Part 6 (2/2)
As soon as breakfast was over, the oars and gear of the boat were carried down to the beach, when, with the help of rollers, she was, all hands hauling together, after soht be the case, it was soon discovered that, either from the hot atmosphere or the pressure to which she had been subjected, she leaked considerably The leaks, however, it was hoped, would partially fill up, though she would require so, and a coat of tar, or some substitute, if tar was not to be procured The hour of noon approached, and, in spite of the heat, To-staff They looked around the horizon, and then at each other
”I am afraid she will not come at all,” exclaimed Desmond
”I feared as much from the first,” answered To?” asked Desmond ”I don't wish to have to live on here month after month, or for e can tell year after year, while our fellows are fighting the Chinese, and all the rest of the world, perhaps”
”No, nor do I,” said Tom ”We must fit our boat as well as we can for sea, and try and make our way, either back to japan, or to the Ladrones, to which ere bound; but, as I said before, it won't do to put to sea until the hurricane season is over Even in fine weather it will be a pretty long trip in an open boat; but people have gone as far, or much farther, and what others have done we can do”
”I a you think best,” answered Desmond, ”and I am sure the rest will be, but we e, and the sooner we set about it the better”
”It will be a difficult job to do that without tools,” observed Toot that,” remarked Desmond ”Still, as you often say, 'Where there's a will there's a way' As we shall want our sail, weinstead of canvas, to fix over the bows to raise the gunwale a foot or two, to keep out the sea
Then for provisions, we shall have to salt down as s as we can kill, dry a stock of yalad, Gerald, that you have thought about theto propose,” said To of that and a nu in the sand, though I did not like to talk about them until the time came for action”
Thus the two midshi+pmen discussed their plans for the future On their return to the camp, as the time fixed upon by Tom had passed and the shi+p had not arrived, the tent was dismantled and Toth to serve for rafters and uprights Their tent had answered so well that it was agreed that the hut should have a roof of the sa the uprights with creepers, which also served to bind on the large pandanus leaves which they used for covering the roof
The hut being nearly completed, Tom and Des or soo, but To the hut
”If one of those felloere to run at you, what could you do without a weapon of some sort?”
”But I'd take the boat-hook,” said Billy
”A wild bear would be afther laughing at it in your hands,” observed Dess, which aniet near enough to obtain a fair shot
While in search of hogs, their object was also to explore the island
They made their way across to the northern side It consisted of deep indentations and high rocks, to the top of one of which they climbed; they could make out in the far distance another island to the north of theh they narrowly scanned the ocean in every direction, no sail was to be seen
”I aether,” said Tom; ”but still, if she has escaped shi+pwreck, I cannot account for the co to look for us My only idea is that by so driven a long way to the southward, he does not think it worth while to come so far out of his course”
On their way back they caught sight of a large nuood-sized birds perched thickly in a tree, apparently intending to roost there for the night Having drawn their bullets, they loaded with sht down a dozen, which proved to be a species of pigeon
”We have got so for supper, at all events,” cried Desmond as he ran to pick up the birds and to finish off a fehich were still fluttering on the ground
Their ill-success in hog-huntingin the boat It need not be said that either To-staff So often had they been disappointed that they at last gave up all expectation of seeing the shi+p Their fishi+ng excursion, though not as successful as the first, had produced a good supply of fish, some of which they ate fresh and the rest they dried in the sun and s nearly the whole of the time This satisfied them that they must caulk the boat before they could venture out to sea in her All hands were now busily employed in a variety of ways Pat had woven so one, went out in search of salt, of which they found a plentiful supply in the hollows of the rocks, close down to the sea
Toht yield pitch or a gum of some description which would serve to pay over the outside of the boat, but they searched in vain
”We must find soe, that's very certain,” said Tom
The boat was constantly kept wet; at last they tried sinking her for several hours together, but her planks would not swell sufficiently to stop the leaks They were almost in despair