"That sounds all right," said his father. "But how are we to get the gear up there--including the useless lump of animated clay in the shape of myself?"
"I hadn"t thought of that," replied Andy.
"We must find a more convenient spot at first," continued Mr. McKay.
"Then, when we have landed all the gear from the ship that we can possibly manage to move, we can devise some means of setting up a more substantial dwelling on the terrace you mention. Now, if you will please carry me ash.o.r.e, you can proceed to unload the boat."
In spite of the adaptable jetty, the work of getting Mr.
McKay--crippled as he was--on sh.o.r.e was no easy task. The patient bore the discomfort gamely, uttering a heartfelt sigh of relief as the lads set the improvised stretcher down in the shade of a thin grove of cocoanut palms.
"How far away is the stream--I think you mentioned there was a stream in the bay?" asked Ellerton.
"Less than a hundred yards away. It"s very clean, but not so full as the one we found," replied Andy.
"Then let"s set up the tent. This place will do for a day or two at least."
The chosen site consisted of soft springy turf, sloping very gradually towards the lagoon. In the background was a wall of rock, about forty feet in height, forming the limit of the next terrace, while on either hand the trees served as an efficient screen from all winds save those blowing from the sea.
By the aid of their axes the lads felled five young palms, and soon stripped them of their heads. Four of the trunks were then lashed in pairs, and set up with guy-ropes at a distance of about fifteen feet apart, and one end of the fifth pole was placed over the crutch formed by one of the pairs.
This done, Ellerton swarmed up the other pair of poles and fastened a small pulley to the extremity of one of them. A rope was pa.s.sed through the block, one end being lashed to the lower part of the fifth pole that rested on the ground.
"Haul away, lads!" he shouted.
And the pole, lifted into a horizontal position, was quickly placed between, thus forming the ridge of the tent.
One of the fore and aft sails was then thrown over the ridge pole and its end pegged down; while to make doubly sure, the lads piled stones and sand upon the ends of the canvas. Filling in the back and front of the tent with portions of another sail took an hour"s steady work, and the dwelling was then p.r.o.nounced ready for occupation.
The box of ammunition, the rifles, bread cask, and water-beakers were neatly stowed against the afterpart of their dwelling, till, on Mr.
McKay"s suggestion, a low barricade was erected close to the flap of the tent. Then pieces of canvas were cut and laid down to serve as beds, the cripple having the use of the cushions that had been brought ash.o.r.e.
"I don"t see why we should sleep on the hard ground," remarked Terence.
"Of course, we have been used to it, but, after sleeping in a comfortable bunk, we are bound to feel the difference. So let us cut a number of small trees and fasten the strips of canvas to them like a stretcher."
This was accordingly done, the beds being raised from the ground by means of two stout planks lashed to short uprights driven firmly into the earth.
"There we are, all in a row," exclaimed Terence, as they surveyed the result of their labour with evident satisfaction.
"Now, Quexo," said Andy, "go down to the beach and gather as much driftwood as you can carry. And, Hoppy, you start opening that tin of beef there, and I"ll slice up the bread. But----"
"What?" exclaimed Terence and Ellerton.
"We are a set of donkeys! We haven"t brought a pot or a kettle ash.o.r.e with us."
"Boil the water in the beef-tin," said Ellerton.
"Spoil the coffee," objected Andy.
"Either that or nothing. But how about a light? Has anyone any matches?"
More disappointment. Terence suggested using the object gla.s.s of the telescope as a burning gla.s.s, but the sun was low in the heavens; Andy was for sprinkling some powder on a heap of dry leaves and firing it by means of a blank cartridge; while Ellerton vaguely remembered that fire might be obtained by rubbing two pieces of dry wood together.
"Have you ever tried to make a blaze that way?" asked Mr. McKay. "I don"t think you would succeed. Savages can do the trick, I know, but I"ve never seen a white man obtain fire by that means. I would have suggested flint and steel. We have plenty of steel, only, unfortunately, flints are as scarce as diamonds on this island, I fancy. However, now you have exhausted your brains over the problem, allow me to a.s.sist you. Andy, put your hand in the inside pocket of my coat and you"ll find my metal match-box.
"Now you are satisfied," he continued, as his son produced the required article. "The fact of the matter is, you were all in such a hurry to get ash.o.r.e that you never gave a thought to the things most urgently required. Lucky for you, my lad, you"ve a father to think for you.
Now will you please empty that case of biscuits? I am afraid some spray splashed over it, and in time the salt will make the biscuits soft."
Andy did as he was requested, but a moment later he uttered an exclamation of surprise, for on opening the lid he discovered a kettle, saucepan, and coffee-pot, knives, forks, and spoons, while wedged in between the metal articles were bottles containing salt, pepper, vinegar, and several useful drugs in tabloid form.
"I say, pater, you are----"
"Merely one who has learnt by experience the value of forethought.
While you were busy on deck I sent Quexo to gather these things and stow them in a box."
Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by a series of shrieks. The lads seized their rifles and rushed to meet the mulatto, whose face was livid with fear.
"A caiman is after me, senor," he shouted in his native tongue.
"Nonsense," replied Andy; then turning to his companions he explained that the mulatto had declared that an alligator had run after him.
"It"s impossible," he added. "However, we"ll see what"s frightened him."
On emerging from the edge of the wood that had obstructed their view of that part of the bay where Quexo had been to gather dry sticks, the lads burst into a roar of laughter. Sedately waddling over the sand was a huge turtle.
"Follow me, Hoppy," exclaimed Andy. "Get between him and the sea; we can"t afford to lose this chance."
Finding its retreat cut off, the turtle began to throw up showers of sand with its flippers, but Andy rushed it, and, seizing one of the creature"s h.o.r.n.y limbs, strove to capsize the reptile.
The task was beyond him; even with the aid of his two chums he could not raise the sh.e.l.l-clad creature from the sand.
"Get hold of an oar and one of the empty tubs," he exclaimed breathlessly. "You go, Terence. Hoppy and I will prevent the turtle getting away."
Presently Terence returned with the desired article, and using the oar as a lever the three lads succeeded in turning the turtle on its back, when Andy, with a dexterous sweep of his knife, cut the animal"s throat.
"Hurrah! Turtle steak to-morrow, pater!" he shouted on their return to the camp.
Quexo gathered up the firewood that he had dropped in his flight, and as darkness set in, a roaring fire was kindled, and a gorgeous supper eaten.
Then, ere the last dying embers had ceased to glow, Terence, who had volunteered to keep the first two hours" watch, shouldered his rifle and took up his position in the shelter of the neighbouring palm-trees.
CHAPTER VI
THE ANIMAL THAT WOULDN"T BE RESCUED
No unusual incident marked the castaways" first night on the island.
Guard was relieved with the utmost regularity, while the weary watches were spent in gazing at the exterior of the tent and listening to the regular breathing of its four inmates.