diff options
Diffstat (limited to '40941-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 40941-8.txt | 5304 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5304 deletions
diff --git a/40941-8.txt b/40941-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 82ca7e9..0000000 --- a/40941-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5304 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Wreck of The Red Bird, by George Cary Eggleston - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Wreck of The Red Bird - A Story of the Carolina Coast - -Author: George Cary Eggleston - -Release Date: October 5, 2012 [EBook #40941] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRECK OF THE RED BIRD *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - - THE WRECK OF THE RED BIRD - - A STORY OF THE CAROLINA COAST - - BY GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON - - _Author of "The Big Brother," "Captain Sam," "The Signal Boys," - etc., etc._ - - - NEW YORK - G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS - 27 & 29 WEST 23D STREET - 1882 - - COPYRIGHT BY - G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS - 1882 - - - _Press of - G. P. Putnam's Sons - New York_ - - - - -[Illustration: THE "BONES" OF THE RED BIRD] - - - - -I intended to dedicate this book to my son, GUILFORD DUDLEY EGGLESTON, -to whom it belonged in a peculiar sense. He was only nine years old, but -he was my tenderly loved companion, and was in no small degree the -creator of this story. He gave it the title it bears; he discussed with -me every incident in it; and every page was written with reference to -his wishes and his pleasure. There is not a paragraph here which does -not hold for me some reminder of the noblest, manliest, most unselfish -boy I have ever known. Ah, woe is me! He who was my companion is my dear -dead boy now, and I am sure that I only act for him as he would wish, in -inscribing the story that was so peculiarly his to the boy whom he loved -best, and who loved him as a brother might have done. It is in memory of -GUILFORD that I dedicate "The Wreck of the Red Bird" to CHARLES PELTON -HUTCHINS. - -G. C. E. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. MAUM SALLY'S MANNERS 1 - - CHAPTER II. ON THE JOGGLING BOARDS 10 - - CHAPTER III. AFLOAT 15 - - CHAPTER IV. PLANS AND PREPARATIONS 28 - - CHAPTER V. THE SAILING OF THE "RED BIRD" 35 - - CHAPTER VI. ODD FISH 40 - - CHAPTER VII. AN ENEMY IN THE CAMP 52 - - CHAPTER VIII. THE BEGINNING AND END OF A VOYAGE 59 - - CHAPTER IX. THE SITUATION 68 - - CHAPTER X. PLANS AND DEVICES 79 - - CHAPTER XI. SOME OF NED'S SCIENCE 88 - - CHAPTER XII. JACK'S DISCOVERY 101 - - CHAPTER XIII. AN ANXIOUS NIGHT 109 - - CHAPTER XIV. IN THE GRAY OF THE MORNING 120 - - CHAPTER XV. CHARLEY BLACK'S ADVENTURES 125 - - CHAPTER XVI. ON GUARD 134 - - CHAPTER XVII. A NEW DANGER 147 - - CHAPTER XVIII. A CAMP-FACTORY 155 - - CHAPTER XIX. A NIGHT OF ADVENTURE 166 - - CHAPTER XX. A CALCULATION OF PROFIT AND LOSS 177 - - CHAPTER XXI. CHARLEY'S SECRET EXPEDITION 184 - - CHAPTER XXII. THE LAUNCH OF THE "APHRODITE" 193 - - CHAPTER XXIII. THE VOYAGE OF THE "APHRODITE" 201 - - CHAPTER XXIV. MAUM SALLY 212 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - THE "BONES" OF THE RED BIRD _Frontispiece._ - - "LOOK OUT! HOLD THAT FELLOW AWAY FROM YOU!" 23 - - THE ELOQUENT LANGUAGE OF GESTURE 128 - - "GIVE HIM A VOLLEY AND THEN CHARGE!" 150 - - THE END OF CHARLEY'S ADVENTURE 190 - - "HI! MAUM SALLY" 214 - - - - -The Wreck of the Red Bird - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -MAUM SALLY'S MANNERS. - - -"Bress my heart, honey, wha'd you come from?" - -It was old "Maum" Sally who uttered this exclamation as she came out of -her kitchen, drying her hands on her apron, and warmly greeting one of -the three boys who stood just outside the door. - -"Is you done come to visit de folks? Well, I do declar'!" - -"Now, Maum Sally," replied Ned Cooke, "stop 'declaring' and stop asking -me questions till you answer mine. Or, no, you won't do that, so I'll -answer yours first. Where did I come from? Why from Aiken, by way of -Charleston and Hardeeville. Did I come to visit the folks? Well, no, not -exactly that. You see, I didn't set out to come here at all. I have -spent part of the summer up at Aiken with these two school-mates of -mine, and they were to spend the rest of it with me in Savannah. We were -on our way down there when I got a despatch from father, saying that as -yellow fever has broken out there I mustn't come home, but must come -down here to Bluffton and stay with Uncle Edward till frost or school -time. So we got off the train, hired a man with an ox-cart to bring our -trunks down, and walked the eighteen miles. The man with the trunks will -get here sometime, I suppose. There! I've made a long speech at you. -Now, answer my questions, please. Where is Uncle Edward? and where is -Aunt Helen? and why is the house shut up? and when will they be back -again? and can't you give us something to eat, for we're nearly -starved?" - -Ned laughed as he delivered this volley of questions, but Maum Sally -remained perfectly solemn, as she always did. When he finished, she -said: - -"Yaller fever! Bress my heart! It'll be heah nex' thing we knows. Walked -all de way from Hardeeville! an' dis heah hot day too! e'en a'most -starved! Well, I reckon ye is, an' I'll jes mosey roun' heah an' git you -some supper." - -It must be explained that Maum Sally, although she lived on the coast of -South Carolina, and was called "Maum" instead of "Aunt," was born and -"raised," as she would have said, in "Ole Firginny," and her dialect was -therefore somewhat as represented here. The negroes of the coast speak a -peculiar jargon, which would be wholly unintelligible to other than -South Carolinian readers, even if I could render it faithfully by -phonetic spelling. - -As Maum Sally ceased speaking, she turned to go into her kitchen, which, -as is usual in the South, was a detached building, standing some -distance from the main house. - -"But wait, Maum Sally," cried Ned, seizing her hand; "I'm not going to -let you off that way. You haven't answered my questions yet." - -"Now, look heah, young Ned," she said, with great solemnity, "does you -s'pose Ole Sally was bawn and raised in Ole Firginny for nothin'? I aint -forgot my manners nor hospitality, ef I _is_ lived nigh onto twenty-five -years in dis heah heathen coast country whah de niggas talks monkey -language. I'se a gwine to git you'n your fr'en's--ef you'll interduce -'em--some supper, fust an' foremost. Den I'll answer all de questions -you're a mind to ax, ef you don't git to conundrumin'." - -Ned acknowledged Maum Sally's rebuke promptly. - -"I did forget my manners," he said, "but you see I was badly flustered. -This is my friend Jack Farnsworth, Maum Sally, and this," turning to the -other boy, "is Charley Black. Boys, let me make you acquainted with Maum -Sally, the best cook in South Carolina, or anywhere else, and the best -Maum Sally in the world. She used to give me all sorts of good things to -eat out here when I didn't get up to breakfast, and was expected to get -on till dinner with a cold bite from the store-room. I'll bet she'll -cook us a supper that will make your mouths water, and have it ready by -the time we get the dust out of our eyes." - -"Git de dus' out'n de all over you, more like. Heah's de key to de -bath-house. You jes run down an' take a dip in de salt water, an' den -git inter yer clo'es as fas' as you kin, an' when you's done dat, you'll -fin' somethin' to eat awaitin' for you in de piazza. Git, now, quick. Ef -I'se got to plan somethin' for supper, I'se got to hab my wits about me -an' don' want no talkin' boys aroun'." - -"It's of no use, boys," said Ned. "I know Maum Sally, and we're not -going to get a word more out of her till supper is ready, so come on, -let's have a plunge. It's all right, anyhow. My uncle and aunt have gone -away for the day somewhere, I suppose, and will be back sometime -to-night. If they don't come, I'll find a way to break into the house. -It's my father's, you know, and one of my homes. In fact, I was born -here. Uncle Edward lives here a good part of the time, because he likes -it, and father lives in Savannah a good part of the year, because he -doesn't like it here. Come, let's get a bath." - -With that Ned conducted his guests to a pretty little bath-house which -stood out over the water, and was approached by a green bridge. Bluffton -abounds in these well-appointed, private bathing-houses, which, with -their ornamental approaches, add not a little to the beauty of the -singular town, which is scarcely a town at all in the ordinary sense of -the word, as Ned explained to his companions while they were dressing -after their bath. - -"This coast country," he said, "is plagued with country fever." - -"What's country fever?" asked Jack Farnsworth. - -"It's a very severe and fatal form of bilious fever, which one night's -exposure--or even a few hours' exposure after sunset--brings on." - -"Then why did you bring us here?" asked Charley. "Are we to find -ourselves down with country fever to-morrow morning?" - -"No, not at all," replied Ned. "Country fever stays strictly at home. It -never goes to town; it never visits high ground where there are pines, -white sand, and no moss; and it never comes to Bluffton. That's why -there is any Bluffton. All along the coast the planters have their -winter residences on their plantations, but in the summer they go off to -little summer villages in the pines to escape the fever. In the region -just around us, it is so much easier and pleasanter to live here in -Bluffton that they build permanent residences here and live here all the -year around. There is no trade here, no shops--except a blacksmith shop -out on the road--no stores, no any thing except private houses, and the -private houses are all built pretty nearly alike. Each stands alone in a -large plot of ground, which is filled with trees and shrubs just as all -the streets are. Each house has a piazza running all the way around it, -or pretty nearly that, and each has two or three joggling boards." - -"What in the world is a joggling board?" asked Charley. - -"I'll introduce you when we get back to the house," said Ned. - -When the boys returned to the house, Ned's prediction was abundantly -fulfilled. Maum Sally had spread a tempting, if somewhat incongruous -supper in the piazza. There was a piece of cold ham, some fried fresh -fish, a dish of shrimps stewed with tomatoes, a great platter of rice -cooked in the South Carolinian way, and intended for use in lieu of -bread, some boiled okra, roast sweet potatoes, and a pot of steaming -coffee. It was a miscellaneous sort of meal, compounded of breakfast, -dinner, and supper in about equal proportions, but it was such a meal as -three healthy boys, who had walked eighteen miles and had then taken a -sea bath, were not in the least disposed to quarrel with. - -"Now, Maum Sally," said Ned, after he had complimented the supper and -taken his seat at the table, "tell me where Uncle Edward and Aunt Helen -are, and when they will get back?" - -"Ain't ye got no manners at all, young Ned?" asked Sally, with an air of -profound surprise; she always called the boy "Young Ned" when she wished -to put him in awe of her; "ain't ye got no manners at all, or is you -forgot 'em all sence I seed you last? Don' you know your frien's is a -starvin'? and here you is a plaguin' me with questions insti'd o' -helpin' on 'em. Mind yer manners, young gentleman, an' then I'll answer -yer questions." - -"All right, Maum Sally," said Ned; "Charley, let me give you some cold -ham. Jack, help yourself to some fish. There are the shrimps, boys, -between you. Maum Sally, pour out some coffee, please. Jack, you'll find -the okra good; here, Charley, let me help you to rice." - -Maum Sally, meanwhile, was pouring coffee and filling plates; when -supper was well under way, she stood back a little way, placed her hands -on her hips, her arms akimbo, and said with the utmost solemnity: - -"Seems 's if somebody axed me somethin' or other 'bout de folks when I -was too busy to ten' to 'em. Ef you'll ax me agin now, I'll be -obleeged." - -"Yes, upon reflection," said Ned, "I am inclined to think that I -ventured to make some inquiry concerning my uncle and aunt. If I -remember correctly, I asked where they are, and at what time they are -likely to return." - -"Whah is dey? Well, I don' rightly know, an' I can't say adzac'ly when -dey'll be back agin. But I specs deys somewhah out on de sea, an' I -s'pose dey'll be back about nex' November." - -"What!" cried Ned, in surprise, suspending his attention to supper, and -forgetting to maintain his pretence of dignified indifference. "What do -you mean, Maum Sally?" - -"Well, what I mean is dis heah. Yo' uncle an' aunt lef' here three days -ago to go north. Dey said dey was a gwine to de centenimental -expedition, an' to Newport an' somewhahs else--I reckon it was to some -sort o' mountains--White Mountains, mebbe, an dey said dey'd be back -agin in November, ef dey didn't make up dere minds to stay longer, or -come back afore dat time. So now you knows as much about it as I does." - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -ON THE JOGGLING BOARDS. - - -To say that Ned was surprised is to describe his feeling very mildly. -Knowing his uncle's easy, indolent mode of life, his contentment with -home, his lazy love of books and pipes and ease generally, Ned would as -soon have expected to hear that the organ in the little church had gone -off summering, as to learn that his uncle and aunt were travelling. - -The other boys were in consternation. - -"What on earth shall we do?" asked Jack Farnsworth. - -"Better eat supper, fust an' fo'most," replied Maum Sally, whose theory -of life consisted of a profound conviction that the important thing to -be done was to eat an abundance of good food, well-cooked. - -"That's so," said Ned. "We can't bring my uncle back by neglecting our -supper, but we can let the coffee get cold, and that would be a pity. -Let's eat now while the things are hot." - -"Yes," replied Charley Black, "that's all right, but after that?" - -"Why, after that we'll try the joggling boards." - -"But, Ned," remonstrated Charley, "this won't do. Your uncle has gone -away, and the house is shut up and so we can't stay here. Now, I move -that you go back to Aiken with us." - -"Not a bit of it," answered Ned. "I've visited at your house and at -Jack's, and now you're my guests. Do you think I've 'forgot my manners,' -as Maum Sally says?" - -"But, Ned," said Jack, "you see the situation has changed since we -started to go home with you. You can't go home, and now you can't stay -here." - -"Can't I though?" asked Ned; "and why not? I know a way into the house, -and if you'll stay where you are for five minutes, I'll have the big -doors unbarred and invite you in." - -With that Ned stepped upon the piazza railing, caught a timber above, -and easily swung himself up to the roof of the porch. Thence he made his -way quickly to a round window in the garret--the house was only one -story high, with a high garret story for the protection of the rooms -from the heat of the sun. Pushing open this round window he sprang in, -descended the stairs, and a moment later the boys heard him taking down -the wooden bar which kept the great double doors fast. Then drawing the -bolts at top and bottom, he swung the doors open without difficulty. - -"Come in, boys," he cried. "I'll open the doors at the other side, and -we'll have a breeze through the hall." - -"But I say, old fellow," said Charley, "I don't like this. What will -your uncle think of us for making free with his house in this way?" - -"What, Uncle Edward? Why, he wouldn't ask how we got in if he were to -get home now. He never troubles himself, and he's the best uncle in the -world; so is Aunt Helen, or, I should say, she is the best aunt. And, -besides, I tell you, this isn't Uncle Edward's house. It's my father's, -and all the furniture is his too. Uncle Edward lives here just because -he likes it here, and because father likes to have him here. But the -house is ours, and sometimes we all come here without warning, and stay -for months. It don't make any difference, except that more plates are -put on the table. Every thing goes on just the same, and if Uncle Edward -were to come in now he would hardly remember that we weren't here when -he went away. So make yourselves easy. You're in my home just as much as -if we were in Savannah, and there's nobody here to be bothered by our -fun. We'll stay here and fish and row and bathe, and have a jolly time. -The servants have all gone away, I suppose, except Maum Sally, but -she'll take good care of us. You see, I'm her special pet. She has -thought it her duty to coddle me and scold me and regulate me generally -ever since I was born, and she likes nothing better. So come on out here -and I'll introduce you unfortunate up-country boys to that greatest of -human inventions, a joggling board. There are four or five of them on -the front piazza." - -This hospitable harangue satisfied the scruples of the boys, and the -house was so pleasant, with its large, high rooms, wide hall, and broad -piazzas--one of which looked out over the water,--the grounds were so -tasteful, the trees so large and fine, and the whole aspect of Bluffton -was so quiet and restful, that they were glad to settle themselves -contentedly after their long tramp from the railroad at Hardeeville. - -"The best way to get acquainted with a joggling board," said Ned, -approaching a queer-looking structure on the piazza, "is to get on it. -Try it and see, Charley. Don't be afraid. It won't turn over, and it -can't break down. There," as Charley seated himself upon the board, "lie -down now, and move almost any muscle you please the least bit in the -world, and you'll understand what the thing is for." - -"Oh! isn't it jolly!" exclaimed Charley, as the board began to sway -gently under him and the breeze from the sea fanned him. - -"It is all of that," replied Ned. "I'll get some pillows as soon as I -get Jack to risk his precious neck on a board, and then we'll all be -comfortable, like clams at high-tide. Jump up, Jack; it won't tip over. -Now swing your legs up and lie down. There, how's that?" - -Jack gave a sigh of satisfaction, while Ned ran into the house for sofa -pillows. The three boys, tired as they were, soon ceased to talk, and -fell asleep to the gentle swaying of the joggling boards. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -AFLOAT. - - -Once asleep on the cool, breeze-swept piazza, the three tired boys were -not inclined to wake easily. The sun went down, but still they slept. -Finally the teamster from Hardeeville arrived with the trunks on an -ox-cart, and his loud cries to his oxen aroused Charley, who sprang up -suddenly. Forgetting that his couch was a joggling board more than three -feet high he undertook to step upon the floor as if he had been sleeping -on an ordinary sofa. The result was that his feet, failing to reach the -floor at the expected distance, were thrown backward under the board by -the forward motion of the upper part of the body, and Master Charles -Black, of Aiken, fell sprawling on the floor, waking both the other boys -in alarm. - -"What's up?" cried Ned. - -"Nothing. I'm down," replied Charley. "I thought you said the thing -wouldn't turn over." - -"Well, it hasn't," said Ned. "Look and see. It's you that turned over. -Are you hurt, old fellow?" - -Charley was by this time on his feet again, and declared himself wholly -free from hurt of any kind. The trunks were brought in, the driver -turned over to Maum Sally's hospitality, and Ned declared it to be time -for bed. - -"Whew! how cold it is!" exclaimed Jack. "Do you have such changes of -weather often, down here on the coast?" - -"Only twice in twenty-four hours at this season," answered Ned, as they -went into the house. - -"Twice in twenty-four hours! What do you mean?" - -"I mean once in twelve hours," answered Ned. - -"How is that? I don't understand." - -"Well, you see our late summer dews have begun to fall. If you were to -go out now, you would find the water actually dripping from the trees. -From this time on it will be chilly at night, almost cold, in fact, but -hot as the tropic of Cancer in the daytime. So we have a sudden change -of temperature twice a day--once from cold to hot, and once from hot to -cold." - -The boys were too sleepy to talk long, and the sun was shining in at the -east windows when Maum Sally waked them the next morning for a breakfast -as miscellaneous as the supper had been; sliced tomatoes and figs, still -wet with the dew, being prominent features of the meal. - -After breakfast Ned looked up a great variety of fishing tackle and got -it in order. - -"Where are your fish poles?" asked one of the boys. - -"Fish poles! we don't use them in salt water. We fish with tight lines." - -"What are they?" - -"Why, long lines with a sinker at the end and no poles." - -"Do you just hold the line in your hand?" - -"Certainly. And another thing that we don't use is a float. We just fish -right down in the deep water--or the shallow water rather, for the best -fishing is on bars where the water isn't more than twenty feet deep; but -deep or shallow, the fish are at the bottom, except skip-jacks; they -swim on top, and sometimes we troll for them. They call them blue fish -up North, I believe, but we call them skip-jacks or jack mackerel." - -"What's that?" asked Jack, as Ned spread out a round net for inspection. - -"A cast net." - -"What's it for?" - -"Shrimps." - -"But I thought we were going fishing." - -"So we are. But we must go shrimping first. We must have some bait." - -"Oh, we are to use shrimps for bait, are we?" - -"Very much so indeed," answered Ned. "They are capital bait--the best we -have, unless we want to catch sheephead; then we use fiddlers." - -"What are fiddlers?" - -"Little black crabs that run about by millions over the sand. They have -hard shells that whiting and croakers can't crack, while the sheephead, -having good teeth, crush them easily. So when we want to catch -sheephead, and don't want to be bothered with other fish, we bait with -fiddlers." - -"Then I understand that fish are so plentiful here and so easily caught -that they bother you when you want to catch particular kinds?" said -Jack, incredulously. - -"If you mean that for a question," answered Ned, "I'll let you answer it -for yourself after you've had a little experience." - -"Well, if we don't get any shrimps," said Charley, "we'll fish for -sheephead with musicians." - -"Musicians? oh, you mean fiddlers," said Ned. "But we'll get shrimps -enough." - -"Do they bother you, too, with their abundance?" asked Jack, still -inclined to joke his friend. - -"Come on and see," said Ned, who had now prepared himself for wading. - -Taking the cast net in his hand, and giving a pail to Jack, he led the -way to the sea. Wading into the mouth of a little inlet he cast the net, -which was simply a circular piece of netting, with a string of leaden -balls around the edge. From this lead line cords extended on the under -side of the net to and through a ring in the centre where they were -fastened to a long cord which was held in Ned's hand. A peculiar motion -in casting caused the net to spread itself out flat and to fall in that -way on the water. The leaden balls caused it to sink at once to the -bottom, the edges reaching bottom first, of course, and imprisoning -whatever happened to be under the net in its passage. After a moment's -pause, to give time for the lead line to sink completely, Ned jerked the -cord and began to draw in. Of course this drew the lead line along the -bottom to the centre ring, and made a complete pocket of the net, -securely holding whatever was caught in it. - -It came up after this first cast with about a hundred shrimps--of the -large kind called prawn in the North--in it. The boys opened their eyes -in surprise, and Ned cast again, bringing up this time about twice as -many as before. - -"They have hardly begun to come in yet," said Ned. "The tide is too -young." - -"Hardly begun to come in?" said Jack, "why, the water's alive with them. -Let me throw the net." - -"Certainly," said Ned, "if you know how." - -"Know how? Why, there's no knack in that; anybody can do it." - -With this confident boast Jack took the net and gave a violent cast. -Neglecting to relax the rope at the right moment, however, the confident -young gentleman made trouble for himself. The lead line swung around -rapidly, the net wrapped itself around Jack, and the leaden balls struck -him with sufficient violence to hurt. He lost his balance at the same -instant, and, his legs being held close together by the wet net, he -could not step out to recover himself. The result was that he fell -sprawling into the water and was fished out in a very wet condition by -his companions. - -Jack was a boy capable of seeing the fun even in an accident of which he -was the victim. He stood still while the net was unwound, and for a -moment afterward. Then, seeing that the other boys were too considerate -to laugh at him while in trouble, he quietly said: - -"I told you I could do it." - -"Well, you caught more in the net than I did," said Ned. "Now take hold -again and I'll show you how to manage it. Your wet clothes won't hurt -you. Sea-water doesn't give one cold." - -A few lessons made Jack fairly expert in casting, but Charley had no -mind to court mishaps, and would not try his skill. The pail was soon -well filled with shrimps, and the boys returned to the boat house, -where Jack changed his wet clothes for dry ones. - -Then all haste was made to get the boat out, in order that they might -fish while the tide was right. The boat was a large launch named _Red -Bird_; a boat twenty-four feet long, very broad in the beam, and very -stoutly built. It was provided with a mast and sail, but these were of -no use now as there was no wind, and the bars on which Ned meant to fish -were only a few hundred yards distant. - -No sooner was the anchor cast than the lines were out, and the fish -began accepting the polite invitation extended to them. - -"What sort of fish are these, Ned?" asked Charley, as he took one from -his hook. - -"That," said Ned, looking round, "is a whiting--so called, I believe, -because it is brown, and yellow, and occasionally pink and purple, with -changeable silk stripes over it. That's the only reason I can think of -for calling it a whiting. It is never white. It isn't properly a whiting -for that matter. It isn't at all the same as the whiting of the North, -at any rate." - -"Why, they're changing color," exclaimed Jack. - -"Look! they actually change color under your very eyes." - -"Yes, it's a way whiting have," said Ned. "And some other fish do the -same thing, I believe." - -"Dolphins do," said Charley. - -"Yes, but the whiting isn't even a second cousin to the dolphin. That's -a croaker you've got, Jack; spot on his tail--splendid fish to eat--and -he croaks. Listen!" - -The fish did begin to utter a curious croaking sound, which surprised -the boys. Other croakers were soon in the boat, and the company of them -set up a croaking of which the inhabitants of a frog pond might not have -been ashamed. - -"They call croakers 'spot' in Virginia," said Ned, "because of the spot -near the tail. Look at it. Isn't it pretty? and isn't the fish itself a -beauty?" - -"But the whiting is prettier," said Charley; "at least in colors. I say, -Ned, do you know if whiting ever dine on kaleidoscopes?" - -"Look out! hold that fellow away from you! hold the line at arm's length -and don't let the brute strike you with his tail for your life!" -exclaimed Ned, excitedly, as Charley drew a curious-looking creature -up. - -[Illustration: "LOOK OUT! HOLD THAT FELLOW AWAY FROM YOU!"] - -"What is the thing?" asked both the up-country boys in a breath. - -"A stingaree," replied Ned, "and as ugly as a rattlesnake. See how -viciously he strikes with his tail! Let him down slowly till his tail -touches the bottom of the boat. There! Now wait till he stops striking -for a moment and then clap your foot on his tail. Ah! now you've got -him. Now cut the tail off close to the body and the fellow's harmless." - -"What is the creature anyhow?" asked Jack, who had suspended his fishing -operations to observe the monster. "What did you call it?" - -"Well, the gentleman belongs to a large and distinguished family. To -speak broadly, he is a plagiostrome chondropterygian, of the sub-order -_raiię_, commonly called skates. To define him more particularly, he is -a member of the trygonidę family, familiarly known as sting rays, and -called by negroes and fishermen, and nearly every body else on the -coast, stingarees." - -"Where on earth did you get that jargon from?" asked Charley. - -"It isn't jargon, and I got it from my uncle. He told me one day not to -call these things stingarees, but sting rays, and then for fun rattled -off a lot of scientific talk at me, which I made him repeat until I knew -it by heart. What I know about sting rays is this: there are a good many -kinds of them in different quarters of the world. In the North they have -the American sting ray, which is much larger than ours down here, though -we sometimes catch them two or three feet wide. Ours is the European -sting ray, I believe; at any rate, it isn't the American. They are all -of them closely alike. They are brown on top and white beneath. You see -the shape--not unlike that of a turtle, but with something like wings at -the sides, and with a skin instead of a shell, and no legs. The most -interesting things about them are their long, slender tails. See," -picking up the amputated tail and turning it over; "see the gentleman's -weapons. Those bony spikes, with their barbed sides, make very ugly -wounds whenever the sting ray gets a good shot at a leg or an arm. The -negroes say the barbs are poisonous, like a rattlesnake's fangs; but the -scientific folk dispute that. However that may be, a man was laid up for -three months right here in Bluffton, during the war, with a foot so bad -that the surgeons thought they would have to cut it off, and all from a -very slight wound by a sting-ray." - -"Ugh!" cried Jack. "It isn't necessary to suppose poison; to have one of -those horrible bones driven into your flesh and then drawn out with the -notches all turned the wrong way, is enough to make any amount of -trouble, without adding poison." - -"Perhaps that accounts for the stories told of the Indians shooting -poisoned arrows," said Ned. "They used sting-ray stings for arrow-heads -at any rate." - -"And very capital arrow-heads they would make," said Charley, examining -the spikes, which were about the size of a large lead-pencil, about -three or four inches long, and barbed all along the sides, so that they -looked not unlike rye beards under a microscope. These spikes are placed -not at the end of the tail, but near the middle. - -"Are sting rays good to eat?" asked Jack, examining the slimy, flabby -creature. - -"It all depends upon the taste of the eater," replied Ned. "The negroes -sometimes eat the flaps or wings, and most white people on the coast -have curiosity enough to taste them. They always say there's nothing -bad about the taste, but I never knew anybody to take to sting rays as a -delicacy. Some people say that alligator steaks are good, and a good -many people eat sharks now and then. For my part good fish are too -plentiful here for me to experiment with bad ones." - -The fishing was resumed now, and it was not long before Jack confessed -that the fish were beginning to "bother" him by their abundance and -eagerness. - -"Ned," he said, "I apologize. If you've any fiddlers about your clothes, -I believe I'll confine my attention to sheephead; I'm tired of pulling -fish in." - -"Well, let's go ashore, then," said Ned, laughing, "and have dinner." - -"Do fish bite in that way generally down here?" asked Charley. - -"Yes, when the tide isn't too full. Fishing really gets to be a bore -here, it is so easy to fill a boat; anybody can do that as easily as -throw a cast net." - -"Now hush that," said Charley. "Jack has owned up and apologized, and -agreed that he knows more than he did this morning." - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -PLANS AND PREPARATIONS. - - -After dinner the boys lolled upon the piazza, and Ned answered his -companions' questions concerning Bluffton and region round about. - -"The water here is called South May River," he said, "but why, I don't -know. It certainly isn't a river. This whole coast is a ragged edge of -land with all sorts of inlets running up into it, and with islands, big -and little, dotted about off the mainland. Yonder is Hilton Head away -over near the horizon. Hunting Island lies off to the left, and Bear's -Island further away yet. The little marsh islands have no names. They -are simply bars of mud on which a kind of rank grass, called salt marsh, -grows. Some of them are covered by every tide; others only by -spring-tides, while others are covered by all except neap-tides." - -"Is there any land over that way, to the right of Hilton Head?" Charley -asked. - -"Good idea!" exclaimed Ned. "I say, let's go buffalo-hunting and -crusoeing and yachting all at once." - -"What sort of answer is that nonsense to my question?" asked Charley, -with mock dignity and real doubt as to his friend's meaning. - -"Well, I jumped a little, that's all," said Ned. "Your question -suggested my answer. Bee Island lies over there, out of sight. It's my -uncle's land. It used to be a sea-island plantation, but was abandoned -during the war and has never been occupied since. It has grown up and is -as wild as if it had never been cultivated at all. The cattle were left -on it when the place was abandoned, and they went completely wild. -During the war parties of soldiers from both sides used to go over there -to hunt the wild cattle. Sometimes they met each other and hunted each -other instead of the cattle. Now it just occurred to me that we might -have jolly fun by fitting out an expedition, sailing over there in the -_Red Bird_--you see these land-locked waters are never very rough or -dangerous--and camping there as long as we like. When we are in the -boat, we will be yachtsmen of the 'swellest' sort; when we're on the -desert island--or deserted, rather, for it is desert only in the past -tense--we'll be Robinson Crusoes; and when we want beef we'll kill a -wild cow, if there are any left, and be buffalo hunters, for what's a -buffalo but a sort of wild cow?" - -"Is the fishing good over there?" asked Jack, "for I'm not so much -bothered by the fish yet that I want to quit catching them." - -"As good as here." - -"All right, let's go," said Jack. - -"So say I," responded Charley. "When shall we start?" - -"To-morrow morning. It will take all this afternoon to get ready," said -Ned. - -With that they set to work collecting necessary materials. - -"We must have all sorts of things," said Ned. - -"Yes," answered Jack, "particularly in our characters as Robinson -Crusoes." - -"How's that?" asked Charley. "He had nothing. He was shipwrecked, you -know." - -"Yes, I know. But did you never notice what extraordinary luck he had? -Absolutely every thing that was indispensable to him came ashore or was -brought ashore from that accommodating wreck. Why, he even got gunpowder -enough to last him, and whatever the ship didn't yield the island did. I -always suspected that Robinson Crusoe loaded that ship himself with -special reference to his needs on the island, and picked out the right -island, and then ran the ship on the rocks purposely." - -This interpretation of Robinson Crusoe's character and life was a novel -one to Jack's companions; but their plan for their expedition did not -include any purpose to deny themselves needed conveniences. - -The large duck gun was taken down from its hooks in the hall, and a good -supply of ammunition was put into the shot pouches and powder flask. -This included one pouch of buckshot and one of smaller shot for fowls. -The fishing tackle was already in the boat house, as we know. An axe, a -hatchet, a piece of bacon, to be used in frying fish, a small bag of -rice, another of flour, and another of sweet potatoes, a box of salt, -another of sugar--both water-tight,--and some coffee, completed the list -of stores as planned by the boys. Maum Sally contemplated the -collection, after the boys had declared it to be complete, and -exclaimed; - -"Well, I 'clar now!" - -"What's the matter, Maum Sally?" asked Ned. - -"Nothin', on'y it's jis zacly like a passel o' boys, dat is." - -"What is?" - -"W'y wot for is you a takin' things to eat?" asked Sally. - -"Because we'll want to eat them," said Ned. - -"Raw?" asked Sally. - -"That's so," said Ned, with a look of confusion. "Boys, we haven't put -in a single cooking utensil!" - -Laughing at their blunder, the boys set about choosing from Maum Sally's -stores what they thought was most imperatively needed. Two skillets, one -to be used for frying and the other for baking bread; a kettle, to be -used in boiling rice, in heating water for coffee, and as a bread pan in -which to mix corn bread; a coffee pot; some tin cups; three forks and -three plates, constituted their outfit. - -Each boy had his pocket knife, of course, and Ned had put into the boat -a large hunting knife from the house. - -When all was stored ready for the morning's departure, the boys ate -their supper and betook themselves to the piazza. - -"I hope there'll be a fair breeze in the morning," said Ned, "for it -will be a frightful job to row that big boat to Bee Island if there -isn't wind enough to sail." - -"How far is it?" asked Jack. - -"About a dozen miles. But there is nearly always, breeze enough to sail, -after we get away from the bluffs here; but the tide will be against -us." - -"How do you know?" asked Charley. - -"Why it will begin running up about eight o'clock to-morrow, and of -course it won't turn till about two." - -"How do you know it will begin running up about eight o'clock?" - -"Why, because it began running up a little after seven this morning." - -"Well, what has that got to do with it? Don't it all depend on the -wind?" - -"What a landlubber you are!" exclaimed Ned. "No, it don't depend on the -wind. It depends on the moon and the sun. I'll try to explain." - -"No, don't," said Jack; "let him read about it in his geography, or -explain it to him some other time. Tell us about something else now. -Isn't the country fever likely to bother us over there on the island?" - -"No, not if we select a good place to camp in. We must get on pretty -high ground near the salt water. I know the look of healthy and -unhealthy places pretty well, and we'll be safe enough." - -"All right. When we get into camp you can deliver that lecture on tides -if you want to, but just now we wouldn't attend to it. We're apt to be a -trifle cross in the evenings over there if we get tired. Tired people in -camp are always cross, and it will be just as well to save whatever you -have to say till we need something to talk about. Then you can tell us -all about it." - -"Well, now, I've something interesting to tell you without waiting," -said Ned; "something very interesting." - -"What is it?" - -"That it is after nine o'clock; that we want to get up early; and that -we'd better go to bed." - -"Agreed," said his companions. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE SAILING OF THE "RED BIRD." - - -The boys were out of bed not long after daylight the next morning. The -sky was clear, but there was not a particle of breeze, and even before -the sun rose the air was hot and stifling to a degree never before -experienced by either of Ned's visitors. - -"I say, Ned, this is a frightful morning," said Jack. "I feel myself -melting as I stand here in my clothes. I'm already as weak as a pound of -butter looks in the sun. How we're going to breathe when the sun comes -up, I'm at a loss to determine. Whew!" and with that Jack sat down -exhausted. - -"A nice time we'll have rowing," said Charley. "I move we swim and push -the boat. It'll be cooler, and not much harder work. Does it ever rain -here? because if it does I'm waiting for a shower. I'm wilted down, and -nothing short of a drenching will revive me." - -"Well," said Ned, "come, let's take a drenching. I'm going to take a -header off the boat-house pier. It's low-water now, and there's a clear -jump of ten feet. A plunge will wake us up, and by that time breakfast -will be ready, and what is more to the point, the tide will turn. That's -a comfort." - -"Why?" asked Charley. - -"Because when it turns a sea-breeze will come with it. This sort of heat -is what we'd have here all summer long if it wasn't for land- and -sea-breezes. As it is we never have it except at dead low water, and it -is always followed by a good stiff sea-breeze when the tide turns. We'll -be able to sail instead of swimming over to the island. But come, let's -have our plunge now." - -After breakfast the boys went to the boat house to bestow their freight -in the boat. The tide had turned, and, as Ned had predicted, a cool, -stimulating breeze had begun to blow, so that the strength returned to -Jack's knees and Charley's resolution. - -"It will be best to fill the boat's water kegs," said Ned; "partly -because we'll want water on the way, partly because we'll want water on -the island, while we're digging for a permanent supply." - -"By the way," said Jack, "what are we going to dig with?" - -"Well, there's another blunder," said Ned. "If Robinson Crusoe had -forgotten things in that way, he never would have lived through his -island experiences. We must have a shovel and a pick. I'll run up to the -house and look for them while you boys fill the water kegs." - -When Ned got back to the boat he was confronted by Maum Sally with a big -bundle. - -"What is it, Maum Sally?" - -"Oh nothin', on'y I spose you young gentlemen is a gwine to sleep jes a -little now an' then o' nights, an' so, as you hasn't thought on it -yerse'fs, I's done brung you some bedclo'es." - -"Now look here, boys," said Ned; "we'll go off without our heads yet. -We've lost our heads several times already, in fact. There's nothing for -it except just to imagine ourselves at the island, and run through a -whole day and night in our minds to see what we're going to need." - -"That's a good idea," said Charley. "I'll begin. I'll need my mother -the first thing, because here's a button off my collar." - -The party laughed, of course, but there was force in the suggestion. A -few buttons, a needle or two, and some stout thread were straightway -added to the ship's stores. - -"Now let's see," said Ned. "We'll need to build a shelter first thing, -and we've all the tools necessary for that, because I've thought it out -carefully. Then we have our digging tools. Very well. Now, for breakfast -we need, let me see," and he ran over the materials and utensils already -enumerated. Going on in this way through an imaginary day on the island, -the boys found their list of stores now reasonably complete. From Maum -Sally's bundle they selected three blankets, which they rolled up tight -and bestowed behind the water keg at the stern. Maum Sally had brought -pillows, sheets, and a large mattress, which she earnestly besought them -to take, but they declined to add to their cargo any thing which could -be dispensed with. At the very last moment one of the boys thought of -matches. It was decided that three small boxes would be sufficient, as -they could keep fire by the exercise of a little caution. - -Thus equipped, they bade Maum Sally good-by, and cast the boat loose. -The sail filled, the _Red Bird_ lay a little over upon one side, with -the wind nearly abeam, and the boys settled themselves into their -places. - -"I say, young Ned," called Maum Sally, "how long's ye mean to be gone?" - -"Oh, I don't know. May be a month," was the reply. - -"Well, not a day longer 'n dat, now mind." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -ODD FISH. - - -The sea-breeze was fresh and full, and it blew from a favorable quarter. -There were various windings about among the small islands to be made, -and now and then the course for a brief distance was against the wind, -and as this was the case only where the channel was narrow, it was -necessary to make a series of very short "tacks," which gave Ned an -opportunity to instruct his companions in the art of sailing a boat. In -the main, however, there was an abundance of sea-room, and Ned could lay -his course directly for Bee Island and keep the wind on the quarter. It -was barely eleven o'clock, therefore, when the _Red Bird_ came to her -moorings on the island, and the boys went ashore. - -"Now the first thing that Robinson Crusoe did after he got his wits -about him," said Jack, "was to build his residence. Let's follow the -example of that experienced mariner, and choose our building-site before -we begin to bring away things from the wreck; I mean, before we unload -our plunder." - -"Yes, that's our best plan," said Ned. "We don't want to do any more -carrying than we must. Let me see. We're on the north side of the -island. If I remember right, the negro quarters used to be to the east -of this spot, and the negroes must have got water from somewhere, so -we'd better look for the ruins of that African Troy, in search of the -ancient reservoirs." - -"How far from the shore were the quarters?" asked Charley. - -"I don't remember, if I ever knew; but why?" - -"Well, it seems to me this island has grown up somewhat as the hair on -your head does, in a shock. The large trees, as nearly as I can make -out, think six feet or so to be a proper interval between themselves, -and the small trees have disposed themselves to the best of their -ability between the big ones; then all kinds of vines have grown up -among the big and little trees, as if to make a sort of shrimp-net of -the woods, and cane has grown up just to occupy any vacant spaces that -might be left. It occurs to me that if we're to hunt anywhere except -along shore for the old quarters, we'd best make up our minds to clear -the island as we go." - -"I say, Charley," said Jack, "if you were obliged to clear an acre of -this growth with your own hands what would you do first?" - -"I'd get a good axe, a grubbing hoe, some matches, and kindling wood; -then I'd take a good look at the thicket; and then I'd take a long, long -rest." - -"Yes, I suppose you'd need it. But that isn't what I meant. Never mind -that, however. Ned, I don't see why this isn't as good a place as any -for our camp. There's a sort of bluff here, and we can clear away a -place for our hut and get the hut built with less labor than it would -take to find traces of negro quarters that were destroyed twelve or -fifteen years ago." - -"Yes, but how about water?" - -"Well, I don't think it likely that we'd find any visible remains of a -well in the other place, and if we did we'd have to dig it all out -again. Why not dig here?" - -After some discussion, and the examination of the shore for a short -distance in each direction, this suggestion was adopted. The building of -a shelter was easy work. It was necessary only to erect a framework of -poles, to cut bushes and place them against the sides for walls, and to -cover the whole with palmete leaves--that is to say, with the leaves of -a species of dwarf palm which grows in that region in abundance. These -leaves are known to persons at the North only in the form of palm-leaf -fans. On the coast of South Carolina they grow in all the swamps and -woodlands. - -A little labor made a bunk for the boys to sleep upon, and while Ned and -Charley filled it with long gray Spanish moss, Jack got dinner ready, -first rowing out from shore and catching fish enough for that meal while -his companions finished the house. - -"Now," said Jack, when dinner was over and the boys had stretched -themselves out for a rest, "it's nearly sunset, and we're all tired. -We've got the best part of two kegs of water left, so I move that we -don't begin digging our well till morning." - -"Agreed," said the other boys, glad enough to be idle. - -"Now, I've got something I want you to tell me about," said Jack. "Two -things, in fact." With that, he went to the boat and looked about. -Presently he came back and said: - -"One of 'em's dried up. Here's the other." - -He handed Ned a queer-looking fish, almost black, about eight inches -long, very slender, and very singularly shaped. - -"See," he said; "its jaw protrudes in so queer a way that I can't make -out which side of the creature is top and which bottom. Turn either side -you please up, and it looks as if you ought to turn the other up -instead; and then the thing has a sort of match-lighter on top of his -head, or on the bottom--I don't know which it is. Look." - -He pointed to the creature's head. There was a flat, oval figure there, -made by a ridge in the skin, and the flat space enclosed within this -oval line was crossed diagonally by other ridges, arranged with perfect -regularity. The whole looked something like the figure on the opposite -page. - -[Illustration] - -"Now, what I want to know," said Jack, "is what sort of fish this is, -which side of him belongs on top, and what use he makes of this -match-lighter." - -"I'm afraid I can't help you much," said Ned. "A year ago I would have -told you at once that the fish is a shark's pilot, so called because he -follows ships as sharks do, and the sailors think he acts as a pilot for -the sharks. But now I don't know what to call it." - -"Why not?" asked Charley. - -"Because I don't know. I've been reading up in the cyclopędias and -natural histories and ichthyologies about our fishes down here, and have -found out that whatever I know isn't so." - -"Why, how's that?" - -"Well, take the whiting, for example. When I began reading up to see if -there was any sort of cousinship between him and the dolphin, I soon -found that the whiting isn't a whiting at all, but I couldn't find out -any thing else about him. The whiting described in the books is a sort -of codfish's cousin, and he lives only at the North. Neither the -pictures nor the descriptions of him at all resemble our whiting, so I -don't know what sort of fish our whiting is. I only know that he isn't a -whiting, and isn't the remotest relation to the dolphin, because he is a -fish and has scales, while the dolphin is a cetacean." - -"What's a cetacean?" asked Charley. - -"A vertebrated, mammiferous marine animal." - -"Well; go on; English all that." - -"Well, whales, dolphins narwhals, and porpoises are the principal -cetaceans. They are not fish, but marine animals, and they suckle their -young." - -"Well, that's news to me," said Charley. - -"Now, then," said Jack, "if you two have finished your little side -discussion, suppose we come back to the subject in hand. What do you -know, Ned, about this fish that I have in my hand, and why don't you -call him a shark's pilot now, as you say you did a year ago?" - -"Why, because the books treat me the same way in his case that they do -in the whiting's. They describe a shark's pilot which is as different -from this as a whale is from a heifer calf, and so I don't know what to -call this fellow. Did he make a fight when you caught him?" - -"Indeed he did. I was sure I had a twenty-pound something or other on my -hook, and when I pulled up this insignificant little creature, with the -match box on his head, I was disgusted. I looked at him to see if he -hadn't a steam-engine somewhere about him, because he pulled so hard, -and that's what made me observe his match box and his curious -up-side-down-itiveness." - -"I say, Ned," said Charley, "why is it that our Southern fishes are so -neglected in the books?" - -"Well, I've asked myself that question, and the only answer I can think -of is this: in the first place, there is no great commercial interest in -fishing here as there is at the North; and then the natural history -books and the cyclopędias are all written at the North or in Europe, and -so there are thousands of curious fish down here which are not -mentioned. There's the pin-cushion fish, for example. I can't find a -trace of that curious creature in any of the books." - -"What sort of thing is a pin-cushion fish?" asked Jack. - -"He's simply a hollow sphere, a globular bag about twice the size of a -walnut, and as round as a base ball." - -"Half transparent, is he? Red, shaded off into white? with water inside -of him, and pimples, like pin-heads, all over him, and eyes and mouth -right on his fair rotundity, making him look like a picture of the full -moon made into a human face?" asked Jack eagerly. - -"Yes, that's the pin-cushion fish." - -"I thought so. That's my other one," said Jack. - -"What do you mean?" asked Ned. - -"Why, that's the other thing I had to show you, but couldn't find. I -caught him with the cast net." - -"And kept him to show to me?" asked Ned. - -"Yes, but he disappeared." - -"Of course he did. He spat himself away." - -"How's that?" - -"Why, if you take a pin-cushion fish out of the water, and put him down -on a board, he'll sit there looking like a judge for a little while; -then he'll begin to spit, and when he spits all the water out, there's -nothing left of him except a small lump of jelly. They're very curious -things. I wish we had a good popular book about our Southern fishes and -the curious things that live in the water here on the coast." - -"Don't you suppose these things are represented at all in scientific -books?" asked Jack. - -"I suppose that many of them are, but many of them are not, and those -that are described, are described by names that we know nothing about, -and so only a naturalist could find the descriptions or recognize them -when found. With all Northern fishes that are familiarly known, the case -is different. If a Northern boy wants to find out more than he knows -already about a codfish, he looks for the information under the familiar -name 'Codfish,' and finds it there. He does not need to know in advance -that the cod is a fish of the _Gadus_ family, and the _Morrhua vulgaris_ -species. So, when he wants to know about the whiting that he is familiar -with, he finds the information under the name whiting; but the -scientific men who wrote the books, however much they may know about the -fish that we call whiting, do not know, I suppose, that it is anywhere -called whiting, and so they don't put the information about it under -that head. They only come down South as far as New Jersey, and tell -about a species of fish which is there called whiting, though it isn't -the real whiting. If they had known that still another and a very -different fish goes by that name down here, they would have told us -about that too, in the same way." - -"What's the remedy?" asked Charley. - -"For you, or Jack, or me," answered Ned, "to study science, and to make -a specialty of our Southern fishes. When we do that and give the world -all the information we can get by really intelligent observation, all -the scientific writers will welcome the addition made to the general -store of knowledge. That is the way it has all been found out." - -"Why can't we begin now?" - -"Because we haven't learned how to observe. We don't know enough of -general principles to be able to understand what we see. Let's form -habits of observation, and let's study science systematically; after -that we can observe intelligently, and make a real contribution to -knowledge." - -"You're not going to write your book on the Marine Fauna of the Southern -States to-night, are you?" asked Jack. - -"No, certainly not," said Ned, with a laugh at his own enthusiasm. - -"Then let's go to bed; I'm sleepy," said Jack. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -AN ENEMY IN THE CAMP. - - -The three tired boys went to sleep easily enough, and the snoring inside -their hut gave fair promise of a late waking the next day. But before -long Jack became restless in his sleep, and began to toss about a good -deal. Charley seemed to catch his restlessness, and presently he sat up -in the bunk and began to slap himself. This thoroughly aroused him, and -as Jack and Ned were tossing about uneasily he had no scruple in -speaking to them. - -"I say, fellows, we're attacked." - -"What's the matter?" muttered Ned, at the same time beginning to rub -himself vigorously, first on one part of the body, then on another. - -"Mosquitoes," said Jack, violently rubbing his scalp. - -"Worse than mosquitoes," said Charley; "they feel more like yellow -jackets or hornets, I should say; and they're inside our clothes too." - -"Whew!" exclaimed Ned, leaping out of the bunk, "I didn't think of -that." - -"What is it?" asked both the other boys in a breath. - -"A swarm of sand-flies." - -"Sand-flies! what are they?" asked Jack. - -"Wait, and I'll show you," replied Ned, going out and stirring up the -fire so as to make a light. Meantime the boys rubbed and writhed and -turned themselves about in something like agony, for, though they -suffered no severe pain at any one spot, their whole bodies seemed to be -covered with red pepper. Every inch of their skins was inflamed, and the -more they rubbed the worse the irritation became. - -When Ned had made a bright light, he showed his companions what their -tormentors were. Jack and Charley saw some very minute flying -insects--true flies indeed--not much larger than the points of pins. -There were millions of the creatures. The whole air seemed full of them -indeed, and wherever one rested for a moment upon the skin of its -victim, there was at once a pricking sensation, followed by the -intolerable burning and irritation already mentioned. - -Charley was at first incredulous. "You don't mean to tell me," he said, -"that those little gnats have done all this." - -"Yes, I do," answered Ned, "and more than that, I have known them to -kill a horse, tormenting him to death in a few hours. They'll get under -a horse's hair by millions and literally cover him, until you can see -the hair move with them. But they are not gnats." - -"But, see here, Ned," said Jack; "when I barely touch one of the -creatures, it not only kills him but distributes him pretty evenly over -the surrounding surface. They haven't strength enough to hang together." - -"Yes, I know," replied Ned; "what of that?" - -"Why, how can such things bite so? and especially how can they force -their way through our blankets and clothes? I should think they'd tear -themselves to pieces in the attempt." - -"So should I, if I didn't know better; but as a matter of fact they do -manage to get through without dulling their teeth, as we have proof." - -"Have the creatures teeth?" asked Charley. - -"No, of course not; but they have a sort of rasping apparatus which is -just as bad. They have an acrid kind of saliva too, which they put into -the wounds they make, and that is what smarts so. But come, this won't -do. We must make a good smudge." - -"What's a smudge?" asked Jack. - -"I'll show you presently," answered Ned, while he began to build a small -fire immediately in front of the tent. When it had burned a little, he -smothered it with damp leaves and moss, so that it gave off a dense -cloud of smoke which quickly filled the hut. - -"Now the tent will soon be clear of them," said Ned. - -"Sand-flies object to smoke, I suppose," said Jack. - -"Very much indeed," answered Ned, "and it is customary here on the coast -to have a pair of smudge boxes in front of every house." - -"I don't blame them for objecting," grumbled Charley, coughing and -wiping his smoke-inflamed eyes; "I can't say that I find smoke the most -delightful atmosphere myself. But what is a 'smudge box,' Ned?" - -"Simply a shallow box of earth set upon a post, to build a smudge upon." - -"I say, Ned," asked Jack, "what do you mean by saying that sand-flies -aren't gnats?" - -"Simply that they aren't," said Ned. - -"What are they, then?" - -"Flies." - -"Well, what is a small fly but a gnat?" - -"And what is a gnat but a small fly?" added Charley. - -"The two are not at all the same thing," answered Ned. "That is a -popular mistake. I have heard people say they could stand mosquitoes, -but couldn't endure gnats; and yet the mosquito is a gnat, and what -these people call gnats are not gnats at all, but simply small flies." - -"What constitutes the exact difference?" - -"The shape of the body. All flies are two-winged insects, and gnats are -flies in that sense, of course; but gnats are those flies that have long -bodies behind their wings, to balance themselves with. Mosquitoes are -our best example of them. These sand flies, you see, have very short -bodies." - -"Yes, but very long bills, I fancy," said Charley. - -"Well," said Jack, "all that is news to me." - -"I suppose it is. Most people think a whale is a fish, too, but for all -that it is nothing of the kind. What are you doing, Charley?" - -"Tossing up heads or tails for it," answered Charley, who had left the -tent and gone to the large fire. - -"Tossing up for what?" - -"To determine the method and manner of my death," answered Charley, with -profound gravity. "If I stay in the hut I shall die of suffocation in -the smoke, and if I stay out here the sand flies will kill me. I can't -quite make up my mind which death I prefer, so I'm tossing up for it." - -"Good! there's a breeze," said Ned; "if it rises it'll relieve you of -the necessity of choosing." - -"How? By blowing the smoke away, and so giving the sand flies a fair -field?" - -"No; by blowing the sand flies away; they can't stand much of a breeze. -It is coming up, too, and we shall get some sleep after all." - -The breeze did indeed rise after a time, but the dawn was almost upon -them before the boys really slept again, so severely were their skins -irritated by their small enemies. - -They had learned a lesson, however, and during the rest of their stay on -the island they never neglected to make a smudge in front of the hut -before attempting to sleep. It was not often that the sand flies -appeared in such numbers as on this night, and hence it was not often -necessary to fill the tent too full of smoke for comfort. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE BEGINNING AND END OF A VOYAGE. - - -The first care of the boys the next morning was to dig their well. This -was a comparatively trifling task, as they had only to dig four or five -feet through soft alluvial soil and sand. Instead of making -perpendicular sides to their well, they dug it out in the shape of a -bowl, so that they could walk down to the water and dip it up as they -needed it. - -Having a hut to live in and a well from which to get fresh water, they -were now free to begin the sport for which they had come to the island. -They went fishing first, of course, that being the obvious thing to do, -but after a few hours of this the tide became too full, and the fish -ceased to bite satisfactorily. - -"Let's crusoe a little," said Jack, winding up his line. - -"In what particular way?" asked Ned. - -"Why, let's sail around our domain and see how the island looks on its -other sides. Perhaps we may discover the savages, or find some game." - -"A good idea; but we must go back to camp first, to leave our fish and -get the gun and the sail; and while we're there we'd better get some -dinner." - -So said, so done. Dinner was very hastily dispatched, as the boys were -anxious to get off, in order that the circuit of the island might be -completed before night. - -"It looks like rain," said Ned, as he shook out the sail, "but we don't -mind a wetting." - -There was a good breeze, and the boat bounded away, rocking a good deal, -for the wind had been blowing all day, and there was more sea on than -was usual in those quiet waters. Ned let the centre-board down, which -steadied the boat somewhat, and enabled her to carry her sail without -danger. The plan was to coast along about half a mile off shore in order -that the island might be seen to good advantage; but as the eastern -shore was reached the sea became heavier, and the roar of the surf on -shore warned Ned of broad sands upon that side. - -"I've got to make more offing here," he said. - -"What do you mean by that? turn it into English," said Charley Black, -who persistently refused to understand any thing that sounded like a -nautical term. - -"Well, I mean I've got to sail farther away from the shore." - -"'Cause why?" asked Jack. - -"Because of two things," replied Ned. "In the first place the sea comes -in between those two islands over there, and has a fair sweep at about -half a mile of our island's coast, and so for the next half mile we -shall have some pretty rough water, and I prefer to be well off shore." - -"I should think you'd prefer to be close inshore if there's danger. Then -if any thing happens we can land." - -"That's all you know about it," said Ned. "I don't think there's the -least danger, so long as we keep off shore, because this boat, with her -centre-board down, is seaworthy; but as she isn't beach-worthy--and no -vessel is that--I don't want to get her upon a beach. That brings me to -my second reason. I want to take a good offing, because by the way the -surf roars here, and by the look of it, I judge that there's a long -sandy beach running out from this part of the island, and I don't want -to risk getting into too shallow water." - -"But why couldn't we land if there were danger?" asked Jack Farnsworth. -"If I had the helm that would be the first thing I'd try to do." - -"So should I if I had a harbor to run into," replied Ned. "But don't you -see that if we ran upon a sandy beach when there was a sea on, we should -soon come to a place where there wouldn't be water enough except as a -wave came in? Then the boat would be lifted up by every wave, and -suddenly dropped upon the hard sand, and I can tell you she wouldn't -stand much of that. Did you never notice that nearly all shipwrecks -occur along shore?" - -"Yes, that's true," replied Jack. "Ships that come to grief nearly -always run on breakers or something; but I never thought of it before." - -By this time Ned had secured at least a mile of offing but the sea grew -every moment heavier. The wind had risen to half a gale, and in spite -of the close reefing of the sail the boat lay far over and Ned directed -his companions to "trim ship" by sitting upon the gunwale. - -Jack Farnsworth soon discovered that Ned was becoming anxious. He -quietly said: - -"You suspect danger, Ned?" - -"Oh, no," replied Ned, "at least I think not." - -"Yes you do. I see it in your face. Now I want to say at once that -whatever the danger is, we can only increase it by losing our wits. The -important thing is for you to keep perfectly cool, because you know more -than we do about sailing. Then you can tell us what to do, if there's -any thing." - -"Thank you," said Ned; "the fact is this: I think by the look of the -horizon out there at sea, that we are likely to have a squall--that is, -a sudden and very violent blow, added to the steadier wind that blows -now. If we can run across this open space before it comes, we'll be all -right under the lee of that island over there, and if no squall comes -we're safe enough even here, because the boat is seaworthy. But a -knock-over squall might capsize us. It's coming, too--let go the -sheet--cut it--any thing!" - -As he said, or rather shouted this, Ned tried to head the boat to the -wind, while Jack and Charley let go the sheet, and thus set the sail -free. If the squall had struck the boat with the sheet fastened and the -sail thus held in position, the _Red Bird_ would have capsized -instantly; but with the sail swinging freely, less resistance was -offered, and Ned expected in this way to avoid a catastrophe. He headed -the boat to the wind, which was the best thing to do. - -The squall struck just as the sail swung free, but before the _Red Bird_ -could be brought completely around. - -It seemed to the boys that the boat had been struck violently by a solid -ball of some kind, so sharply did the squall come upon it. Having her -head almost to the wind, she reared like a horse, swung around, and very -nearly rolled over, but she did not quite capsize. The mast, however, -snapped short off, and the sail fell over into the water, being held -fast to the boat only by the guys. - -"Cut the guys, Jack," cried Ned, "or that sail will swamp us! There! now -all sit down in the bottom of the boat; no, no, Charley, not on the -thwart, but on the bottom!" - -Ned had to shriek these orders to be heard above the roar of the squall, -which had not yet subsided. He knew that the immediate danger now was -that the boat might turn over, and to prevent this, he ordered his -companions to sit upon the bottom, as he himself did, in order that -their weight might be where it would best serve as ballast. - -This brought the three very nearly together, so that they could speak to -each other without shouting quite at the top of their voices. - -"Well, Ned?" said Charley Black. - -"Well," replied Ned, "we shan't capsize now. That danger is over; but -there's another before us that is just as bad." - -"What is it?" asked Charley. - -"And what shall we do toward meeting it?" asked Jack, whose superb -calmness and manly resolution to look things in the face and to make -fight against danger won Ned's heart. - -"We're being driven at railroad speed upon the beach," answered Ned, -"and we'll strike pretty soon. We've already lost the oars, and we -couldn't use them if we had them in this sea; so we have nothing to do -but wait. When we strike, the boat will be mashed into kindling wood. -Every thing depends then upon where we strike. If it is far from shore -the big waves will beat us to a jelly on the sand. Our only chance will -be, as soon as the boat strikes, to catch the next wave, swimming with -it toward shore, taking care, when it recedes, to light on our feet, and -then run with all our might up the sand. If we can get inside the break -of the surf before the next wave catches us we're safe; but that's the -only chance. Every thing depends now on where we strike." - -"Boots off," cried Jack; "we may have to swim." - -Ned and Charley accepted the suggestion. All now anxiously scanned the -shore, which seemed to be coming toward them at a tremendous speed. -Suddenly Ned cried out: - -"There's a reef just ahead; when we strike try to cross it into the -stiller water." - -At that moment it seemed as if the sandy reef had suddenly shot up from -below, striking the bottom of the boat as a trip-hammer might, and -shivering it into fragments. What had really happened was this: the -boat, driving forward on the crest of a wave, had been carried to a -point immediately over the sand ridge or reef, and there suddenly -dropped by the receding of the wave. It had struck the sandy bottom with -sufficient violence to crush its sides and bottom into a shapeless mass. - -The boys were wellnigh stunned by the blow, but rallying quickly they -ran forward in water only a few inches deep, and before the next -incoming wave struck, they had crossed the narrow sand reef, and plunged -into the deep, but comparatively still water that lay inside. The surf -was broken, of course, upon the reef, and although the waves passed -completely over it, their force was expended upon it, so that inside the -barrier the boys found the water disturbed by nothing more than a swell. -The distance to the shore was small, and they soon swam it, pulling -themselves out on the sand, drenched, bare-headed, bootless, and weary -beyond expression, not so much from exertion as from the strain through -which their brains and nerves had passed. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE SITUATION. - - -The first thing to be done was to rest. Utterly exhausted, the lads -dragged themselves a few feet from the water and threw themselves down -upon the sand, thinking of nothing and caring for nothing except to lie -still. The squall had passed away as quickly as it had come, and -although a stiff breeze was still blowing the afternoon sun beating down -upon them warmed as well as dried them rapidly. Jack Farnsworth was the -first to recover his wits. - -"I say, fellows, this won't do," he said, raising himself to a sitting -posture. "The day is waning and we've got to get back to our camp before -night." - -Ned and Charley tried to rise. Ned accomplished the feat, but poor -Charley found it impossible. - -"Why, boys," he said, sinking back upon the sand, "I'm all of a tremble; -I don't know what's the matter." - -"Reaction," said Ned. - -"What's that?" - -"Why, under all that excitement you kept your strength up by a -tremendous effort, and now you're paying the bill you owe your nerves." - -"But I'm sure I didn't tremble when we were in danger." - -"No, because you wouldn't give way then. Your will was master. It -ordered your nerves to furnish strength enough to keep still, and -commanded your muscles to do what was necessary to get you safe ashore. -They obeyed, and now your will is in their debt. It took more than was -due, and your nerves and muscles have presented their bill. They are -bullying your will in return for the bullying it gave them a little -while ago. That's the way my father explained it to me once when I -trembled after a big scare. Only lie still awhile and you'll come round. -I was as weak as water five minutes ago, but I'm getting my strength -back again now." - -"'As weak as water,'" said Jack Farnsworth meditatively. "I used to -think that a good comparison, but I've altered my opinion. Water is the -strongest thing I know." - -"How is that?" asked Ned. - -"Why, think how it picked the _Red Bird_ up and flung her down on the -sand like an angry giant--but with ten thousand times a giant's -strength! And it picks great ships up in the same way and dashes them to -pieces as I might do with an egg-shell or a China cup. Water is a giant, -a demon of angry strength. I shall never think of it again as a thing of -weakness. It means infinite power to me now." - -"Poor old _Red Bird_!" said Ned; "there are her bones!" - -There indeed lay what was left of the boat, where it had been drifted -upon the sands by the swell. The tide, which had now begun to run out, -had left the wreck "high and dry," and instinctively the boys went to -look at it, Charley managing now to stagger forward slowly. - -The wreck was a mass of timbers, ribs, and planking, looking like a boat -that has been crushed flat under some enormous weight. - -"What kept her from going all to bits?" asked Charley. - -"Her copper bolts," answered Ned. "You see, she was particularly well -built. There wasn't a nail in her. From stem to stern all the fastenings -were of copper, and copper is so tough that no ordinary wrenching will -break it. It bends instead. But if we had simply run upon a beach in -that sea, even copper bolts wouldn't have held the pieces together. -Every wave would have lifted the wreck up and dashed it down on the sand -until the planks and ribs were beaten into bits. As it is, the _Red -Bird_ struck only once. The next wave that came lifted her up and -carried her clear across the reef into deep water before it dropped her, -and so she received only that one blow. Once inside the reef, she -drifted with the swell toward shore. She is an utter wreck though, and -will never sail again." - -There was a melancholy tone in the boy's voice as he said this, for he -had sailed in this boat many and many a time, and had come to love her -as if she had been a live thing. - -"I'll tell you what, boys," said Jack; "we've got to start toward camp. -It won't do to be caught out to-night without supper or fire. Weary and -soaked as we are, we shall be sick if we don't get something to eat and -a fire to sleep by. Let's get a vine and tie the wreck here so that it -can't drift away with the next tide, and then be off at once. It's -nearly sunset." - -When the "bones" of the boat were well secured, the boys set out; -Charley having recovered his strength somewhat, they walked at a good -pace along the shore, and reached camp just at dark. Building a large -fire they soon had a hearty supper, with plenty of hot coffee, and when -supper was done, they gladly put themselves to bed, aching a good deal -from exhaustion, but really unharmed by their adventure. - -Jack was the first to wake the next morning, but he did not get up -immediately. He lay still, evidently thinking. After a while he arose -quietly and, before dressing himself, made an examination of the stores -of food on hand. Finally he roused his companions, and the three took a -dip into the water. - -"Now," said Jack, when all were seated at breakfast, "I want you boys to -help me think a little, and you, Ned, to answer some questions." - -"All right," said Ned, "I'm thinking already." - -"What are you thinking?" asked Charley. - -"That these fish aren't as fresh as they might be; so I'm going fishing -before dinner." - -"What in?" asked Jack. - -"That's a fact," said Ned and Charley in a breath. "We haven't a boat -now." - -"No," said Jack. "We have no boat, and that's what I want to think -about. How far is it to Bluffton, Ned?" - -"About twelve miles." - -"Is that the nearest point on the mainland?" - -"Yes." - -"Then we've got to stay here till we can build a boat with such tools -and materials as we have, if we can do it at all," said Jack. - -"We can't do it," said Ned, with a look of consternation on his face; -"we lack nearly every thing. We haven't even the plank!" - -"Now don't let's become demoralized," said Jack, who, ever since the -accident of the day before, had been the leading spirit of the party. -"We must keep our wits about us and lay our plans intelligently. But -first of all we must look the facts in the face. We are on a deserted -island twelve miles from the mainland, without a boat. We must stay here -until we can make arrangements of some kind for getting away, and that -will be a good deal longer than we thought of staying when we came, for -I don't suppose you meant it, Ned, when you told Maum Sally that we'd be -gone a month." - -"No, I hadn't a thought of staying more than a few days, or a week at -most. We didn't bring enough provisions to last for more than a week." - -"That is what I was coming to," said Jack. "I've been looking over our -stores this morning. We've got to face the fact that we haven't nearly -enough, and we must use what we have judiciously, taking great care to -add other things as we can. Unluckily we lost our best friend when the -gun went down in the wreck of the _Red Bird_. We can't hunt, but must -depend upon other sources of supply. I suppose, Ned, there's very little -to be done fishing from the shore?" - -"Nothing at all, I imagine," replied Ned; "but I may possibly catch a -few mullets with the cast net. You see mullets run up into little bays -to feed, and we sometimes go after them with the net, especially at -night. Then I can catch shrimps and some few crabs, and I suppose we -shall find an oyster bank somewhere." - -"Yes," said Jack, "I suppose we can manage somehow to get enough food; -the trouble will be to get variety enough. Shrimps and crabs and oysters -and fish are good food, but one doesn't want to make them an exclusive -diet. For health we must have variety." - -"That is true," said Ned, "and our greatest trouble will be about bread. -We haven't flour or rice or sweet potatoes enough to last more than a -few days." - -"No," said Jack, "and we have nothing to substitute for them. We must -have everything of the vegetable kind that we can get. Now what is -there? I don't know, and can't think of a thing." - -"There are several things," said Ned, "such as they are." - -"Well, we'll hunt for them. What are they?" asked Jack. - -"There may possibly be wild sweet potatoes somewhere on the island, -though that is doubtful. The soft parts of most roots are edible; there -are plenty of wild grapes in the woods, I suppose, and for a good -substantial vegetable, we can eat an occasional dish of algę." - -"What's that?" - -"'What are they,' you should say; noun of the first declension,--alga, -algę, algę, algam, etc.,--so algę is the nominative plural." - -"Oh, stop the declension--we have enough of that at school--and tell us -what algę are," said Charley. - -"Sea-weeds. There are a great variety of them, and many kinds are eaten -in different parts of the world. They are all harmless and more or less -nutritious. We can try the different sorts that come ashore here and use -the best that we can get." - -"Shall we boil them?" asked Jack. - -"I don't know. We'll try that and see, at any rate." - -"All right. Now we must manage each day to get as much food, of one kind -and another, as we eat; it won't do to run short and trust to the -future. We must save our flour and bacon for special occasions and as a -reserve to fall back upon if at any time the supplies of other food fail -us. We must keep our coffee, too, for use in case of sickness, or a bad -drenching in a cold rain. There may be times when we shall need it -badly, and so we must do without it now. I think we shall get on pretty -well for several weeks, and by that time I hope we shall be ready to -leave the island." - -"How?" - -"Well, I've a plan, but I'm not sure about it yet. I thought of it -yesterday, just after we came ashore. You two see what you can do toward -getting some food, while I go off to inspect and lay my plans. When I -come back I'll tell you about them." - -When Jack departed without telling his companions what he meant to do, -Ned and Charley went up the shore with the cast net, and managed, within -an hour or two, to secure a good supply of shrimps, one or two mullets, -and a few oysters, though they discovered no oyster bed, as they had -expected to do. They hoped to accomplish this by a longer journey along -the shore, to be made on some other day. Having enough fish and shrimps -for immediate use, they wished now to see what could be done toward -securing a supply of vegetable food. They discovered no palmetto trees, -but gave their attention to the wild grapes, of which there were a good -many in the woods. - -It was well past mid-day when Ned and Charley, loaded with their spoils -of sea and land, returned to the camp. There they found Jack, sitting on -a log meditating. - -"Boys," he said, "the important thing is not to let any thing discourage -us. We must keep a stiff upper lip, no matter what happens." - -"Yes, certainly," said Charley, "but what's the special occasion of this -lecture?" - -"You are sure that no matter what happens, you'll not give up, or grow -scared, or get excited in any way?" asked Jack. - -"Well, I must say--" began Charley. - -"Hush, Charley," said Ned; "something's wrong. Let's hear what Jack has -to say." - -"What is it, Jack? Tell us quick." - -"Well, only that we're out of food." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Why, that some animal or other has robbed us while we were all away -from camp! Every thing's gone, even to the box of salt and the coffee. -We haven't a thing to eat except what you've brought with you." - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -PLANS AND DEVICES. - - -To say that the boys were shocked and distressed by their new mishap, is -very feebly to express their state of mind. There was consternation in -the camp, from which Jack alone partially escaped. Jack had an -uncommonly cool head. In ordinary circumstances there was nothing -whatever to distinguish him from other boys. He rushed into difficulties -as recklessly as anybody--as he did on the first day when he tried to -use the cast net,--and joined in all sports and boyish enterprises with -as little thought as boys usually show. But in real difficulty Jack -Farnsworth was seen in a new light. He was calm, thoughtful, resolute, -and full of resource. Ned had his first hint of this during that last -voyage of the _Red Bird_, and as their difficulties multiplied both Ned -and Charley learned to look upon Jack as their leader. They turned to -him now precisely as if he had been much older than themselves, and -asked: - -"What on earth are we to do, Jack?" - -"First of all," Jack replied, "we are to keep perfectly cool. Excitement -will not only keep us from doing the best that we can, but it will -weaken us and unfit us for work, even if it doesn't bring on actual -sickness, which it may do. Care killed a cat, you know. We positively -must not get excited. After all, what occasion for uneasiness is there? -We are pretty genuine Crusoes now, but we can stand that. We are -literally wrecked upon a deserted island. We have lost our boat and our -boots, our hats, our gun and our supply of provisions, and so we are not -quite so well situated as Robinson Crusoe was; but on the other hand -we're not going to stay here year after year as he did, and besides -there are three of us to keep each other company." - -"Well, company's good, of course," said Charley Black, "but I'm not so -sure on the other points." - -"How do you mean?" asked Ned. - -"I'm not so sure about our getting away sooner than Crusoe did. I don't -see how we're to get away at all for that matter, but may be somebody -will rescue us after twenty-eight years or so." - -"Well, if they do," said Ned, "won't it be jolly fun to go back to -school then, with long whiskers, and make old Bingham take us through -the rest of Cęsar!" - -Ned was naturally buoyant in spirits, and the spice of difficulty and -danger in their situation had now begun to stimulate his gayety instead -of depressing him. He was of too hopeful a nature to believe that their -enforced stay upon the island was likely to be very greatly prolonged, -although, if put to the proof, he had no more notion than Charley Black -had, of a possible means of escape. - -"Yes," answered Jack Farnsworth, "and after that length of time we'll -have a lot of things to learn besides Latin. We'll have to study -geography all over again to find out how many States there are in the -Union, and whether France has swallowed Germany, or Russia has conquered -England and moved her capital to London. Then, again, Ned, your science -will be out of date, and you won't dare to mention oxygen even, for fear -that somebody has found long ago that there isn't any such thing as -oxygen. We'll be regular Rip Van Winkles. Who knows? Perhaps we shall -find the United States turned into an empire, and steam-engines -forgotten, and electricity, or something that we've never heard of, -doing the world's work. On the whole, I think if we stay here -twenty-eight years, it will be better not to leave the island at all." - -The banter between Ned and Jack was kept up in this way for some time, -Ned talking for fun merely, while Jack talked for the purpose of -overcoming poor Charley's evident depression of spirits. Finally Jack -said: - -"But we're not going to be Rip Van Winkles or even Crusoes very long. -We'll have our lark out and then go back home in time for school--say -about three weeks or a month hence, keeping Ned's appointment with Maum -Sally." - -"But how on earth are we to get back?" asked Charley. - -"In a boat, to be sure; we can't walk twelve miles on the water," -answered Jack, "particularly now that we're barefooted. We'd get our -feet wet, without a doubt." - -"Where are we to get a boat?" - -"Well, that is what I've been thinking about," said Jack, "and I think -I've worked the problem out." - -"All right, what's the answer?" asked Ned. - -"Why, that we must rebuild the _Red Bird_." - -"How can we? She is mashed into kindling wood," said Charley. - -"No, not quite," answered Jack. "She is badly mashed, certainly, but -it's simply mashing. I have been to look at her. She lies there as flat -as if a steam-ship had sat down upon her, but I have carefully examined -every stick of her timber, and while the _Red Bird_ is no more a boat -than a lumber pile is a house, still she is a pretty good pile of -lumber. Comparatively few of her planks are badly split or broken, while -her ribs seem to be broken only in one or two places each. After -examining her very carefully I am satisfied that her timbers will -furnish us enough material for a new boat. We must build a smaller boat -out of her bones--particularly a shorter boat. She was twenty-four feet -long, and by shortening her in the middle--that is, by leaving out the -middle ribs--we shall have enough planking to make a new boat. Patching -up the ribs will be the most difficult job, but I think we can manage -it. Most of the planks are broken in two, but we can join the ends on -ribs, and, if we are patient, we can make a pretty good boat. Patience -is the one thing needful, especially for inexperienced workmen with a -scanty supply of tools. We must make good joints if we have to work a -week over the joining of two boards." - -"What are we to do for nails?" asked Ned; "we haven't more than a pound -or two here." - -"We haven't a single nail," said Jack; "the wild animal, whatever it -was, that robbed us, seems to have had a very miscellaneous appetite. It -not only took our flour and bacon, our salt and our coffee and sugar; it -seems to have had an appetite for nails and blankets too. At any rate, -it stole them all, but luckily it didn't find the tools, because you had -the hatchet with you, and I had the axe." - -"The mischief!" exclaimed Ned. - -"Yes, it's mischief enough for that matter, but it might have been -worse. I suppose some rascals landed here while we were away and robbed -us. Of course it couldn't have been an animal, although that was my -first thought when I found the provisions gone. Whoever it was he isn't -likely to come again, but we must watch our camp now, and particularly -we must take care of our tools." - -"But you haven't answered my question about nails," said Ned. - -"We must make them of the _Red Bird's_ copper bolts," answered Jack; -"and if we run short we can use wooden pins; but I think there is an -abundance of the copper. Luckily the anchor came ashore entangled in the -wreck, and that will serve us for an anvil. We can hammer the bolts into -nails, using the hatchet for a hammer. It will be slow work, because -while the hatchet is in use making nails we can't use it in building the -boat." - -"I'll tell you what," said Charley, whose spirits began now to revive; -"we'll work hard of nights making nails, and have them ready for the -next day." - -"Yes, and we shan't want any nails for a day or two, while we're making -preparations to begin, and so we can get a good supply in advance." - -"That's so," said Ned; "but do you know we're wasting precious time? It -is nearly sundown, and we have a lot to do before we go to bed. We -haven't thought of dinner yet, and we can't now till after our work is -done. We must bring the wreck around here to-night. The fellow that -robbed our camp was probably some negro squatter from some of the -islands around us, and if he got sight of the wreck on his way back, he -is sure to come over and carry away all that is valuable of the _Red -Bird's_ bones to-night. We must get ahead of him, and bring the wreck -around to the camp the first thing we do." - -This suggestion commended itself to Ned's companions, and the boys set -off at once, taking the axe and hatchet with them. - -When they arrived at the wreck the tide was very nearly full, so that -there was not much difficulty in getting the remains of the _Red Bird_ -afloat. It was a mere raft of plank and timbers, of course, which must -be dragged through the water along the shore by means of the anchor rope -and some wild vines cut in the woods. For a time the still incoming tide -was in their favor, and they travelled the first half mile pretty -rapidly. When the tide turned, however, the labor became very severe, -and it was ten o'clock at night when the wreck of the _Red Bird_ was -safely landed at the camp. The boys were exhausted with work, and very -hungry. Ned stirred up the fire and put on a kettle of salt water, into -which, as soon as it boiled, he poured a quart or two of shrimps. - -"We'll make a shrimp dinner to-night," he said, "and that will leave us -the mullets and wild grapes for breakfast." - -"All right," answered Jack; "I'm hungry enough not to care for variety -to-night; speed is the word just now." - -Dinner over, the boys had still to collect a large mass of the long gray -moss to serve instead of the stolen blankets, so that it was quite -midnight when they finally got to sleep. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -SOME OF NED'S SCIENCE. - - -"How shall we cook our fish, Ned?" asked Charley, the next morning. He -had already thrown wood upon the embers when Ned and Jack came out of -the hut. - -"We must roast them," said Ned, "now that we have no bacon to fry them -with. We can broil sometimes and roast sometimes, for variety. Without -butter broiled fish are rather dry. I'll be cook this morning, and show -you how to roast small fish." - -With that he went to the beach and walked along the water's edge till he -found a bunch of clean, wet sea-weed. Returning to the fire, he -carefully wrapped the mullets in this, and placed them in the hot ashes, -covering them with live coals to a depth of several inches. Half an hour -later he took them carefully out of their wrappings, and placed them on -the log that did duty for a table. - -The fish were beautifully done, and looked as tempting as possible, but, -upon tasting them, a look of consternation came over Jack's countenance. - -"I never thought of that," said Jack, "but we are out of salt! What -shall we do? We can't live altogether on shrimps and oysters; and fish -without salt is a difficult dish to eat." - -"We must make some salt," said Ned. - -"Out of the sea-water?" asked Charley. - -"Yes. It is slow work, and without clarifying materials we'll get a -rather black product, but it will be salt for all that." - -"What will make it black?" asked Jack. - -"Impurities. The sea-water is filled with various things--common salt, -mostly, of course, but there are Glauber's salts, Epsom salts, magnesia, -and many other things, including salts of silver and iron. In making -salt out of sea-water, these impurities must be got rid of, or the salt -will be of a dirty brownish color. We can't clarify it, but we can use -it very well for all our purposes. We'll have to put up with a poor -breakfast, but we'll do better by night. I'll start our salt-works -immediately after breakfast, and then I'll leave Charley in charge of -the business, because I have an idea of my own that I want to carry out. -We must devote ourselves to-day exclusively to the business of getting -food, I suppose." - -"Yes, that is the first thing to be done. We are at the starvation point -and must get something to eat before we begin on the boat. What is the -plan that you speak of?" - -"I shan't tell you, because it may come to nothing, though I'm hopeful." - -"All right, I hope it will turn out well. Meantime, I'll take the cast -net and get some shrimps and possibly some fish, and then if I had any -thing to bait with, I would set some rabbit traps or something of that -sort. But I haven't, and so I can't. Charley can carry on the salt-works -while you do whatever it is you mean to do." - -The salt-works consisted of nothing more than the kettle. Filling this -with clear sea-water, Ned set it to boil, saying: - -"Now, Charley, as it boils down add more water, and toward night we can -stop adding water and let the salt settle. It will begin to settle -before that time, and when it does you can dip the wet salt up from the -bottom and spread it out on a plank to dry." - -"All right. I'll make a dipper out of a tin cup by fastening a stick to -it for a handle. But what makes the salt settle?" - -"Why, don't you see? You can only dissolve a certain amount of salt in a -certain amount of water; if you put more in it sinks to the bottom, -being heavier than water, and stays there. When a liquid has as much of -any thing dissolved in it as it can hold, it is said to be saturated; we -call it a saturated solution. Now when you boil sea-water it evaporates, -and the quantity of water steadily decreases. After awhile so much of -the water is evaporated that we have a saturated solution, and then if -you evaporate half a pint more of it the salt that a half pint of water -can hold in solution must settle to the bottom. It is a curious fact -that water which is saturated with one substance, so that it can not -hold any more of it, is still capable of dissolving other substances and -holding them in solution. Sometimes, in making salt, men take advantage -of that fact." - -"How?" asked Jack, who had become interested in Ned's explanation. - -"Why, by washing out the impurities of the salt with salt water. Having -a quantity of impure salt they put it into a funnel-shaped vessel with a -small hole in the bottom; then they take clear water and pure salt and -make a saturated solution of that; this water cannot dissolve any more -salt, but it is still capable of dissolving the other substances which -constitute impurities; so it is poured into the vessel that contains the -impure salt, and as it passes through it dissolves and carries off the -impurities, but doesn't dissolve any of the salt." - -"Why can't we purify our salt in that way?" asked Charley. - -"Because we have no pure salt with which to make the solution." - -"That's so, but I didn't think of it. I wish I knew as much as you do -about such things." - -"I don't know much," answered Ned. "I have always been curious to know -facts of the sort, and my father has encouraged me to find them out. I -ask questions and read what books I can on such subjects; but I learn -most by looking and thinking for myself. Still I know very little about -scientific matters; really I do. But we're wasting time; I must be off -and so must you, Jack. Keep the salt kettle boiling, Charley, and don't -forget to add water to it from time to time. When you pour cold water in -you can skim the scum off, and in that way you'll get rid of a good deal -of impurity." - -With that the boys separated. Jack went down along the shore, with the -cast-net in his hand; while Ned struck off into the woods with the -coffee-pot, which, now that the boys had no coffee, was no longer in use -at camp. - -Jack returned about noon, bringing back a fine lot of shrimps, half a -dozen fish, a few crabs, and some oysters, together with the news that -he had discovered a large oyster bank which could be reached by wading -at low tide. - -Charley greeted him with a smiling face on which there was a look of -triumph. - -"Look here, Jack," he said, going to a plank upon which there were two -or three little white heaps; "Ned is out in his science this time; I've -got beautifully white salt as you see, and not the dark, impure stuff he -said I would get; but that isn't all; instead of settling to the bottom -of the kettle, it rises to the top to be skimmed off." - -"Yes, I could have told you that," said Ned, who had arrived unobserved. -"It's a way that it has. Taste your salt, Charley." - -Charley did so, looked puzzled, and then turned to Ned. - -"What is it, old fellow?" he asked. - -"Why, beautifully white salt to be sure," answered Ned; "isn't that what -you said it was?" - -"Yes, I said that," answered Charley, "but now I know better. It is -tasteless." - -"Magnesia usually is," said Ned. - -"Is that magnesia?" - -"Yes, in the main. It is mixed a little with other things perhaps, but -it is mostly magnesia. That is why I told you to skim it off. We don't -want it in the salt." - -"But I haven't any salt," said Charley, "I've filled the kettle up every -fifteen minutes but no salt has settled yet." - -"Your solution isn't saturated yet," said Ned. "This water contains only -about two per cent of salt, or possibly in its impure state three per -cent. To make one kettleful of salt we must boil away from thirty to -fifty kettlefuls of water. The kettle holds two gallons, and so, in -order to get a pint of salt we must boil away two or three kettlefuls of -water. You have filled it up enough for to-day; now keep it boiling and -we'll get a pint or two of salt, before night, and meantime we can pour -a little of the boiled-down water on our fish for dinner, for I'm -hungry." - -"By the way, Ned," said Jack, "what luck have you had?" - -"Good. I've brought back a coffee-pot half full, and have made -arrangements for more to-morrow." - -"Well, I like puzzles and riddles and things of that sort," said Jack, -"but I hate to wait for 'our next month's number' for the answer. What -is it you've got in the coffee-pot?" - -"Bread," answered Ned, "or a substitute for it. I've been gathering the -seeds of grasses and weeds." - -"Seeds of grasses!" exclaimed Charley; "why, who ever heard of anybody -eating grass seeds?" - -"You've turned sceptic, Charley, since your faith in your beautiful -white salt received such a shock," said Ned; "but still I think some -grass seeds are occasionally eaten by men,--wheat, for example, and -rice and corn." - -"That's so," said Charley, abashed; "only I never thought of wheat and -rice, etc., as grasses. But are wild grass seeds good to eat?" - -"Yes, of course. All ordinary grass seeds are composed of substantially -the same materials, and they are all nutritious. I have gathered about a -quart, meaning to mash them up and make a sort of bread out of them; but -there isn't time for that now, so I mean to boil them for dinner. The -important thing is to have some kind of grain food to eat, and in that -way we'll get it somewhat as if we had rice." - -"That's a capital idea, Ned," said Jack. "Is there plenty of seed to be -had?" - -"Yes, now that I know where it is, though it is very slow work gathering -such seed. I have only to gather it and winnow it. I can winnow a little -faster next time, because I shall take something along to winnow upon, -if it is only a clean handkerchief. I've thought of something else too." - -"What is that?" asked Charley. - -"Acorns and other nuts. They are rather green yet, but they are -nutritious, and we can beat them into a palatable bread. Hogs grow fat -on them, and there is no reason why they should not prove nutritious to -us. I'm going to find some edible roots, too, if I can." - -"What a splendid provider you are, Ned," said Charley, "particularly as -we have the oysters, shrimps, etc., for a foundation to build upon." - -"Well," replied Ned, "do you know I have been thinking that we should -not starve even if we hadn't the water for a source of supply?" - -"How is that?" - -"In casting about for a variety of things to eat, I have naturally tried -to think of every thing that could support life, and have been surprised -to find how many things there are that can be eaten in extreme cases. If -we were in real danger of starving we could eat snails and earthworms -for meat----" - -"Ugh!" exclaimed Charley. - -"Well, snails and earthworms are both regarded as delicacies by many -people in France. They actually have snail farms, where the creatures -are fattened for market." - -"As a business?" - -"Yes, as a business. There is a demand for snails at high prices, -because people who can pay well for them are fond of them. Then we could -kill a few snakes and lizards here, I suppose. In fact, I killed a snake -this afternoon, and if I hadn't been afraid of disgusting you fellows, I -should have brought it home as a valuable contribution to our larder, -for snakes are uncommonly good eating." - -"Did you ever eat one?" asked Jack. - -"Yes; or at least a part of one. There is no reason why snakes should -not be eaten, except a groundless prejudice. Their flesh is both good -and wholesome." - -"Hurrah for our scientist!" said Jack. "I begin to see now, that our -supplies are a good deal greater than I supposed. For my part, I mean to -have a snake breakfast some of these mornings just for variety's sake. -Why, we shall begin to live like princes presently." - -"Will you really lay aside prejudice, Jack, and eat a well-cooked -snake?" asked Ned. - -"Certainly I will," said Jack. - -"And you, Charley?" - -"I see no objection, now that I think of it," said Charley. - -"Very well; then I'll go for my snake. It isn't a hundred yards away, -and it will furnish us meat, which is much more strengthening than an -exclusive diet of fish and such things can be." - -The snake--a large one--was brought to camp, skinned, dressed, and -broiled to a crisp brown on a bed of coals. When done it was appetizing -both in appearance and in odor, and the boys, who, naturally, were very -hungry after their scanty breakfast and diligent work, ate it with keen -relish, eating with it some boiled grass seeds. The only complaint made -concerning the grass seeds was that there was not half enough of them. - -The salt kettle had been filled more frequently than Ned had supposed, -and the yield for the day was more nearly a quart than a pint. - -"Now we are beginning to know how to live," said Jack. "We have only to -get a good start and keep a fair supply of food ahead. But we must lay -in a good stock of seeds to-morrow. I'll go with you, Ned, and we'll -both work at that, while Charley minds camp and makes salt." - -"To-morrow will be Sunday," said Charley. - -"No it won't; this is Friday," said Jack. - -"Let's see," said Ned. "We got to Bluffton on Monday evening, didn't we? -Well, the next day we went fishing; that was Tuesday. The next day we -came over here; that was Wednesday. The next day, Thursday, the wreck of -the _Red Bird_ occurred. Friday we spent in getting food and bringing -the wreck around here to the camp. That was yesterday, and so to-day is -Saturday. Lucky that Charley thought of it. We mustn't work to-morrow, -and so we must catch a lot of shrimps and fish with the net to-night." - -The boys worked with the net until nearly midnight, and slept late the -next morning. They observed Sunday as a day of rest, and rest was a -thing that they greatly needed just at that time. It was agreed that on -Monday morning Jack and Ned should go after grass seed, while Charley -should mind camp, make salt, and use the net. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -JACK'S DISCOVERY. - - -The harvest of seeds from which Ned and Jack were to draw their -supplies, was found in an abandoned field, half a mile from the camp. -Here various wild grasses and weeds grew in rank profusion, and had -already ripened in the sun. Some yielded seeds so small and so few in -number that it was a waste of time to thresh them; others were richer in -larger seeds; while many of the weeds, particularly, gave a profuse -supply of seeds almost as large as grains of wheat, but these were -mostly worthless. - -Ned was the recognized "scientist" of the party, and upon him devolved -the task and responsibility of determining what kinds of seed to gather -and what to leave. He was familiar with the ordinary plants of the -country, and knew which of them were poisonous. It remained only to -determine whether or not a seed, known to be harmless, was of any value -as food, and Ned's method of doing this was very simple. He bit the seed -to discover what he could about its flavor and general character in that -way; then he split a seed and inspected it. If it seemed to consist -principally of starch, gluten, and fruity matter, he accepted that kind -of seed; if it appeared dry, hard, and black upon the inside, he deemed -it unworthy. - -Passing the point at which he had gathered seeds on the day before, Ned -selected a good spot for a threshing-floor, and said: - -"Now, Jack, I'll clear a space here and get ready for threshing; we'll -get on faster in that way. You go off out there and gather grasses. -Pretty soon I'll join you, and when we get a supply, we'll thresh -awhile." - -With this the boys separated. Ned worked diligently at his clearing, and -Jack brought in armfuls of grass. - -After awhile Ned finished his task and began to wonder what had became -of Jack, who had been absent for a considerable time. He called, but -Jack did not answer. Thinking nothing of the matter he went on with the -work of gathering grass. Still Jack did not return, and after an hour -had passed Ned became positively uneasy. He again called aloud, and Jack -answered, but his voice came from a considerable distance. - -Continuing his work Ned waited, and after awhile he heard Jack coming -through a briar thicket, muttering complaints of some sort with a good -deal of vigor. - -"What's the matter, old fellow?" he asked. - -"Matter enough," answered Jack, from the depths of the briar patch in -which he was completely hidden; "I'm torn to pieces by the briars, and -by the time I get to you I shan't have enough skin left on me to serve -for patches." - -"Nonsense!" said Ned; "shield your face with your arm and break right -through. Your clothes are thick and stout." - -"Yes," answered Jack, "so they are; but I haven't got them on." - -Ned leaped to his feet, for he had been kneeling to arrange the grass -for threshing. He remembered how rapidly he and his companions had been -reduced in their possessions, until now they were boatless, bootless, -hatless, and without regular supplies of food; and so when Jack declared -that he had no clothes on, Ned at once imagined that some new calamity -had befallen him. - -"What!" he exclaimed. "No clothes! Why, we'll be naked savages before -another week is out." - -"I didn't say I had no clothes," answered Jack, still picking his way -carefully through the briars. "I only said I had no clothes on, or at -least none to speak of." - -"Well, then, you must be out of your head," answered Ned. "Why don't you -put them on?" - -"Because I can't till we get to camp," and with that Jack made a final -leap into the open space and stood before his astonished companion. He -presented a queer appearance. For clothing he had on only his drawers -and a thin undershirt. These were torn and stained with blood from many -scratches. Jack's face, too, was a good deal scratched, but there was a -triumphant look in his eyes which made Ned forget to look at the briar -wounds. Jack's trowsers, tied at bottom and stuffed full of some heavy -material, sat astride his neck, looking for all the world like the -lower half of a very fat boy. His shirt, also well filled, was carried -in one hand, while his coat, made into a bundle and likewise filled, was -held in the other. - -"What in the name of common-sense have you been stuffing your clothes -with, Jack?" asked Ned in astonishment. - -"Grass seed," answered Jack, throwing his burden on the ground. - -"Not much," said Ned; "why it would take both of us a month to gather -and thresh out that quantity." - -"I thought you scientific people always recognized one fact as worth -more than any number of 'must be's'; here I have the facts--a -trowsers-full, a shirt-full, and a coat-full,--and yet you argue about -what must be and what can't be." - -"I admit the trowsers and the shirt and the coat, and I see that they -are full," said Ned; "I only doubt the character of their contents. I -don't believe you could have gathered such a quantity of grass seed -within so short a time." - -"Not of the kind that grows here, but mine are not of that kind." - -"Let me look at them," said Ned. - -"Not till we get to camp; I can't open the bags without spilling a lot." - -"Well, tell me about it then." - -"Well, I was gathering grasses over there by those tall trees, when I -happened to look away toward the south. There I saw, about half a mile -away, what looked like a patch of ripe wheat or oats. There were two or -three acres of it down in a sort of marsh, so I went over there to see -what it was. I found the little marsh covered thickly with a tall grass -somewhat like oats, and all had gone to seed. The seeds are about the -size of grains of wheat, but rather longer, and each grain, when -threshed out, is covered with a brown husk that clings closely to the -body of the grain. The seeds themselves are starchy, glutinous, and, if -I am not mistaken, excellent food. It was too far to call you, so I made -up my mind I would thresh some of the grass and bring away what I could -of the result. I filled my shirt, coat, and trowsers, and I should have -used my drawers in the same way if I could have carried any more. As it -is, I've a big load." - -"I should say so," answered Ned, "and a mighty good load, too, if I'm -not mistaken." - -"Why, what do you suppose it is?" - -"Grass seed," answered Ned, "of the kind that we call _rice_." - -"But how did it come there?" asked Jack. "Does rice grow wild?" - -"Yes, sometimes. When a rice field is allowed to stand too long before -cutting, the grain drops out of the heads, of course, and the next year -a fair volunteer crop comes up. In this case, I suppose, the explanation -is simple. When the island was abandoned during the war, there was -probably a growing crop of rice in that little swamp. If so, it went to -seed, and not being harvested, the seed fell to the ground, coming up -again the next year only to repeat the process year after year. That's -my explanation at any rate, and the only one I can think of. But come! -let's go to camp. It isn't worth while now to fool away time over this -grass. Now that you have found a rice field, we'll eat rice instead, and -some day soon we'll go there and bring back enough to last us till we -leave the island." - -Upon their arrival at camp the contents of Jack's clothes proved to be, -as Ned had conjectured, rough rice; that is to say, rice from which the -outer husks have been removed, leaving only the closely clinging inner -husk on the grain. The amount secured was sufficient to last the boys -for a considerable time, and in the absence of bread, it was a thing of -no little moment to them. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -AN ANXIOUS NIGHT. - - -Dinner was cooked and eaten as soon as possible after the return of Ned -and Jack to camp, because all three of the boys were eager to make the -long-deferred beginning upon the new boat. - -"The _Red Bird_ was wrecked last Thursday," said Charley, "and now it is -Monday, and yet we haven't even begun to get ready to prepare to -commence to build." - -"Yes we have, Charley," said Jack. "We have worked diligently at the -most important part of the task. We have made first-rate arrangements -for food, and that is a good beginning. But we'll actually begin on the -boat itself to-day. By the way, Ned, you're to be the master-builder." - -"Well, I don't know about that," said Ned; "you were bragging the other -day about your mechanical skill, and I'm very modest in that direction. -I'm actually a clumsy hand with tools." - -"No, I didn't brag," said Jack; "I only stated facts. I believe I am a -better workman with tools than either of you fellows, and for that -reason I'm willing to take the most difficult jobs on myself, but you -must be the superintendent." - -"I don't see why," said Ned. - -"Because, even if you are clumsy with tools, you know more about a boat -in a minute than Charley and I do in a year, and it's a good rule to put -each fellow at the thing he can do best." - -"All right," said Charley; "I'm the best hand you ever saw at sitting on -a log and watching you fellows work, so I'll take that for my share." - -"No, you won't," said Ned. "If I'm to superintend this job I'll find -something better than that for you to do. But I say, Jack, it's absurd -for me to try to tell you how to do things that you can do ten times as -well as I." - -"I don't want you to tell me how to do, but what to do; then we'll all -do it. I'll take the most difficult parts, and besides that I'll give -you and Charley some hints about how to do your share, perhaps." - -"All right," said Ned, "I'll be superintendent if you wish." - -"Very well," said Jack. "Now plan the boat, determine the dimensions, -and tell us how to begin." - -"Well, let me see," said Ned. "The _Red Bird_ was twenty-four feet long -in the keel--twenty-five feet over all,--and five feet wide amidships. -We must allow liberally for waste in trying to use the old materials, so -we'll take off six feet of length, giving the new boat a keel of -eighteen feet, a total length of nineteen feet, and let the beam width -take care of itself." - -"How do you mean?" - -"Why, we shorten amidships only; that is to say we omit the six or eight -ribs that were in the middle of the old boat, and bring the next ribs -forward and aft to the middle. Whatever width they give will be the -width of the boat amidships. In that way we shall preserve the old -proportions, while changing the old dimensions. The new boat will be, in -shape, precisely what the _Red Bird_ would have been if we had cut out -six feet of her length amidships, and had then brought the two ends -together." - -"Yes, I see," said Charley. "What is the first thing to be done?" - -"To lay a keel," said Ned. "The old keel is broken, so we must have a -new one. Besides, that was double, for a centre-board, and we'll have to -build without a centre-board." - -"What are the dimensions of the keel?" asked Jack. - -"Eighteen feet long, as nearly as we can guess, and about three inches -by six or seven." - -"To be set on edge?" - -"Yes, and to project below the bottom. That will give steadiness to the -boat." - -"What is the best timber for the keel?" asked Jack. - -"White oak, if we had it, but we haven't. The long-leaf yellow pine is -very nearly as good, and for our purposes it is really better, because -we can work it more easily. There's a fine, small, straight tree trunk -just beyond the camp that will suit us precisely. It has been lying for -several years apparently, and is well seasoned. We have only to cut it -off the right length, split off slabs till we get a rude square, and -then hew it down to the right dimensions with the axe and hatchet. That -will occupy us for two days at least, so let's get to work." - -The event proved that Ned had underestimated the length of time -necessary for this work. The hard, flinty yellow pine, seasoned as it -was, was very difficult to work. The axe and hatchet were not very sharp -at the outset, and before night both were distressingly dull. The next -day, what edges they had were worn away, and it was difficult to cut -with them at all. Charley declared that he could do nearly as well with -his teeth, but he did not try that experiment. There was no grindstone -in the camp, and none to be had, of course, and so the weary boys had to -make the best of a bad matter and work on as they could with the dull -tools. - -On Thursday the keel was not yet quite done, and the rice began to show -the effects of the boys' appetites. - -"I say, fellows," said Charley, "one of us must go for a fresh supply of -rice." - -"Yes," said Ned, "it is ripening now, and will all fall if we don't -secure a good supply. You go, Charley, won't you?" - -"Yes. I'm worth less at carpenter's work than either of you, so I'll go. -Pull off your trowsers, both of you." - -"Why, what's--" began Ned. - -"Yes, I know," interrupted Charley, "I ought to take a bag, or a sheet, -or, still better, the spring wagon; but seeing that we haven't any -wagon, or bag, or sheet, or any thing else to carry rice in, except -trowsers, I'm going to use trowsers; and remembering the tattered -condition of Jack's skin after his trowserless stroll through the -briars, I'm not going to use my own trowsers for a bag. So off with your -pantaloons, young men, and be quick about it, for I'm going to make two -trips to-day and bring in rice for the whole season." - -Laughing, the boys obeyed, and Charley left them at work in their shirts -and drawers. He got back to camp at dinner-time, fully loaded. After -dinner he made his second trip, saying that he would return about -sunset. - -Sunset came at its appointed time, but Charley was not so punctual. It -grew dark, and still Charley did not appear. Ned and Jack began to grow -uneasy. They went out into the woods in rear of their camp and called at -the top of their voices, but received no answer. - -"I'll tell you what, Ned," said Jack; "we must build a beacon fire. -Charley has stayed late to fill his trowser-bags, and has lost his way -trying to get back." - -It was no sooner said than done. Pitch pine was piled on the fire, and a -blaze made that might have been seen for many miles. The boys shouted -themselves hoarse too, but got no answer. - -After an hour of waiting, Ned said: - -"Jack, I'm going over to the rice patch to look for Charley. Something -serious must have happened. You stay here and keep up a big fire. If I -need you I'll call at the top of my voice, and you will hear me I -think." - -"But, Ned, it's an awful undertaking to go from here to the rice field -on such a night. It's as black as pitch, and you are barefooted and -almost naked; let me go." - -"I know all that," said Ned, "but it would be cowardly to abandon -Charley, and for my life I can't see that you are any better equipped -for the journey than I am. You're barefooted too, and as nearly naked as -I am." - -"Yes, I suppose so," answered Jack, "but I don't mind for myself." - -"You stay here, you great big-hearted, generous fellow!" was all that -Ned said in reply, as he started away. - -Both Jack and Ned knew that the journey thus undertaken would be -attended by no little danger as well as sore discomfort and suffering. -The deadly moccasin and rattlesnake lurk in the grass and weeds of that -coast country, and the unshod boy was in peril of their fangs at every -step. He was too brave a boy, however, to shrink from danger when a real -duty was to be done, and so he set forth manfully. Taking a stick he -struck the ground frequently, as a precaution against the danger of -stepping upon any snake that might be in his path, and more than once he -heard the venomous creatures hiss angrily before scurrying away. - -He pressed forward too eagerly to pay due attention to briars and -brushwood, and so before he reached the rice swamp his scanty clothing -was nearly torn from his body and his skin was badly lacerated. His -coat protected his shoulders and arms, of course, but his legs, hands, -and face suffered not a little. - -Meantime Jack kept up the beacon fire, suffering scarcely less with -anxiety and impatience than Ned suffered from physical hurts. Poor Jack -had the hard task of waiting in terror and uncertainty. He imagined all -manner of evils that might have happened to Charley; then he became -anxious about Ned. He shuddered to think of the dangers through which -his companion must be passing. The necessity of inactivity was -intolerable; Jack could not sit or stand still. He felt that he should -go mad if he did not keep in motion. He paced up and down by the fire, -as a caged tiger does. Finally, morbid fancies took possession of him. -He imagined that he heard Ned groan in the bushes on his left. Then he -seemed to hear a cry of agony from Charley in the woods on his right. -Investigation revealed nothing, and Jack returned to his waiting in an -agony of suspense. - -It was after midnight when Ned returned, torn, bleeding, worn out with -exertion, and very lame from a wound in his foot. He had trodden upon -some sharp thing, a thorn or sharp spike of wood, which had thrust -itself deep into the flesh of his heel, and the wound was now badly -inflamed. - -"Thank heaven, you are safe at any rate!" exclaimed Jack fervently. "Did -you find out any thing about poor Charley?" - -"Nothing," answered Ned, returning Jack's warm hand-clasp. "I went to -the rice field and found the place where he had been threshing, but no -other trace of him. He must have finished threshing, however, and -started homeward, as he left no threshed rice there. I could not find a -trail in the dark, of course, and I can't imagine what has become of -Charley. I called him repeatedly, and went all around the marsh, but it -was of no use. Besides, if he were anywhere in that region he would know -the way home, for I could see not only the light from this fire but the -blaze itself." - -"Well, you stay here now and let me go," said Jack, preparing to set -out. - -"What's the use?" asked Ned. "I tell you I have done all that can be -done until daylight. If you go you'll only run the risk of laming -yourself, and then there'll be nobody fit to take up the search when -morning comes to make it hopeful." - -This was so obviously a sensible view of the situation, that Jack was -forced, though reluctantly, to remain where he was. - -Hour after hour the two boys waited and watched, keeping up the beacon -fire, and occasionally investigating sounds which they heard or thought -that they heard in the woods and thickets around them. Naturally they -talked very little. There was nothing to talk of except Charley's -disappearance, and there was little to be said about that. - -It began to rain, slowly at first, and in torrents toward morning, but -neither boy thought of going into the hut for shelter. Indeed, neither -boy seemed conscious of the fact that it was raining at all. They were -aware only of the horrible suspense in which they were passing the hours -of a night which seemed almost endless. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -IN THE GRAY OF THE MORNING. - - -As the first flush of dawn appeared Ned said: "Jack, we mustn't lose our -heads. You know what you said after the wreck. You and I have to look -after Charley to-day, and we may have need of all our wits and all our -strength; so, for his sake, if not for our own, we must force a full -breakfast down our throats. It will steady as well as strengthen us. I -don't want any thing to eat, and I suppose you don't, but we must eat -for all that. We haven't had a mouthful since noon yesterday, and we'll -be fit for no exertion if we go on in this way." - -"That is true," answered Jack; "we must eat breakfast." - -"Very well; then let's be about it, so that we may have it over by the -time that it is fairly light, and then we'll lose no time in setting -out." - -"You can't leave camp," said Jack; "your foot is awfully swollen and -your leg too." - -"Yes, I know," answered Ned, "but I am going anyhow. We must find -Charley, and maybe both of us will be needed when we do." - -While this discussion was going on the breakfast preparations were -advancing, and it was not long before the two disconsolate fellows began -the difficult task of forcing food down their unwilling throats. - -"What is our best plan of operations, Jack?" asked Ned. - -"I scarcely know. Perhaps we'd best go round the island, one one way and -the other the other, shouting and looking. Then, if either finds Charley -and needs assistance the other will of course be there soon afterward." - -"Hardly," said Ned. "The island is pretty large, and I suppose it is a -good many miles around it. Wouldn't it be better to take a direct -course?" - -"How?" - -"Why, by going first to the rice swamp. There we shall almost certainly -be able to find and follow Charley's trail." - -"Of course," answered Jack. "What an idiot I was not to think of that -first! The fact is, I believe last night's anxiety, particularly while -you were away, was too much for me. I lost my head a little, I think, -and haven't quite found it again." - -"Listen! What's that?" exclaimed Ned, rising to look. As he did so, the -bushes near the shore on the left of the camp parted, and---- - -"Bless me! it's Charley!" shouted both boys in a breath. - -"Did you think I had run away with your trowsers?" asked the cause of -all their anxieties, throwing down the two pairs of pantaloons stuffed -full of wet rice. - -"Gracious! Charley, where have you been?" - -"We've had an awful night!" exclaimed Ned. - -"Do I look as though I had had a particularly pleasant one?" responded -Charley. "Do my dress and general appearance indicate that I dined last -evening in the mansions of the great and slept upon a bed of down?" - -"Well, no," said Ned, unable as yet to share Charley's cheerfulness of -mood; "but really, Charley, we have suffered a good deal. You ought to -have come back to camp." - -"Now, look here, fellows," said Charley, more seriously than he had yet -spoken, "if you think I haven't known by instinct how much you would -suffer because of my unexplained absence, you do me great injustice. My -situation through the night has been none of the pleasantest, but the -worst part of it has been what I have suffered thinking of your anxiety. -Pray, don't imagine that I'm totally destitute of feeling." - -There was a hurt tone in Charley's voice as he said this, to which Ned -responded at once. - -"Forgive me, Charley," he said, holding out his hand, which the other -took. "I did not mean to reproach you wrongfully. I know your warm heart -and generous soul." - -"Yes," added Jack, "and nothing in the world could have made us so happy -as your safe return. But tell us what has happened. Where have you -been?" - -"Not a word until food is set before me," said Charley, relapsing into -his playful mood again. "I am famished." - -"All right," said Ned; "we cooked enough to take with us, and we didn't -eat much, so your breakfast is ready. In fact I begin to be hungry -myself, now that you've got back in safety." - -"So do I," said Jack; "let's begin over again, and all breakfast -together." - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -CHARLEY BLACK'S ADVENTURES. - - -"Now then," said Jack, when breakfast was fairly begun, "tell us all -about it, Charley." - -"Well," replied Charley, "you know we're Robinson Crusoes." - -"Oh! stop your nonsense and tell your story," said Ned, who was wildly -impatient to hear of Charley's adventures. - -"That's just what I am telling," answered Charley. "As I said, we're -Robinson Crusoes and I've seen the savages." - -"What _do_ you mean?" asked Jack. - -"Why, Friday, of course, but that's a mistake too. His real name must be -Thursday, and he isn't tame either. Really I begin to believe Robinson -Crusoe fibbed." - -"Have you gone crazy, Charley, or what is the matter?" asked Ned, -beginning now to be really alarmed lest his comrade's experience, -whatever it had been, had unsettled his mind. - -"I never was more rational in my life," replied the boy, with a smile; -"but you won't let me tell my story in my own way. Listen now and don't -interrupt. You remember how frightened Crusoe was when he discovered the -footprint in the sand?" - -"Yes, certainly." - -"And how he afterward found the savage who made it, and how disturbed he -was to learn that he was not really monarch of all he surveyed? - -"Yes; well?" - -"Well, I've been through a similar experience, only more so. This island -is not uninhabited as we supposed. There are savages on it, and they are -not tame savages either, like Crusoe's man Friday, but decidedly savage -savages. My man Thursday is, at any rate. You see I call him Thursday -because I first saw him yesterday, and that was Thursday. That's the way -Crusoe hit upon a name for his savage, you remember?" - -"Yes, but tell us about it," said Jack. - -"Listen, then. You know I went out to the rice patch and brought in one -load. Then I went for another, and after I filled the trowsers, I -concluded that I'd walk down toward the shore and return by that route. -As I went along by the edge of the rice patch about sunset, I saw a -footprint, just as Crusoe did, but I didn't study it long, for presently -its owner appeared. He was a big savage, and black as night, and not in -the least peaceful. Indeed he seemed very angry with me for some reason, -for he came running toward me, jabbering in his strange language and -setting his dog on me. I ran as fast as I could toward that piece of -woods over beyond the rice swamp--more than a mile away from here, you -remember, and on the other side of the island. I had a good start, but -it was a close shave. As I approached the woods I picked out the tree I -meant to climb, and when I got to it I went up faster than I ever -climbed before, for the big ugly dog was close behind me. He jumped up -after me, but I drew up my leg and he missed the foot he wanted. - -"I was tired, and was awfully out of breath; but I thought I had only to -wait until the big negro should come up--I could see him coming. Then I -would argue the matter with him and get him to be reasonable and call -off his dog. You see I took him for a negro, and didn't suspect that he -was a savage. I soon found out my mistake, however, for when he came up -and began swearing at me--I'm sure it was swearing, though, of course, I -couldn't understand a word of it--I found that he talked Savage and -didn't understand a word of English. - -"I was in a fix. My tree was about a mile and a half from camp, even if -you measure the distance in a bee line, so there was no use in shouting -for assistance. There stood the raving savage jabbering at me, and -threatening me with his club; and, worse still, there stood his dog at -the foot of the tree waiting for a dish of Charley Black for supper. I -reasoned with the savage, but he didn't understand me any more than I -understood him. The more I talked the madder he got. Then I remembered -having read somewhere something about the 'eloquent language' of -gestures, signs, and all that, which all human beings are supposed to -understand, so I tried that awhile. I shrugged my shoulders, waved my -hands about, motioned to him to call off his dog and go home, and did -other things of the sort; but it wasn't of the least use. That savage -persisted in misunderstanding me, and his dog got madder and madder. -Finally, just to see if the benighted idiot could understand sign -language at all, I put my thumb to my nose and twiddled my fingers at -him, at the same time shaking my other fist. He understood that, and -took further offence at it. In his rage he tried to climb my tree to get -at me, but he was a rather clumsy climber and made little head-way. When -he got within reach I struck him a sudden blow with your trowsers, Jack, -which, being filled chock full of rice, made a pretty good club. He -dropped like a shot squirrel, and his dog, thinking that I had fallen, -made a rush for him. For a moment I flattered myself that now I should -get away while the savage and the dog were explaining matters to each -other; but in that I was disappointed. The dog found out his mistake -instantly, and the savage got up, madder than ever. It was getting dark -by that time, but the savage thought he would have a game of bat and -ball with me while the light lasted, anyhow, so he took good aim and -threw his club at me. I caught it a sharp blow with your trowsers, and -knocked it back to him. He threw again with the same result. The third -throw went wide of the mark, and so I missed, but it didn't matter, for -there was no catching out to be done in that game--I suppose the savage -don't understand the rules of bat and ball. - -[Illustration: THE ELOQUENT LANGUAGE OF GESTURE.] - -"Finally, after he had thrown a good many times, his club lodged in the -tree, and I climbed up and got it. It was a good stout club--there it -lies by the fire--and I thought I might have use for it, so I didn't -throw it back at the savage's head, as I at first intended, but kept it -for future use. - -"Night came on and the savage seated himself to watch me. He kept very -quiet, and made his dog stop growling and snarling. At first I didn't -understand this. I began to think that he was going to offer me terms, -but he didn't. At last I saw what he was at. He was waiting for me to -fall asleep and drop down! - -"There was nothing for it but to keep awake, and as it was very cold I -had to climb about a little to keep myself comfortable, and that kept me -me from falling asleep. - -"The worst of it all was that I could see the big fire you fellows made, -and knew what anxiety you were suffering. I sat there in the dark, hour -after hour, worrying and wondering if the daylight had forgotten to -come, and it was an awful time. The rain came on at last, and I was -quickly wet through. The savage couldn't sit long on the ground when the -floods came, so he got up and moved uneasily about, but he wouldn't go -away. His persistence was 'worthy of a better cause.' After a little -while he began to collect bushes to make himself a shelter, I suppose, -or to sit on, or stand on--I don't know what. It was slow work in the -dark, and he had to go away some little distance to get what he wanted. -While he was away on one of these little trips an idea occurred to me, -but as he was already on his way back I could not act upon it at once, -so I sat still and waited. He went away again, fifty or seventy-five -yards into the woods--I could tell by the noise he made breaking bushes. -Then I tried my plan. Climbing down to the lowest limb of the tree, I -could see the dog, dark as it was, standing ready to receive me. -Grasping the club in my right hand, I dropped a pair of trowsers full of -rice. The dog, mistaking the bundle for me, was on it in an instant, and -the next instant I was on him. I dropped on him purposely, and luckily -my left foot struck his neck. Of course I could not hold him long in -that way, but still it gave me a moment's advantage, and during that -moment I managed to deal the brute two or three blows over the head -which, I think, must have crushed his skull. At any rate he grew limber -under me and never uttered a sound. Hurriedly picking up the trowsers -and swinging them around my neck, I was about to run when Mr. Savage -came running out of the woods. I still had the club in my hand, and -quick as lightning I struck him with it and took to my heels. How badly -I hurt him I don't know, but not so badly as could have been wished, for -he paused only for a few seconds. Then he gave chase. I ran with all my -might, with him just behind. Presently I struck something with my -foot--a grape-vine I suppose--and came very near to falling, but managed -to save myself. Mr. Savage Thursday was not so lucky. He struck the vine -fairly and came down like a big tree trunk. For a second he uttered no -sound. Then I could hear him swearing in Savage, but by this time I was -fifty yards ahead of him, and by the time that he decided whether to -resume the chase or not I was too far away to inquire what his decision -was. It was so dark that if he had followed he couldn't have found me, -so I slackened my pace, and not long afterward dropped into a walk, -listening occasionally to hear if he was coming. Hearing nothing, I -plodded on. I didn't know just where I was, so I thought my best plan -was to keep straight on until I struck the shore. I passed a group of -huts about a mile from my tree, and I suppose the savages live there, as -I heard dogs barking, but I didn't stop to inquire. Finally I came to -the beach, and, believing that I was more than half way round the -island, I turned to the right and followed the shore till I got to camp. -There, that's the whole story of the strange adventures of Master -Charles Black, of his exploration of Bee Island, his encounter with the -savage, and his fortunate escape and return to his companions. How did -you hurt your foot, Ned?" - -Ned, who had risen and was limping about the fire, explained his mishap, -and in their turn he and Jack told Charley of the events of the night as -seen from their point of view. Their story was less exciting than -Charley's, but he was deeply interested in it. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -ON GUARD. - - -"Who in the world can Charley's 'savages' be, Ned?" asked Jack, when the -story was finished. - -"Negro squatters," answered Ned; "I didn't think there were any on Bee -Island." - -"What do you mean by negro squatters?" - -"Why, negroes who, instead of hiring themselves out or renting land, -have simply squatted on the island, cultivating little patches, and -living by hunting and fishing. There are a good many on plantations that -haven't been cultivated since the war. You see, when the war ended there -were many men who had large bodies of land--some of them owning half a -dozen big plantations--but with very little capital. They have not been -able, for want of money, to resume the cultivation of all their -abandoned plantations, so there are many large tracts still lying idle -and unoccupied, and some of the negroes, not caring to hire as hands, or -to rent land, have squatted here and there. They are generally the worst -of the negroes; men without thrift, and almost untouched by -civilization. They prefer a wild life, and live by fishing, hunting, and -stealing from choice." - -"But, I say," said Charley, "my savage wasn't a tame negro at all. He -couldn't speak English I tell you." - -"No more can many others of the old sea-island and rice-field negroes. -They talk a jargon which only themselves and the old-time overseers ever -understood. The fact is that many of them really were savages before the -war,--untamed Guinea savages. They or their parents were brought here -from Africa, and they lived all their lives here on these coast -plantations, rarely seeing a white person except their overseers, and -learning scarcely any thing of civilized life. They were not at all like -the negroes up in Aiken, and all over the South for that matter. They -were simply savages who had learned to work under an overseer, and when -the war ended the worst of them relapsed into the ways of savage life -instead of trying to improve themselves as the negroes everywhere else -did. They hadn't learned enough to want to be civilized." - -"But what did that fellow get after Charley for?" - -"Because we've been robbing their rice field without knowing it." - -"I didn't think of that. I thought the rice was wild--self-seeded." - -"Probably it is," answered Ned, "but they regard it as theirs for all -that, just as they think this island is theirs, although it belongs to -my uncle." - -"Now I know who stole our provisions," said Charley. "But I say, boys, -what's to be done? Suppose the savages should attack us here?" - -"They may do that," answered Ned, "though I don't think it likely. They -want us away; perhaps, but they chiefly want us to let them and their -rice alone, and now that we know that it's theirs by some sort of right, -we'll let it alone and get on with what we have on hand. The main thing -now is to build our boat. We must get on as fast as we can with that." - -"That's so," said Jack. "That must be the first thing thought of, but -still it seems to me we should do something for our own defence. You -see, Ned, if they should attack us, we are helpless. We haven't a thing -to defend ourselves with, now that the gun is gone, and it isn't right -to trust too much to those people's good-nature." - -"Well, what can we do?" - -"A good many things; I don't know exactly what will be best as yet, but -we must think it out while we work on the boat. Then we can compare -notes and do whatever is best. We'll work on the boat until dinner-time, -and then give the afternoon to our defences. Perhaps we can make so good -a beginning that we needn't spend more than an hour or two each day on -that work after to-day." - -"All right," said Ned; "now let's get to work on the boat." - -With a will the three boys set to work. The stem- and stern-posts of the -new boat were securely fastened to the keel, and the difficult task of -setting up the ribs was begun. These ribs were so broken that it -required not a little planning and contriving to make them answer the -purpose; but Jack was very ingenious, and under his direction Ned and -Charley managed to do some very clever splicing and bracing, while Jack -himself dealt with the most difficult problems. - -By mid-day about half the ribs were in their place. - -"We can begin to see the shape of our new boat," said Ned, "and I'm not -sure she isn't going to be prettier than the old _Red Bird_." - -"By the way," said Jack, "what are we to name her?" - -"The Phoenix," suggested Charley; then he added: "No that won't do, -because it isn't a case of rising from ashes. The _Red Bird_ wasn't -burned." - -"No," said Ned, "that would be very absurd. Suppose we call her -Sea-Gull, because she came to us--in her timbers at least--from the -sea." - -"Better call her 'axe, hatchet, and hunting-knife,'" said Jack, "because -we are making her with those tools. But if we must be poetical and -suggestive, why not call her Aphrodite? She, like that fabled goddess, -is sprung from the foam of the sea." - -"_Aphrodite_ it is," shouted Jack's companions, and Charley added: - -"You're the most classical and poetic youth of the party, Jack, if you -do pretend to sneer at us for our sentimental fancy for an appropriate -name." - -"Very well," replied Jack, "you're welcome to think so; but just now I -want my dinner worse than any thing else, and that isn't a mere -sentiment I assure you." - -Dinner over, the preparations for defence were begun. - -"What plan have you thought of, Jack?" Charley asked. - -"Let me hear from you and Ned first," answered Jack. - -"Well, I've thought of earthworks," said Charley; "they say they are the -best fortifications." - -"Against cannon, yes," said Ned; "but it's only because cannon can't -batter them down as they can masonry. Our problem is a very different -one, because our savages haven't any cannon. What we have got to do is -not to make fortifications that can't be battered down by artillery, but -to fence ourselves in in some way so that the negro squatters can't get -at us." - -"Well, what's your idea for that?" asked Charley. - -"A stockade." - -"Details?" queried Jack. - -"My notion is," answered Ned, "to set a line of stockade around the -camp, running it out into the water on each side, making a big 'C' of -it. If we make it ten feet high and slope it outward, it will puzzle the -squatters to get over it, and from the inside we can beat them off." - -"But how shall we make the stockade?" asked Jack. - -"Why, by digging a trench first, and setting timbers in it, sloping them -at the proper angle, and filling in with earth." - -"But couldn't a strong man pull a timber down by jumping up and hanging -to it with his hands?" asked Charley. - -"Perhaps so, if each timber stood alone," said Ned, "but we'll set a row -of them in the ditch, and then roll a log in behind them before filling -up. Then we'll set another row and roll in another log, and so on. Then, -in order to pull down a post it will be necessary to lift the whole of -the log that is behind it, together with all the earth that lies on top -of the log, and that is more than any half dozen men can do." - -"That's an excellent idea," said Jack, after thinking awhile, "but the -job is too big to be completed to-day. We'd better follow my plan first, -and make the stockade hereafter." - -"What's your plan?" - -"To build a sort of wall of timber around the camp. It isn't half so -good as a stockade, because of course it is easily climbed over; but it -is better than nothing, and will do for one night." - -"But I don't see," said Charley, "that we can build a timber wall half -so quickly as we can make the stockade. To do it we have got to cut -enough logs to make a pile all around the camp, and that will take ten -times as many logs as it will to make the stockade." - -"That is true," said Jack, "and, besides, small timbers, five or six -inches in diameter, will do as well for the stockade as big logs, and in -the present state of our axe that is a consideration not to be despised. -I surrender. Ned's plan is by odds the best one. Let's get to work at -it, and if we don't finish it to-day, we'll patch up the deficiency in -some way. Luckily we have digging tools." - -The soil of the coast and islands of South Carolina is a light -vegetable mould, mixed with sand, and below it there is sand only. There -are no rocks, no stones, no pebbles even, and no stiff clay; and all -this was greatly in the boys' favor. The trench grew very rapidly as -they worked. Jack and Ned dug, while Charley, who was more expert with -the axe than either of his companions, cut down small trees and trimmed -them into shape for the stockade, making each about fourteen feet long, -so that when set in the ditch it would project about ten feet above -ground. - -The digging of the ditch was the smallest part of the task. Its length, -in order to enclose the hut, the well, and the boat, had to be about one -hundred and fifty feet, so that a great many sticks of timber were -necessary. - -"We must set them about six inches apart," said Jack, "so as to use as -few as we can at first. If necessary, we can fill in the gaps afterward; -but a man can't get through a six-inch crack, and by setting them in -that way each post, with its half of the two cracks, will occupy about a -foot of space." - -But to cut a hundred and fifty pieces of timber with a dull axe was no -small job, and when night came on the boys had only twenty-five of them -set up in their places, while as many more were ready for use. This was -discouraging, and in their weariness Ned and Charley felt very much -disheartened indeed. Jack alone kept his spirits up. - -"It's very good work so far as it goes," he said, looking at the line of -timbers all leaning outward from the camp, "and when we get it done it -will puzzle all the squatters in South Carolina to take our fort." - -"Yes, if we ever do get it done," said Charley, despondently. - -"Now, Charley," said Jack, "none of that. We've been in a tighter place -than this, and you especially ought not to be downhearted. You're ever -so much better off than you were this time last night, when that darkey -had you treed; and you're better off now than Ned is, with his game -foot." - -"Poor fellow," said Charley, looking at Ned as he limped into the hut -with difficulty. - -"The fact is," continued Jack, "we're tired out, and so things look blue -to us, but they'll look better in the morning. You see we got no sleep -last night, besides wearing ourselves out with anxiety and excitement, -and we have worked like convicts all day. We'll feel better and brighter -after we get some sleep, and things that look gloomy and discouraging -now will look bright and hopeful enough to-morrow morning." - -"That's true," said Ned, coming out of the hut again, "and it would be -much better for us if we could quit work right now, and sleep for ten -hours without waking, but we can't." - -"Why not?" asked Charley, who was utterly worn out. - -"Because we've some more work to do that must be done before we sleep," -answered Ned. "What we have done for defence is of no good at all as it -stands. We must have a barrier around the camp to-night." - -"How shall we make one?" asked Jack. - -"With brush. We have plenty of it already cut in the shape of the tree -tops we've trimmed off in getting our stockade poles." - -"Brush won't make a very good defence," muttered Charley. - -"No, but it will be much better than no defence at all," replied Ned. -"It isn't easy to climb over a well-packed brush pile, particularly if -the brush is so laid that all the branches point outward, and that's the -way we'll lay it. It won't take long to make a wall of that kind, and we -can remove it little by little, as we set the poles hereafter." - -This plan commended itself to Jack, and Charley submitted. Poor fellow, -he was too weary to take any active interest even in plans for defence. -The brushwood was brought and carefully placed in position. It was not -sufficient to make a wall all the way around, but only a small gap was -left near the water. - -"Shall we cut more brush to-night, Jack?" asked Ned. - -"No, I think we needn't. When we go to setting poles to-morrow, the -brush we remove will do to close the gap with, and for one night we can -watch so small an opening. We need rest and sleep now more than any -thing else. You and Charley lie down. I'm the freshest one of the party, -I think, and so I'll stand guard for a good while before calling either -of you." - -"Stand guard?" asked Ned; "what for?" - -"Why, it won't do at all for all three to sleep at once. We might be -attacked while asleep. If there were no danger of that we needn't have -thought of a stockade at all." - -Sleepy and tired as Ned and Charley were, they recognized the necessity -for this watchfulness. It was very hard for the three weary fellows to -take their turns at standing guard that night, but they did their duty. -Jack took a long turn first, and Ned followed him, so that Charley got a -good sleep of several hours, and was much refreshed before his period of -watching began. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -A NEW DANGER. - - -The night brought its alarms with it. Every noise in the woods round -about startled the alert sentinel, and there always are noises at night, -not only in the woods but in houses also, as we all find out, when for -any reason we are awake and on the alert. It seemed to each of the boys -during this night, that there never were so many sounds which could not -be explained: crackling noises, like those which are produced by the -breaking of dry sticks under foot; sounds of footsteps, and of hard -breathing; a thousand different sounds, in short, each of which seemed -for the time being surely to indicate the stealthy approach of some foe. - -Morning came at last, however, and no ill had befallen the camp. It was -voted at breakfast that this day should be devoted exclusively to -fortification, security being deemed of more pressing importance than -escape from the island. - -By steady persistence the work was carried forward until the line of -tall, leaning pickets was more than half-way round the camp. This at -least reduced the space to be watched through the night to less than -half its former length, and as the night passed quietly with no sign of -an enemy about, it was unanimously resolved, the next morning, that -Sunday should be kept as a day of rest, the opinion being that the -completion of the stockade could not now be called a work of necessity. - -During Sunday night, however, the boys had reason to modify this opinion -somewhat. About two o'clock Ned, who was on guard at the time, armed -with a big club, awoke his companions, saying, in a whisper: - -"Get up, quick! There's somebody about." - -The two sleepers sprang to their feet quickly, and, seizing their clubs, -joined Ned outside the hut. - -By way of precaution the boys had cut a considerable number of short, -thick, and very heavy clubs, which could be made to serve a good -purpose as missiles. Thrown with violence from the hand they were -likely to be of much greater service than stones or brickbats would have -been, if such things had been at hand. Armed with these clubs the boys -peered and listened. For a while they heard nothing. Then a low growl -came from the bushes, and the sound of a sharp blow followed it -immediately. Evidently one of the squatters was sneaking around the -camp, and when his dog growled he struck it to secure silence. - -The boys waited a long time but heard nothing more. Finally, in a low -whisper, Ned said: - -"There can't be more than one of them here." - -"No, I suppose not," answered Jack, "but let's be quiet and see what he -wants." - -All became still again, and as the boys from their hiding-place could -not be seen by any one in the bushes, the prowler had every reason to -suppose that they were asleep. After perhaps an hour's waiting, Jack -whispered: - -"I see him; he is crawling on his stomach to the fire. H--sh! let's see -what he wants." - -The man could be seen only in dim outline until he reached the fire, -and, taking a smouldering brand, blew it to quicken its burning. The -light thus created revealed his face, and the sight was not a pleasant -one to the boys. They saw in their visitor as ugly and forbidding a -specimen of untamed humanity as one often meets. He was a negro of the -small, ugly, tough-looking variety, seen nowhere in this country except -on the South Carolina and Georgia coast. About five feet two inches -high, he had a small, flat head, large, muscular arms and body, short -legs, and no clothing except a sort of sack with head- and arm-holes in -it, worn as a shirt. His brow was so low and retreating, that his eyes -seemed to project beyond it. His nose was flattened out as if it had -tried to spread itself evenly all over his face. His thick lips were too -short to cover his big teeth, and it is hardly necessary to add that he -looked far less like a rational human being than like some wild animal. - -When he had satisfied himself that his brand was burning, he crept a few -paces further, and his purpose was revealed. He meant to set fire to the -pile of plank that the boat was to be built of. - -"Quick now," said Jack, "give him a volley of clubs and then charge!" - -[Illustration: "GIVE HIM A VOLLEY AND THEN CHARGE!"] - -It was no sooner said than done. Standing at less than twenty feet -distance, the boys threw one club each at the intruder, and then, -snatching other clubs, one in each hand, rushed upon him. Rising, he -knocked Jack down, but was brought to his own knees by Charley's club. -At that moment the man's dog, a surly-looking brute, seized Charley, and -it required the combined efforts of all three boys--for Jack was up -again in an instant--to beat the creature off. While they were engaged -in this, the dog's master, finding himself outnumbered and overmatched, -took to his heels and the camp was clear, for the dog quickly followed, -howling with pain. - -"Are you much hurt, Charley?" was the first question asked when the -enemy's retreat left the boys free to think of themselves. - -"I'm pretty severely bitten," was the reply, "but luckily it's in the -fleshy part of my thigh, and the flesh isn't torn. One of you must have -struck very quickly, or I shouldn't have got off so easily. See," he -continued, when the fire had been stirred into a blaze, "the brute -buried his teeth, but let go again without shaking me." - -"Yes, I saw him jump at you, and tried to hit him before he got hold," -said Ned. "I must have struck him just as he seized you--half a second -too late to save you entirely, but I hit him fairly on the head." - -"And he had to let go of me to howl," said Charley, who, in spite of his -pain, was in good spirits after the exciting encounter. "By the way, are -you hurt, Jack?" - -"I've an earache," said Jack, turning his head and showing an inflamed -and swollen ear; "but I'm glad that fellow didn't hit me fairly in the -face, as he meant to do. It would have settled the question of -photographs for me for all time, I think. Why, if I had caught that blow -on the face my nose would have been distributed over the rest of my -countenance as evenly as his is." - -"You look solemn, Ned," said Charley; "are you hurt too?" - -"No, but I'm thinking." - -"Well, out with your thought then. What is it?" - -"Only that we're fairly in for it now." - -"In for what?" - -"War." - -"War?" - -"Yes. You don't suppose we're going to have peace with the squatters -now, do you? They'll attack us in force as sure as sunrise and sunset." - -"Well, it's my opinion that one of them, at least, has got as much of us -as he wants," said Charley. - -"Very likely," answered Ned; "but now he'll want to give us something, -by way of returning the compliment. He'll bring all his friends with him -next time." - -"But I don't see what we've done that they should interfere with us." - -"Oh! don't you? Well, that's because you don't look at the matter with -their eyes. You see, when we first came here they didn't object. They -took a fancy to our coffee and flour and bacon, and the rest of it, and -helped themselves, but they didn't in the least object to us or our -presence. Having got all we had for them to steal, they let us alone. -But when they found that we were getting rice out of what they called -their field, it put a new face on the matter, and they objected. You -baffled the one that got after you, and he hurt himself trying to catch -you. That was another offence on our part, and so this fellow that was -here to-night determined to get even with us by burning us out. He has -been pretty badly whipped, and he isn't likely to forget it. He'll bring -all his friends here and we must take care of ourselves, for we shan't -get any coddling, I can assure you, if we fall into their hands." - -"You are right, Ned," said Jack; "and now we must really take care of -ourselves. It's nearly morning, and we may as well get breakfast at once -and get an early start. We must be ready to receive those fellows when -they come." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A CAMP-FACTORY. - - -Breakfast was finished before daylight that morning, and when it was -over the three companions resumed work upon their fortification. Ned -stopped long enough to catch some shrimps for dinner, but with that -exception there was no break at all in the morning's work, and -dinner-time found the boys tired as well as hungry. The afternoon was -spent quite as industriously, and when night came the fort, though still -incomplete, was well advanced toward security. - -"Now," said Ned, when supper-time came, "we have had rather too much of -shrimps, I think, and of oysters too. I'm going out with the net -to-night to catch some fish for to-morrow. What do you two propose to -do?" - -"I'm going to make some more clubs," said Charley. "We've something -like a fort now, and the next thing is to provide an abundance of -ammunition." - -"By the way," said Ned, "why can't we make some better arms?" - -"Of what sort?" asked Jack. - -"Well, bows and arrows, for example. We can make arrow-heads out of some -of our copper bolts, and they are weapons not to be despised--what are -you smiling at, Charley?" - -"Oh! nothing; I was only wondering what good bows and arrows would do -without bowstrings." - -Ned's countenance fell; then he joined in the smile of his companions, -and admitted that his little plan had been very imperfectly worked out -in his head. - -"I might make some blow-guns out of the canes," he said, "but they're -not worth making. I have killed birds with them, but I've tried them -thoroughly and they won't shoot hard enough to drive an arrow-head half -an inch into a pine plank; so they would be worthless for our purposes." - -"Yes," said Jack, "I think we may make up our minds that we've got to -get on with no better weapons than our clubs for general use, with the -axe, hatchet, and digging tools to fall back upon as a last resort. To -use such things means to kill, and of course we don't want to do that." - -"No, of course not. We only want to protect ourselves and make these -squatters let us alone. We don't want to do the poor creatures any -unnecessary harm." - -Saying this, Ned took the net and went away in search of fish. When he -had gone Jack said: - -"Charley, let's build a platform to fight from." - -"I don't quite understand you," said Charley. - -"Well, you see the stockade is ten feet high, and slopes outward, and so -it won't be easy for anybody to scale it; but it isn't impossible, -particularly if one has time to put up a pole or two to climb on. My -notion is that we must be prepared to interfere with anybody who tries -to do that. We must build a sort of platform all around inside the -stockade, about six feet from the ground; it needn't be any thing more -than a row of poles laid against the stockade and supported by some -forked stakes. We can then stand up on these poles and look over the top -of the stockade. If anybody tries to climb up, we can beat him back -from there, while if we were on the ground inside here, we should be -nearly helpless. It won't take you and me more than half an hour or so -to rig the thing up." - -"That's a good idea," replied Charley; "and we need the platform more -to-night than we shall at any time hereafter." - -"Why?" - -"Because if those fellows mean to attack us they will do so at once. If -we escape to-night we're not likely to be attacked at all." - -"I don't know about that," answered Jack. "On the contrary, I think -they'll let us alone to-night, because they'll expect us to be on the -lookout for them. They have no special fancy for getting their heads -broken, and when they come they will try to take us by surprise. At -least that's my notion." - -"Then you think they are likely to attack us later this week or next?" - -"Yes, at any time except to-night. They will wait for us to make up our -minds that they aren't coming at all." - -"Well--that _fabula docet_ that we mustn't make up our minds in that -direction at all." - -"Exactly. We must be as alert two weeks hence as we are now--if we're -here so long. But come, let's get to work." - -Cutting some forked stakes, which did not need to be driven far into the -ground, because they were to be leant toward the sloping stockade, the -boys placed them in position, and laid poles from one to another until -the line stretched all the way around the enclosure. It was easy to walk -upon these poles all the way around, and when standing upon them the -boys' shoulders were above the top of the stockade. - -Near the water, on each side, an entrance to the stockade had been made, -and a movable piece of timber, with a notch in it and a brace behind, -served to close each of these gates; and when thus closed and fastened -from the inside, the gates were as secure as any other part of the -fortress. - -Jack's prediction that the enemy would not appear on Monday night was -verified. The whole of that week, indeed, was passed in complete -quietude. - -Having made their fortress reasonably secure, the boys resumed work upon -the boat on Monday and continued it throughout the week; but they gave -only one half of each day to that task, devoting the other half to the -work of strengthening their fort. The posts, as we know, were originally -set six inches apart for the sake of hurrying the work, but this was not -intended to be a permanent arrangement. As fast as they could the boys -filled up the spaces thus left, and by Saturday night the fort was -complete, so that its inmates felt entirely confident of their ability -to beat off any attack the negro squatters might choose to make. - -Meantime the boat approached completion, though there was, perhaps, a -week's work, or a little less, still to be done upon her. - -"We must caulk her seams," said Ned on Sunday, as the boys sat chatting -round their fire, "with moss instead of oakum, and then we'll coat her -all over with pitch." - -"By the way," answered Charley, "we've got to make the pitch. Do you -know how, Ned?" - -"Not very well," replied Ned, "but I think we can make out." - -"I know," said Jack; "I've seen tar made in the North Carolina tar -country, and pitch is only boiled tar." - -"Very well, then, you shall superintend that job," said Ned; "you know -that was our bargain, to make each fellow manage the things he -understood best." - -"You'd better make a lot of salt, then, right away, beginning to-morrow -morning." - -"Why? You don't use salt in making pitch, do you?" - -"No; but I shall want the big kettle to boil the tar in, and it won't be -fit for use as a salt kettle after that." - -"Then we must cook up all our rice too," said Charley. - -"No, we needn't," said Ned; "it would spoil if we did, and we can cook -it, as we need it, in the coffee-pot." - -Early the next morning these preparations were begun. Charley got his -salt factory at work, Ned worked at the boat, and Jack made preparations -for tar-burning. He began by digging a pit about four feet square and -two feet deep. Then--at a distance of about a foot--he dug another pit -about three feet square and four feet deep. He packed the wall of earth -that separated the two pits as firmly as he could, and then, cutting a -long joint of cane for a tar pipe, he passed it through this wall, from -a point exactly at the bottom of the shallow pit. He inclined it -downward a little, so that the tar might easily run though it and fall -into the deeper pit. - -Having finished this part of his work, Jack went into the woods near the -camp and prepared a large quantity of "fat" pine for burning. Piling -this in the shallow pit, and heaping it two or three feet above the -level ground, he took the shovel and covered the pile with earth to a -depth of a foot or more, leaving a single opening through which he could -set fire to the mass. His object was, by smothering the flames in this -way, to make the fat, resinous pine burn slowly, creating a roasting -heat under the earth, and thus, as it were, melting the tar out of the -pine. If he had not covered the wood with earth, it would have blazed up -and burned to smoke, resin and all, making no tar at all. - -When all was ready the pile was set on fire, and as soon as it had -caught well, Jack covered the single opening with earth, and the mound -smoked like a volcano. Pretty soon a little stream of smoking-hot tar -began trickling through the cane-tube into the deep pit. - -Night had now come on, and the smoke from the tar-kiln, catching the -light from the camp-fire, glowed with a peculiar red color, and gave a -picturesque air of strangeness to the camp. - -"You've started a young volcano, Jack," said Charley, as he looked at -the smoking mound. - -"Yes. An improvement on Crusoe," said Ned; "he had no volcano on his -island. But what a quantity of smoke the thing does make. It looks as if -more material came out of the mound in that way than you put into it in -the shape of wood." - -"Yes, and so a gallon of water will fill a big room if you make it into -steam." - -"What is smoke anyhow?" asked Charley. - -"It is composed of several things," answered Ned, "but chiefly of -carbon. Indeed, all that you can see in smoke is carbon." - -"Then why doesn't it burn?" - -"It would if it were kept in the fire long enough; but the light vapors -that rise from the fire carry the particles of carbon with them, and so -they get out of the fire before they are burned. The smoke is simply so -much wasted fuel, and many plans have been made to save it in factories -where the cost of fuel is great." - -"There's a big waste in making tar, then," said Charley. - -"Not half so much as you think," said Jack. "They don't waste the smoke -up in the North Carolina tar country." - -"How do they burn it?" - -"They don't burn it, but they catch it and sell it." - -"How do you mean?" - -"Why, they have wire screens stretched over the tar-kilns, and as the -smoke strikes them the fine particles of carbon stick to them. I have -seen masses of them hanging down many inches from the screens, and very -pretty they are too." - -"But what do they do with the stuff?" asked Charley. - -"Sell it. It is called lamp-black, and it brings a pretty good price." - -"That is close economy, isn't it?" - -"Yes, but it is frequently by just such 'margins' as that that -manufacturing becomes profitable. It is a very poor and desolate-looking -country up there in the tar-making districts, and I remember hearing a -man say once, as we passed through it: 'This is the country where they -waste nothing; they bark the trees to get resin: they distil the resin -and make turpentine; what's left is rosin; when the trees die they burn -them to make tar, catch the smoke for lamp-black, and there aren't any -ashes.'" - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -A NIGHT OF ADVENTURE. - - -The tar flowed freely during Monday night and Tuesday, and by the time -that Tuesday's labors were finished, there was enough in the deep vat to -make all the pitch that was required. The salt-making was finished too, -and the big kettle was ready for use the next day in boiling the tar to -make pitch of it. - -On Tuesday evening Ned determined to go fishing, as he did nearly every -night when the tide was at a proper stage. He had learned now the spots -most frequented by the mullets, and usually succeeded in bringing back a -good supply of them to camp. The boys had grown very tired indeed of -their restricted diet. For three weeks now they had not tasted meat of -any kind--for they never repeated their snake supper,--but had lived on -fish, shrimps, oysters, and a few crabs; and being without bacon or any -other kind of fat with which to fry their fish, they could not make an -appearance of variety by changing the way of cooking them. They had to -eat every thing boiled, or roasted, or broiled on the coals, and in the -absence of butter and other seasoning for broiled fish, the roast, -baked, broiled, and boiled all tasted alike. They had lost their relish -for such food as they could get, but having nothing else they were -forced to eat it. - -On this Tuesday night Ned remained away from camp longer than usual, and -at about eleven o'clock Charley went to bed, Jack mounting guard. About -an hour later Jack waked Charley, saying: - -"I'm uneasy about Ned, Charley. It must be midnight and he hasn't come -in yet." - -Charley sprang up quickly, and the two looked and listened. Finally it -was decided that as Charley was less able to run than Jack--because of -the dog-bite, which had not yet entirely healed,--he should remain on -guard while Jack should go out in search of Ned. - -Ten minutes later Jack came back, running as quietly as he could, and -hastily pushed through the eastern gate. Fastening this, he exclaimed -in an excited way: - -"The squatters are all around us, and I'm afraid they've captured Ned." - -"Why? Where are they? Tell me all about it, quick." - -"I don't know much about it myself," answered Jack. "I only know that as -I walked down along the shore in the direction that Ned took, I almost -stumbled over one of the squatters. I retreated, of course, and by -keeping in the bushes and looking and listening, I made out that there -were at least half a dozen of them about. As I could see nothing, and -hear nothing of Ned, I'm afraid they've caught him. You see they came -right along the shore where he was wading about and fishing, and if they -hadn't caught him, of course he would have run in to give us the alarm. -Poor fellow! I wonder if they'll kill him?" - -"I'm afraid of worse than that," said Charley, solemnly - -"What?" asked Jack. - -"I'm afraid they'll flog him. That would be horrible! for my part I'd a -good deal rather be killed, and I'm sure Ned would." - -"Yes, of course," said Jack. Then, after a pause, he added: - -"I'll tell you what, Charley, we mustn't let that happen." - -"How'll we help it?" - -"Well, they won't try that till after they've made their attack on the -fort. They'll simply tie Ned, and keep him till they're through with us, -and so we have time to make a diversion in his favor. We've got to give -them battle outside the fort. If we can drive them off we may find Ned. -When he finds what's up he'll let us know where he is quickly enough." - -"Yes, if he hasn't been carried too far away already," said Charley. "At -any rate, we'll try. Where were the darkies when you saw them?" - -"About two hundred yards away, in the woods near the shore." - -"All right. Now let's remember that we've got to stick together, and -that our object is to do not as much but as little fighting as -necessary, and to get past the enemy if we can, and go on down the shore -in search of Ned. We mustn't stop to do any unnecessary fighting." - -"No, we'll try first to creep past without any fighting at all," said -Jack. - -Arming themselves with their best clubs the two boys crept out of the -eastern gate and made their way as secretly as they could through the -woods. They saw two of the squatters, but managed to slip past them -without discovery, and when they had got well beyond them they made -their way rapidly along the beach, calling Ned at the top of their -voices and listening for his answer. At last they heard a shout in -reply, but it seemed a long way off, and singularly enough it was in the -direction of the camp. Turning around, they were filled with horror and -amazement at what they saw. A great red blaze was shooting up from the -camp. - -"They're burning us out!" exclaimed Jack. - -"Yes, and they must have Ned there with them. His shout came from that -direction." - -"Come, let's run with all our might. We may get there in time to save -Ned at any rate!" - -They ran like deer-hounds and were quickly at the burning camp. - -They encountered three of the negroes just outside the camp, but coming -upon them by surprise they were able to run past and to enter the gate -before their enemies could lay hold of them. Once inside they fastened -the gate log. As they did so and turned they discovered that they had -caught one of their assailants--a negro boy not older than -themselves--inside. This lad showed fight, but with two against him he -was quickly secured, and tied with the boat's anchor rope. - -Then Jack and Charley had time to see the extent of the mischief done. -The stockade itself was uninjured, and thus far the boat also was safe, -but the vat of tar was afire, and the bush hut in which the boys slept -had either caught from the blazing tar or been set on fire by the negro -boy. It was obviously too late to save the hut, even if the boys had -been free to work upon it, as they were not, for the danger to the boat, -which lay very near the fire and was already scorching, was too great to -be trifled with. Jack managed to rescue the salt from the hut, and then -he and Charley began wetting moss and laying it over the boat. - -"This won't do, Jack," said Charley; "those rascals outside will make -their way over the stockade if they aren't watched. Can't you keep the -moss wet now?" - -"Yes, I'll attend to that. You go to the platform at once. If you need -me call out and I'll come." - -Charley sprang to the platform, and was none too soon. The negroes -outside, hearing the cries of their imprisoned companion, were already -trying to make their way within the enclosure. One of them having -climbed upon the shoulders of another, had taken hold of the top of the -stockade, and in another second would have drawn himself up. In that -case the boys would have had to encounter him on equal terms, and -perhaps another squatter would have been over the wall by that time. -Luckily the light from the burning tar revealed the situation to Charley -in an instant. Running along the platform to the point of danger, he -rapped the knuckles of the climber with a degree of violence which at -once ended his climbing. He dropped to the ground as if his hands had -been cut off at the wrists, and then Charley began offensive measures. -Throwing his clubs one after another--for a large supply of them had -been stored along the platform--he compelled the assailants to beat a -retreat. They threw some sticks at him in return, but he managed to -dodge them, and Jack joining him for a few minutes, the pair fairly -drove the assailants off. Then Jack returned to his task of protecting -the boat, while Charley, promenading all the way around the barrier, -kept guard against surprises. - -No further assault being made, and the fire gradually dying down until -the boat was no longer in danger, Jack and Charley had time to think of -Ned again, and their anxiety was intense. - -"At least we've got a hostage," said Jack, "and perhaps poor Ned will be -able to arrange for an exchange. At any rate I hope so. There must be -some of them who can speak English, and, besides, Ned understands their -jargon a little." - -"Well, we'll hope for the best," said Charley, "but oughtn't we to make -another effort to find Ned?" - -"I don't see what we can do," said Jack. "They've carried him off by -this time, and to follow in the dark would be useless." - -"Yes, that's true. Listen! What was that?" - -Jack listened, but could hear nothing. - -"What did you hear?" asked he. - -"I thought I heard Ned shout." - -Jack gave a loud, long call, and then the two listened again. A shout in -reply was this time distinctly heard. - -"That's Ned," said Charley. - -"Yes," answered Jack. "He's making all the trouble he can, I suppose, to -delay their march and give us time to catch up. Come, Charley, we _must_ -rescue him." - -Again the boys sallied out, this time through the western gate. They ran -along the shore, stopping occasionally to halloo and to listen for Ned's -replies, which came promptly now. - -"They aren't getting on very fast with him," said Jack; "we're gaining -on them at any rate." - -Again the boys ran. When they made their next pause to shout, they were -astonished to hear Ned cry out, in his natural voice, from no great -distance: - -"Is every thing burnt up?" - -Strangely enough the voice seemed to come from the water on the right, -and both Jack and Charley were bewildered by the fact. - -"Where on earth are you?" called Jack. - -"Here," answered Ned, "out here on the oyster reef." - -The moon was near the zenith, and by carefully scanning the sea the boys -could make out the figure of Ned, standing knee-deep in water, about -fifty yards from shore. What to make of the situation they did not know. - -"What are you doing out there, Ned?" cried Jack. - -"I'm waiting for the tide to go down. Never mind me, but tell me about -the fire. Did it burn the boat?" - -"No, only the tar in the vat and our hut. The boat is safe, and so is -the stockade." - -"How did it catch fire?" - -"Why, the squatters set it afire while we were out hunting for you." - -"Have they been there, then?" - -"Yes. Haven't they had you prisoner?" - -"Not a bit of it. But don't stand there talking. Go back and take care -of the camp. When the tide goes down I'll return. Hurry now, or those -rascals will get in again and burn the boat." - -"But what in the world----" - -"Never mind that now. Go on to camp. You've no time to lose. I'll make -explanations when I get there." - -The necessity for hurrying back was plain enough, and so, without -further delay, Jack and Charley started toward the camp at a brisk -trot. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -A CALCULATION OF PROFIT AND LOSS. - - -When they arrived at camp Jack and Charley found every thing as they had -left it, except that their prisoner was gone. Examination showed that he -had gnawed the rope with which he had been bound, and thus had set -himself free. - -At first the boys were disposed to regard this as a mishap, but a -moment's reflection convinced them of their error. - -"Now that we know that Ned is safe," said Charley, "we have no use for -that rascal. We should have set him free in the morning at any rate." - -"By the way," said Jack, "what do you make of Ned's performance?" - -"I can't make it out at all," said Charley. - -"He must have been cut off from camp by the squatters and forced to -take refuge out there on the oyster reef." - -"No, the squatters came from the other direction, don't you remember? -And, besides, Ned didn't know there had been any of them about until we -told him." - -"I'll explain all that for myself," said Ned from the outside, "if -you'll be good enough to take down the gate log and let me in." - -This was quickly done, and Ned entered, first pushing in the cast net -well filled with fish. As he straightened himself up a glad "hurrah!" -came from both his companions, who saw in his hands a turtle weighing at -least twenty-five pounds. - -"Hurrah! Now we shall have a taste of meat again. Where did you get that -fine fellow, Ned?" - -"On the oyster reef," answered Ned; "that's how I came to be out there." - -"Well, tell us all about it now." - -"Oh, there isn't a great deal to tell. When I left camp, I went down -along the shore to the east and caught a few fish, but not many. Then I -determined to try the other side of the camp. I strung my fish on a -limber switch and came back, intending to leave them here before going -on; but as I passed I saw that the gate was closed, so I walked around -without bothering you fellows, and went on toward the west. I fished -along at one place and another, and finally I got to fishing in the -shallow water between the oyster reef and the shore, where the mullets -seemed to be holding a public meeting or something of that sort. The -tide was low then, though it was coming in, and the oyster reef was out -of water. Finding that my switches were full of fish, and being nearer -the reef than the shore, I thought I'd just take a look over the reef to -see if I could find a small turtle. I had seen one out there several -days ago, and my mouth watered so for a piece of meat that the thought -of turtle made me wild. So, swinging my strings of fish over my neck, I -crept about in the moonlight--for the moon showed a little through the -trees by that time,--and after a pretty thorough search I spied this -fellow scrambling along over the oyster bed. It seemed, from the slow -progress he made, that the shells hurt his bare feet as much as they did -mine; but that was probably only in appearance, for when he saw me -creeping up on him he made better time, and if I hadn't been so bent -upon having some meat for breakfast, he would have got away. As it was I -forgot my bare feet long enough to catch the gentleman. Then I tried to -go ashore, but the tide had come up and I couldn't. That is to say, I -couldn't wade ashore, and to swim was to lose my turtle; so I made up my -mind to stick it out till the tide turned. I had to stand in water up to -my waist at high tide, but I didn't mind that. I wasn't worried till I -saw the blaze here at camp, and heard you fellows yelling. I answered, -but you stopped calling, so I supposed it was all right. I waited two or -three hours longer, till the blaze began to die down. Then you fellows -began calling again, and you came to me. You know the rest. I came -ashore as soon after you left as the water would let me. Now tell me all -about matters here. Where's your prisoner?" - -The boys soon recounted the adventures of the night. - -"What is the measure of damage?" Ned asked when the story was ended. - -"The hut is destroyed," said Charley; "and the tar," added Jack. "We can -make another hut in an hour, but the destruction of the tar just as we -were ready to use it is a more serious matter." - -"Yes, it will delay us a couple of days longer with the boat," said Ned, -"and that's a pity. Let's see, this is Wednesday morning--for it's -nearly daybreak now. If this hadn't happened we might have got away from -here by next Wednesday,--just four weeks from the day we came. Now, -however, we shan't get away before the Friday or Saturday following." - -"Well, that will be the appointed time," said Charley. - -"The appointed time?" asked Ned, "what do you mean?" - -"Why, don't you remember? You told Maum Sally we'd be gone a month, and -she warned you not to stay a day longer than that." - -"Oh, yes, I forgot that! It will be curious, won't it, if we get away -Saturday? I hadn't the least thought of staying a week when we came." - -"Nor I," said Jack. "If we had suspected what we were coming to we never -would have come at all, I imagine." - -"I don't know about that," said Charley, doubtfully. "We came for -adventures, and we've had them, if I know what such things are. And -we've really had a good deal of fun." - -"That's true," said Ned; "we couldn't expect to sleep on feather beds, -or to have much luxury of any kind on such an expedition. And, after -all, our little hardships haven't hurt us. My foot is about well now, -and your dog-bite, Charley, is in a fair way to heal. So, if we get away -safely we're all the better for the trip. It will all seem like fun when -we get back to school and think about it." - -"I dare say we've sharpened our wits a trifle too," said Jack. "We've -learned how to take care of ourselves in the woods, and we shall be a -good deal quicker and sounder in our thinking for this experience." - -"Well, it's clear that we are not sufficiently sharpened up yet," said -Charley, "or else some one of us would have seen before this precisely -what the fire has done for us." - -"What is it, Charley?" - -"Why, every grain of rice that we had in the world was in the hut, and -of course it is all burnt up." - -"The mischief!" exclaimed Ned. - -"That's a calamity," added Jack, "but we must get more to-day." - -"Yes," said Ned, "if the squatters haven't gathered it all." - -"Don't let us meet trouble half way," said Jack; "it will be time enough -to give up the rice when we find that we can't get it. Meantime, let's -have some turtle steak for breakfast. Then we'll see what is to be -done." - -In spite of the lack of rice and all other substitutes for bread, the -boys enjoyed the broiled turtle more than any thing they had eaten for a -fortnight at least. - -After breakfast they "scouted" a little, to make sure that there were -none of the squatters on their side of the island. Then Charley climbed -a tall tree, the plan being that he should watch for squatters while Ned -and Jack should gather rice, so that they might not be surprised at -their work. - -The rice had been cut, and very little remained of it; but here and -there a little clump of it was still standing in the grass and bushes -around the patch, and a hard morning's work enabled the boys to secure -enough of these gleanings to last them for ten or twelve days. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -CHARLEY'S SECRET EXPEDITION. - - -While Charley sat in the tree-top scanning the island in search of -possible squatters who might interfere with the gathering of the rice, -he saw something else that put a new idea into his head, and before his -watch was done he had quite made up his mind to do something brilliant -which would surprise and delight his companions. - -What he saw was nothing more remarkable than a calf, or rather a young -bull, perhaps a year old, browsing in the edge of a thicket half a mile -or more to the west of the camp, and not many hundreds of yards from the -shore. There is nothing remarkable in such a sight as that, but the -circumstances of this case were peculiar, and so the sight set Charley, -thinking. - -In the first place, he remembered what Ned had told him and Jack about -the wild cattle on the island, and reflecting that it had been a good -many years since the original stock of animals were abandoned, he could -not help regarding this yearling bullock as something more than a mere -bullock. It was game; a wild animal roaming at will over unoccupied -lands, and to kill it would be quite as good sport as deer-stalking or -bear-hunting. - -Then, too, Charley and his companions were really in sore need of meat. -An exclusive diet of fish, oysters, and other such things soon wearies -the palate, and becomes exceedingly distasteful. It is true that Ned's -turtle had somewhat broken this monotony, but the relief had been only -partial, and the boys very eagerly craved meat--beef, mutton, or pork. -They had made no effort to get such meat, only because they had no idea -that any such was to be had. - -The snake dinner had never been repeated. It is true that the snake was -savory, and the boys had spoken truthfully when they declared themselves -pleased with it. But that was while their hunger lasted, and when they -had finished they had no longer a keen appetite to oppose to prejudice, -so that, with full stomachs, the old objections returned, and all three -boys were seized with a peculiar loathing for the food they had eaten. -Perhaps it was only because they had eaten too much; but, whatever the -reason was, the fact remained that they were all sickened by the thought -of what they had eaten, and, while they said nothing about this feeling, -no one of them ever proposed to repeat the experiment of eating snake. - -Now Charley meant to have an abundance of meat against which no such -objection could be urged. Here was a fat young steer whose beef was to -be had for the taking. How to get it was at first a perplexing question. -There was no gun with which to shoot the bullock, and there were no dogs -in camp with which to chase it; but after some reflection Master Charley -was confident that he could kill the animal with the means at disposal. - -He said nothing about either his discovery or his purpose when his -companions returned to camp, because he wished to give them a complete -surprise. - -He merely said that he wanted to make a little hunting expedition, and -that perhaps he might succeed in knocking over a rabbit or some other -animal good to eat. His companions had little hope of any such good -luck, but they offered no objection, and Charley, arming himself with -the hunting-knife and the hatchet, set forth on his quest. - -He found the bullock not far from the place at which he had seen it -before, quietly browsing in the edge of the timber. After carefully -reconnoitering the position, Charley went into the woods and crept upon -the animal very cautiously through the thick undergrowth. His plan was -to creep up in this way until he should be within a few feet of his -prey, and then, springing forward suddenly, to strike the bullock -between his young horns with the hatchet. Charley had seen a butcher -kill a large steer by a comparatively slight blow, delivered at the -right place on the animal's head, and he was very sure that he knew -where to strike. - -As he crept up he carefully avoided making any kind of noise, but when -within a dozen feet of the place from which he meant to spring, he made -a misstep, broke a stick, and alarmed the bullock, which quietly trotted -away. - -Charley was disappointed, but by no means disheartened. He had only to -begin over again, and proceed more cautiously next time. He crept very -slowly and consumed nearly half an hour in his approach. This time he -broke no sticks and made no noise of any kind. Nearer and nearer he -drew. He could hear the bullock's breathing, but still he must get -nearer. A log lay just in front of him, and he could not well spring -over it before striking, without alarming the animal and missing his -aim. He must creep around this obstruction first, and this he did -successfully, but the bullock, though not alarmed, moved away just -before Charley reached a position from which to strike. It did not run, -but quietly walked away to nibble some grass which grew at a spot a -dozen paces distant. - -This second disappointment shook Charley's already strained nerves -considerably, but, impatient as he now was, he controlled himself and -resumed his silent advance. Luckily the animal's head was turned -directly away from him, and that fact greatly lessened the danger of his -discovery. His chance was now so good, indeed, that a few moments more -might have brought his attempt to a completely successful issue, if he -had been content to follow his original plan. But just as he was in the -act of springing forward to deliver his blow, with every prospect of -success, a new thought struck Charley. It was easy to spring upon the -bullock's back, and from that point Charley thought he could deal not -one, but many successive blows, thus making sure work of what might not -otherwise be sure. - -Accordingly he leaped upon the animal's back, and as he did so the -startled creature sprang forward through the bushes, nearly unseating -his rider. The blow which Charley tried to deliver was a disastrous -failure. He missed the brute's head, and the hatchet slipping from his -hand, was hurled into the thicket. - -Charley had no time to think of the hatchet, however. The infuriated -bullock plunged headlong through the thicket and then across an open -glade and into the woods again, going in the direction of the camp, and -Charley had all that he could do to keep his seat. He was beaten black -and blue by the saplings encountered; his face was scratched, and his -clothes torn almost to shreds. Still, seeing that the bullock was going -toward the camp, he held on, with an unreasoning impression that, once -at the camp, the animal would be secured. - -Jack and Ned happened to be outside the stockade when Charley came -dashing past, but of course they could do nothing, and a moment after -they caught sight of their companion, he was swept from his seat by an -overhanging branch of a tree, and the frightened bullock continued his -impetuous flight alone. - -Jack and Ned hastened to their friend's assistance. For a moment Charley -seemed stunned, but he soon came to himself sufficiently to ask in a -querulous tone: - -"Why didn't you head him off?" - -It was not easy to convince Charley that they had been entirely -powerless to capture the bullock, so fixed had been his determination to -secure so valuable a prize; but after a while he began to see matters in -their true light, and to understand that Ned and Jack could not have -stopped the animal, even if they had been prepared for his coming, as in -fact they were not. - -Then Charley examined his own bruises, which were pretty severe, though -no bones were broken. - -"The worst of the damage," he said, after awhile, "is the loss of the -hatchet, and I suppose we shall find that." - -[Illustration: THE END OF CHARLEY'S ADVENTURE.] - -"Did you lose the hunting-knife too?" asked Jack. - -"There!" exclaimed Charley; "what an idiot I am, to be sure! I had that -in my belt all the time, and I might have got the beef if I had only -thought to use it!" - -This was true enough. While going through the thicket, Charley had -enough to do to cling to the back of the bullock, but while crossing the -open glade he might easily have drawn and used the long hunting-knife if -he had thought of it. But he had not thought of it, and it was now too -late for the thinking to do any good. - -"It is just as well as it is," said Ned. - -"Just as well!" exclaimed Charley; "well, I don't see that. I don't know -how it is with you, but for my part, I'd relish a beefsteak just now." - -"So would I," answered Ned; "but that yearling isn't ours, and we've no -right to kill it, I suppose." - -"Why not? It's a wild animal, isn't it?" - -"I hardly think so. The squatters must have killed all the wild cattle -long ago, and this tame calf probably belongs to them." - -"Well, they helped themselves pretty freely to our things, so I -shouldn't be a bit sorry if I had killed the animal while I thought it a -wild one," said Charley, rather ruefully. - -The search for the hatchet was a somewhat protracted one, but that -important tool was found at last, and so, if Charley's effort to -replenish the camp larder did no good, it at least did no harm beyond -bruising that young huntsman's limbs, scratching his face, and tearing -his clothes. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -THE LAUNCH OF THE "APHRODITE." - - -Contrary to their expectations, the boys were left in peace by their -enemies after that last unsuccessful attempt to burn their camp. - -The tar-kiln was promptly rebuilt, and by Saturday night a new supply of -tar was ready. Early on Monday morning the work of converting this tar -into pitch, by boiling it, was begun. This was necessarily a slow -process, because the kettle was small and the space to be covered was -large, for the plan was to paint the whole outside surface of the boat -with the pitch, in order to make it as water-tight as possible. As soon -as the first kettleful of pitch was ready, it was carefully applied -while smoking hot, care being taken to work it well into the seams. Then -another kettleful was set to boil, and so the work went slowly forward. -As the pitch cooled it became hard, like varnish, and the effect was to -stop all leaks pretty thoroughly. - -At first the boat sat right side up, but raised upon the blocks on which -she had been built, so that it was easy to pass under her; but in -applying the first kettleful of pitch the boys discovered the -awkwardness of this position, and determined to turn the _Aphrodite_ -bottom upward, for the sake of convenience. This was a difficult task, -as the boat was too heavy for the combined strength of the three young -ship-builders; but it was necessary to accomplish it, and Jack's -mechanical skill devised means for the purpose. Cutting some long poles -to serve as levers, and a large number of short, stout sticks, he -directed his companions to raise one side of the boat with the levers. -While they held it up he quickly built two cribs of the short sticks, -one at the bow and the other at the stern, and when the levers were -removed the boat rested easily upon these. Then a new bight was taken -with the levers, and the side of the boat was raised a few inches -further. Building the cribs up to support her in this position, Jack -directed the boys to repeat the operation again and again, each time -supporting the boat by increasing the height of the cribs. Finally he -said: - -"Now one more bight will throw her over, but we must get ready first to -ease her down, or else we shall strain her." - -"How can we do it?" asked Ned. - -"By setting some poles up at an angle on cribs. I'll show you." - -With that he went to the other side of the boat and built some cribs -about five or six feet away from the gunwale on which the boat rested; -carrying these up as high as his head, he took a number of straight -poles and placed their ends on the ground just under the gunwale, -resting the other ends upon the tall cribs. This made a slanting -framework, the bottom of which was against one gunwale, while the top -was not more than a few feet distant from the other edge of the boat. - -"Now," he said, when this was done, "she has only to fall a foot or two -forward; her weight will be on her face then, and we'll ease her down by -drawing out the crib-sticks." - -"I see a better way than that," said Ned. - -"Very well. What is it?" - -"Let's throw her forward first; then I'll show you." - -Resting, as the boat was, almost upon her gunwale, it was easy to push -her forward, and when that was done she was a little more than half-way -over. - -"Now," said Ned, "instead of lowering that upper gunwale, let's lift the -lower one with the levers, and block it up. We needn't raise it more -than a foot; then she'll show her whole under-side to us just as well as -if she lay flat on her face." - -"Yes," said Jack, after studying the matter, "and it will be all the -easier to turn her back again." - -"Have we got to turn her back again?" asked Charley, whose arms and back -had been pretty severely taxed in the effort to reverse the position of -the boat. - -"Well, no," said Ned, "not if we can make up our minds to launch her, -bottom upward, and to ride back to Bluffton on her keel. Otherwise we -must turn her right side up before we launch her." - -"It won't be hard to turn her back, Charley," said Jack. "She'll be -nearly on edge, you see, and it won't require lifting--only a little -pushing. But come, let's raise this gunwale. Six inches will do, I -think." - -One more application of the levers served the purpose, and the work of -applying the pitch was resumed. - -No other difficult problem presented itself, and by noon on Thursday the -pitching was complete. Before turning the _Aphrodite_ back again, Jack -and his companions cut some long, straight poles, and made an inclined -plane of them from the blocks on which the boat rested to the water. -They removed all the bark from these poles, so that they should be as -smooth as possible. - -Then the boat was turned back into position, her side toward the water. -It was necessary now to lift her up until her keel should rest upon the -inclined plane, down which she was to slide, of her own weight, into the -sea. This was a somewhat difficult task, requiring the use of the levers -and a good deal of blocking up as the levers raised the boat, inch by -inch. It was accomplished at last, however, and, suffering neither -strain nor other injury, the _Aphrodite_ slipped into the sea, and rode -gracefully upon the water. - -"Three cheers for the new boat!" cried Charley, and with a will they -were given. - -"Now, then," said Ned, "we can begin to see the end of our adventures. -Let's see. We've only to make some oars, and then we can be off." - -"When shall we start?" asked Jack. - -"Well, this is Thursday evening. We can finish three oars--two for -rowing and one for steering--by to-morrow evening." - -"Then we can make an early start on Saturday morning," said Jack. - -"Not very well," said Ned. "The tide will be against us until about one -o'clock or half-past, and the _Aphrodite_ is too heavy for two oars -against tide." - -"Why can't all three row?" asked Charley, who persistently refused to -understand any thing about the management of boats. - -"Because then we should have two oars on one side and only one on the -other, and we'd go around in a circle. We can only use two oars, while -the odd fellow steers. We'll be able to rest in that way, too, by taking -the steering-oar turn and turn about." - -"Then we'll get away when the tide turns on Saturday," said Jack. - -"Yes, or a little before,--say at noon. That will give us plenty of -time." - -"And we'll get back to Bluffton," said Charley, "exactly at the time -appointed with Maum Sally, I wonder if she'll have some supper ready for -us." - -"If she don't she'll have to get some pretty quick," said Ned. "I won't -let her scold me till she sets supper before us, and she won't be happy -till she gives me a good 'settin' to rights,' as she calls it." - -"Hadn't we better wait until we get to Bluffton before we order that -supper?" said Jack; "there's 'many a slip,' you know." - -"What a croaker you're getting to be, Jack!" exclaimed Charley. "What's -to bother us now, I'd like to know? We've got a good boat, we can make -oars to-morrow, and Ned knows the way." - -"Oh, certainly!" replied Jack. "I suppose we shall get there safely, and -I'm not in the least disposed to croak. I only thought that you and Ned -were a trifle hasty in your assumption that every thing is to go -perfectly smooth with us. For the last month things have had a pretty -fixed habit of going the other way." - -"Well, but we've conquered our difficulties now, and there's nothing -that I can think of to stand in the way of our getting off at the -appointed time. And if we leave here at noon on Saturday, what can -happen to prevent our arrival at Bluffton that evening?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," said Jack; "nothing at all, I hope. But when I -think what a chapter of accidents we've been through, I am disposed to -wait till I see Maum Sally, before I get my mouth ready for the supper -she's to cook." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE VOYAGE OF THE "APHRODITE." - - -Saturday dawned soft and warm. After breakfast the boys cooked the few -provisions that remained, intending to eat their mid-day meal in the -boat, as a mere luncheon, and to satisfy their appetites with better -food of Maum Sally's preparing, when they should arrive at Bluffton. - -They filled the coffee-pot with drinking water--for the water kegs of -the _Red Bird_ had been lost in that boat's mishap,--and bestowed their -other scant belongings on board. The moment that the outgoing tide grew -slack they began their homeward voyage, giving the old camp three lusty, -farewell cheers, and parting with their old associations there with a -touch of real regret. - -For the first mile or two Ned and Jack were at the oars. Then Charley -relieved Ned, as the boat drew out from among the low-lying marsh -islands into a broad stretch of water. - -The wind was blowing in from the sea, not strongly, but steadily, and -after an hour's rowing Jack saw that Ned was rather uneasily watching -some light, low-flying banks of mist which were scudding along overhead. - -"What is it, Ned?" he asked. - -"Nothing of importance--or at least I hope so." - -"Well, what is it? Do those little clouds mean rain?" - -"I wish they did," said Ned; "but they're not clouds, at least in the -usual sense, and I'm afraid they don't mean rain." - -"Out with it. We're partners in all our joys and sorrows," said Charley, -"so let's hear all about the clouds that aren't clouds but something -else. What are they?" - -"A sea fog," answered Ned; "this breeze is coming in from the sea laden -with moisture, and those clouds just above us are banks of fog." - -"Well, what of it?" - -"We shall be shut in in five minutes," said Ned. "Look! you can't see -half a mile now, and it is settling right down upon us, growing thicker -every minute." - -It was as Ned said. The wall of thick fog was closing in, and it was -already impossible to see any thing except the waste of water around -them. A few minutes later even the water could be seen for only a few -yards around. - -"Lie on your oars, boys," said Ned. - -"Why not row on?" asked Charley. - -"Because I don't know which way to steer, and rowing may only take us -out of our course." - -"Can't you hold your course straight ahead?" - -"No. That would be possible in a fog if rowing always drove a boat -straight ahead, and if there were no cross currents in the water; but -both 'ifs' stand in the way. Without a compass nobody can keep a boat in -any thing like a straight course in such a fog. The tide is running up, -and so if we don't row at all we shall drift in the right direction, at -least in a general way, while if we row, we may go all wrong." - -"How long is such a fog likely to last?" asked Jack. - -"It is impossible to tell. A change in the wind or in the state of the -atmosphere may clear it away at any moment; or it may last a week." - -"A week!" exclaimed Charley; "what shall we do if it does? We haven't an -ounce of food left, and only a little water," looking into the -coffee-pot. - -"We needn't manage the whole week this afternoon," said Jack. "It will -be better to keep cool and do the best thing that can be done every -minute. Just now, Ned says, the best thing is to drift with the tide, so -we'll drift, and wait, and keep our wits about us so as to see any -chance that offers for doing better." - -Jack spoke in a cheerful voice, and his tone of courage served to brace -his companions somewhat, but it was plain to all three that their -position was really one of great danger and uncertainty. It was Jack's -excellent habit, however, to grow strong and courageous in difficulty or -danger; he never allowed himself to become panic-stricken, or to do -foolish, frantic things. - -"Jack," said Charley after a while, "I don't believe there's any whine -in you." - -"I don't know," replied Jack; "I hope there isn't. What good would -whining do?" - -An hour passed, and still the fog grew thicker. Another hour; the breeze -had ceased to blow, and the gray mist lay like a blanket over the water. -It seemed piled in thick layers, one on top of another. It was so dense -that it could be seen floating between one of the boys and another, like -smoke from a cigar. The boys could see its slow writhing and twisting in -the still air, moved as it was only by their breath, or by the -occasional movements of their bodies. It would have been impossible in -such a fog to see a ship twenty feet distant. - -For still another hour and another the boys sat still in the boat, -rarely speaking or in any way breaking the awful silence of the -fog-bound solitude. - -At last Ned bent his head down close to the gunwale to scan the surface -of the water. - -"I see marsh grass here," he said, "but it is completely under water. -Watch for any that shows above the surface, and if you see any catch -hold of it and hold on." - -The boys bent over, one on one side, the other on the other. Presently -the protruding tops of the tall marsh grass appeared above the water, -and seemed to float slowly by. Several times Jack and Charley caught -small bunches of it, but the impetus of the drifting boat was too great, -and the grass was pulled up from the muddy bottom. After a little while, -the water growing shallower, the grass showed higher above the surface, -while it increased also in quantity, impeding the motion of the boat. -Then each of the boys seized a bunch and the boat was brought to a -stand. - -"There, that's better," said Ned, as the motion of the boat ceased. - -"Why don't you want to drift?" asked Jack. - -"Because it is about the turn of the tide," answered Ned, "and I don't -want to drift in the wrong direction." - -"Then why didn't you cast anchor when you first saw from the grass that -we were in shallow water?" - -"Because I don't want to be caught here on a marsh island if I can help -it." - -"I don't understand," said Jack. - -"Well, you see it is about high tide now, and we have drifted upon one -of the many mud banks covered with this marsh grass. Some of them are -covered with water at high tide, as this one is, but quite bare when -the tide is out. When I saw that we were drifting over one I wanted to -stop the boat, to avoid being carried back again toward the sea; but -we're in danger of getting left here high and dry on a mud bank when the -tide runs out, and that would be a bad fix to get into. So instead of -dropping anchor, we'll simply hold on by the grass, and as the tide goes -out we'll try to work off into deeper water." - -"I see," said Jack. - -"I wish I could, then," said Charley, who had recovered his spirits; "if -I could see I'd steer for Bluffton." - -"Come, Charley," said Ned, "this is no joking matter, I can assure you. -It's growing quite dark now, and unless the fog lifts very soon we may -be stuck here in the mud, for the night at least; suppose you give her a -few stokes with the oars, boys; the tide is falling rapidly, and we must -get off this bank." - -The boys rowed slowly, Ned steering and watching the water. It grew -steadily shallower, so he turned the boat about, convinced that the -direction he had taken was toward the centre of the bank, instead of -toward the deep water. He had not gone far in the new direction -however, before the keel scraped the mud, and another change had to be -made in the course. Still the keel scraped, in whatever direction he -turned. - -"Pull away with all your might, boys!" he cried; "if we don't reach deep -water in five minutes we're stuck!" - -Jack and Charley bent to their oars, and for a few minutes the boat -slipped forward through the tall marsh grass. But her keel was dragging -in the soft mud, and as the tide was rapidly running out, the boat sank -deeper every minute. - -"Pull away, as hard as you can!" cried Ned, seeing that the speed was -rapidly growing less. "Here, you're exhausted, Jack; let me take your -oar. Now, Charley, give it to her!" - -The oarsmen bent to their work with the strength of desperation, but the -keel was now completely buried in the mud, and the whole bottom of the -boat rested in the slimy ooze. Do what they would, the boys could drive -her no further. - -"Stuck!" cried Jack. - -"Yes, stuck, fairly stuck, and in for a night of it, fog or no fog," -said Ned. - -"What's to be done?" asked Charley. - -"Nothing now, except go to sleep if we can. It's so cold and raw that -we'll find that pretty hard work. I wish we had brought a lot of moss -for blankets." - -"But what if the fog lifts in the night?" asked Charley. - -"Well, what if it does? We can do nothing now till the tide comes in -to-morrow morning. We're high and dry now, and the tide will continue to -run out until one or two o'clock to-night. Then it will turn, but we -shan't be afloat again till very nearly high tide,--say about seven or -eight o'clock to-morrow morning." - -"Yes," said Jack, "and as we have eaten nearly nothing since morning, -and have nothing to eat till we get to Bluffton, we shall need all the -strength we can get from sleep. So let's sleep if we can." - -Bestowing themselves as comfortably as they could, the three worn-out, -half-famished lads did their best to sleep; but there was very little -chance of that. No sooner had they ceased to exert themselves, than the -penetrating cold of the fog, which had already saturated their scanty -clothing, made them shiver and shake as with an ague fit. - -They were obliged occasionally to go to the oars for exercise, in order -to keep their blood in circulation, and so there was no chance of any -thing like sleep beyond an occasional cat nap. Not long before dawn it -began to rain, and Ned, who had been dozing, suddenly sprang up, crying -out: - -"What's that? Rain? Good!" - -"Why, 'good'?" asked Charley, shivering; "I'm damp enough already." - -"Good, because if it rains hard the fog will disappear." - -"Why?" - -"Because it will be converted into rain, and fall. A fog disappears -always either by rising and floating away, or by falling in the shape of -rain; and this one means to fall, I should say, if I may judge by the -way it is coming down now." - -It had, indeed, begun to pour. The condition of the boys was thus -rendered still more uncomfortable than before, but at least their -prospects were brightened by way of compensation, and as the steady -downpour cleared the air of the dense fog, their spirits bounded up -again in spite of all the discomforts of their situation. - -"I say, Jack," said Charley, "are you a prophet or a weather witch?" - -"Neither, so far as I am informed," replied Jack; "why do you ask?" - -"Only because I suspect that you either foresaw this fog or created it." - -"I don't see the force of your suspicion," said Jack. - -"Don't you remember how you croaked about slips between the cup and the -lip when Ned and I were so sure of getting to Bluffton?" - -"Yes, of course; but I didn't really expect any thing of this nature. I -only spoke generally." - -"Out of the abundance of your wisdom. But I won't make fun, for you were -right." - -"And, besides," said Ned, "the situation just now isn't a bit funny. -There's a young river running down my back, and I'm in for a good -scolding from Maum Sally when I see her. She'll scold me for overstaying -my time, for wrecking the boat, for losing my boots, for spoiling my -clothes, and for every thing else she can think of. And yet, though -you'll hardly believe it, I heartily wish I could be sure of getting -that scolding very early this morning." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -MAUM SALLY. - - -Daylight came about five o'clock, and Ned made use of the earliest light -for looking about him and determining his position. So buried was the -boat in the tall marsh grass, that he had to stand upon the highest part -of the bow in order to see at all. At first he could make out very -little, but as it grew lighter--for, the rain having ceased, the light -gained rapidly toward six o'clock--he was able to make out the bearings -pretty well. - -"I say, fellows," he said, turning to his companions, "we made a centre -shot. If we had tried, in the broadest light of the clearest day, we -couldn't have put the _Aphrodite_ more exactly in the middle of this -marsh bank." - -Further inspection showed that this judgment was accurate. The boat lay -precisely in the middle of the little island, which stretched away two -or three hundred yards on each side. - -The tide had risen enough by half-past six for the water to lick the -sides of the boat, but it would be a full hour or more before the -_Aphrodite_ would float up out of the mud, and even then it would be -necessary to wait awhile longer for deeper water, before trying to push -her great bulk through the rank marsh grass. - -"Why not hurry matters by getting out and pushing the empty boat?" asked -impatient Charley, who had already declared himself to be in a state of -actual starvation. - -"Just take one of the oars, Charley," said Ned, "and feel of the bottom -we should have to walk on." - -Charley took the oar, pushed it through the roots of the grass, and -then, with scarcely an effort, plunged its whole length straight -downward through the soft mud. - -"Ya--as, I see," he drawled, as he drew the oar out again; "it isn't -precisely the sort of lawn that one would choose for walking about on in -slippers." - -Just then oars were heard, and looking in the direction from which the -sound came, Ned suddenly cried out: - -"Hi! Maum Sally! Hi there! Here we are, out here in the marsh!" Then -turning to his companions, he said: - -"It's Maum Sally in the little boat. I wonder where she's going this -early on Sunday morning." - -[Illustration: "HI! MAUM SALLY!"] - -Maum Sally did not leave him long in doubt on this head. Rowing her boat -as far into the grass and as near to them as she could, she came to a -stop at about a hundred and fifty yards from the _Aphrodite_. Then -standing up in her boat, placing her bare arms akimbo, and tossing her -red-turbaned head back, she began: - -"Now, look heah, young Ned! What you mean by dis heah sort o' doins? -Didn't you promise me faithful to be back agin in a month? An' ain't de -month done gone, an' heah you is a idlin' about on a ma'sh, an' it -Sunday mawnin' too? Jes' you come straight 'long home now." - -After she had spent her first breath in a tirade which was half scolding -and half coddling,--for that was always her way with Ned, whom she had -spoiled all his life, from the cradle upward,--she paused long enough -for Ned to explain that he and his companions could not go to her until -the tide should rise at least a foot more. - -"Now listen, boys," he said; "she'll keep it up till the rising tide -brings her to us, and we're in for an hour of it." - -"Why not persuade her to go back and get breakfast ready by the time we -get there?" asked Jack. - -"Go back? Not she. My month was up yesterday, and as I didn't put in an -appearance, she set out to find me and bring me home this morning, and -you just bet she won't go home without me. She'll row this way as fast -as the rising water will let her, and she'll keep on scolding and -coddling me all the time. Then she'll jump in here and hug me as if I -were her long-lost baby boy. Hear her!" - -Maum Sally fulfilled Ned's prediction to the letter. As she drew nearer, -and made out the forlorn condition of the young Crusoes, discovering, -little by little, how ragged they were, she scolded more and more -savagely, while Ned laughed and heartily enjoyed it all, taking pains to -direct her attention to the various losses he had sustained, and hinting -now and then at the difficulties he had encountered and the dangers he -had passed. Each word of his gave Maum Sally a new theme for her -scolding, and as the little boat pushed itself up to the big one she -leaped from the one into the other, changing her tone, manner, and -expression in the very middle of a sentence, somewhat thus: - -"I tell you, young Ned, ef I gits my han's on you, you ugly, provokin', -no 'count young scape--darlin', blessed boy, aint ole Sally happy to git -her arms roun' you agin, and hug you jis like you was a baby agin; an' -now I's got you safe in these arms agin, I tell you I's happy." - -The sudden change in the sentence occurred just as Maum Sally stepped -from one boat into the other, and fell upon Ned with that savage fury of -affection which only a dear old black nurse can feel. - -To row out of the marsh when the water grew a little deeper, and then to -row home to a late but toothsome breakfast, was easy enough now. Then a -long day of complete rest followed, and the whole story of the wreck of -the _Red Bird_ was a memory merely. - -THE END. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Wreck of The Red Bird, by George Cary Eggleston - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRECK OF THE RED BIRD *** - -***** This file should be named 40941-8.txt or 40941-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/9/4/40941/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |