouble you for another, as soon as it's done brown”
”You're welcohty better pleased to be cooking his hah mine,”
answered Pat
The supper was pronounced excellent, though they had nothing but cold water froested that a thihty pleasant
To deterh he did not express his fears to his coht have happened to the _Dragon_ The night passed quickly away As soon as it was daylight Tom and Desain doomed to disappointht air occasionally only rippling the surface
”It will take her a good et up to our island, even if she is now only just out of sight,” observed To-staff set up, in case she should appear before we can launch the boat, and we shall be fortunate if we can do that before night” As soon as breakfast was over, To told the men anted, all hands went in search of a tree fit for the purpose None, however, were discovered At last it was agreed that a young cocoa-nut tree must be cut down This was soon done by Jerry and Tim, while the rest recommenced their atte-staff to the top of the rock and set it up The threeto theAs they had no halyards, it was fixed with rope yarns to the top of the staff, before it was set up
A crevice was found in the rock, into which it was driven, and fixed on either side with large stones
”That will show clearly enough where we are, and if they can count the nuht,” observed Desmond
”I trust that the shi+p will coh he could not throw o back and dig away at our boat I should like to see her afloat to-night or early to-”
In spite of the heat, they toiled on, not even returning to the ca provisions and water
Notwithstanding their perseverance, the as not finished when To-staff Hill He was soon seen co up his spade he resumed his labours A heap of sand still remained between the boat and the water, that had to be reet rollers under her, or it will beher into the water,” observed Jerry, as he sta sand under her keel
”You are right,” said To”
The songs sung and yarns spun that evening were not so cheerful as they had been; indeed, all hands were so sleepy that they were glad to turn in as soon as supper was over To the shi+p would appear, had no accident happened to her Even without her machinery she would surely be able to beat up to the island by this tiht enabled hi anxiously at the horizon, while the ruddy glohich suffused itself over the sky, announced the rising of the sun But no sail appeared ”She will not come at all,” he exclai that fearful night, and probably all hands have perished Poor Archie, I wish he had come with us, and I am very, very sorry for all the rest”
Toive way to his s, and that, at all events, it was his duty to try and keep up the spirits of his co to the tent he put on as unconcerned a countenance as possible, and sat down to breakfast as if he had nothing on his h flavour of the pork showed hi, and so it Pat asserted that the haested that they should be immediately smoked, until salt could be scraped froot plenty to do, and even if we spend a month here, we shall have no time to be idle,” he observed
Jerry and Ti, cut with their axes a number of rollers, which were then placed under the boat's keel, ith renewed ardour all hands set to work to clear away the intervening sand It took, however, er than they had expected, and another day was drawing to a close before they could atte her She was moved, however, but a few feet cut of the hollohich she had been iht by putting her in the water, although the bay was now so sht have floated in perfect safety
To-staff Hill, and ca
”Before we launch our boat,” he said, when he rejoined the party at breakfast, ”we must dismantle our tent; and indeed it is not wise to wear out our sail by using it as a roof We may want it, and we shall certainly require the oars I therefore propose, should the shi+p not appear by noon, to build a hut in the place of the tent, and we shall then have shelter, should we require it, at night We cannot tell e may need The hurricane season is not yet over, we may depend upon that We came in for the first blow, and there may be several others before the weather becomes settled”
”What! Do you think the shi+p's not co back for us?” asked Billy, in an anxious tone ”I should like to change ar, and sos”
”As to the shi+p's co back, it's possible she e to do without the things we should like to have, and ht sort of philosophy,” observed Jerry Bird, who knew that he ht not, and talk freely to his officers