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diff --git a/45397.txt b/45397.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 18309d8..0000000 --- a/45397.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4381 +0,0 @@ - A BOY CRUSOE - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: A Boy Crusoe - or, The Golden Treasure of the Virgin Islands -Author: Allan Eric -Release Date: April 14, 2014 [EBook #45397] -Reposted: April 21, 2014 [textual corrections] -Language: English -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOY CRUSOE *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - - - A BOY CRUSOE - - OR - - The Golden Treasure of the Virgin Islands - - - BY - ALLAN ERIC - - - - M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY - CHICAGO -- NEW YORK - - - - - [Transcriber's note: - This book was also published as "A Yankee Crusoe".] - - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - *CONTENTS.* - -Chapter. - - I. Early Life; Off for a Voyage - II. Heavy Weather; the Sargasso Sea - III. A Terrible Storm; Leaving the Ship - IV. Cast Up by the Sea on a Tropical Island - V. Strange Surroundings; Building a House - VI. The Stockade; a Crusoe's Life - VII. A Cocoanut Calendar; Food Supply - VIII. Thoughts of the Future; Making a Bow-Gun - IX. Starts to Explore the Island; Turtles' Eggs - X. In the Folds of a Snake - XI. The Mountain Cave; a Beacon; Attack by Pigs - XII. Return to the Coast; a Mangrove Swamp; Fever - XIII. A Feathered Companion; Making a Fish Trap - XIV. Another Exploring Trip; Tropical Fruits - XV. A Hurricane and a Ship-Wreck - XVI. Pleasant Companions; Enlarging the House - XVII. Building a Raft; Visits to the Wreck - XVIII. The March Continued; Arrival on the Mountain - XIX. An Ancient Ruin; Wonderful Discovery - XX. "The Golden Treasure;" Its Removal - XXI. Preparing for Departure; Death of the Monster - XXII. Boat-Building; A Startling Sound - XXIII. Rescue at Hand; Leaving the Island - - - - - *A BOY CRUSOE* - - - - *CHAPTER I.* - - _*Early Life; Off for a Voyage*_*.* - - -I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the -Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the -average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New -England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work -on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country -schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my -life full to over-flowing. In the winter it was work in the woods, -cutting up the year's supply of fire-wood; and then, before the spring -ploughing time, my brother and myself found pleasant labor and -recreation combined in the maple woods, tapping the trees, gathering the -sap and tending the fire under the great kettles where the sweet product -of the maple was transformed into syrup and sugar. - -I really think that I was more thoughtful than the average boy. I know -that I read more. I do not remember ever feeling dissatisfied with my -life or with the prospects that the future held out for me. Probably I -was too young for these things to trouble me much; but I read everything -in the way of books and papers that I could borrow, or purchase by -saving a little money earned in various ways. I was fond of stories of -adventure; but travel and adventure combined, interested me most. -Therefore, as I grew older, I became imbued with a passionate desire to -travel in foreign lands. The tropics were my ideal, and this feeling -became stronger as the years went by. - -When I was fifteen years of age my father removed to a large village -where there was a graded school, and I entered the grammar school, then -the high school from which I was graduated. - -The passion for travel still had a strong hold upon me, but I saw no -immediate prospect of gratifying it, for I was obliged to look about for -some immediate means of earning a living for myself. When everything -else fails, one can always find an opportunity to canvass for a -publishing house or a novelty concern; so, soon after leaving the high -school, I was trudging up and down the banks of the Penobscot river, -calling from house to house. It was discouraging work, but I succeeded -moderately well. - -Late in the fall I went up to Bangor to canvass that city, and it was -there that I made the acquaintance of a gentleman, which led to the -experiences that I am about to relate, and which changed the whole -course of my life. - -Mr. William H. Sargent was a wealthy, retired merchant, with impaired -health. His wealth had been acquired by trading with the South American -countries, and the West Indies, and he still retained large interest in -many vessels sailing to that part of the world. - -It was his idea to make a voyage in one of these vessels, and the -friendship which had developed between us, mostly through meeting in the -reading room of the Public Library, caused him to suggest that I -accompany him on his voyage to the Southern seas. - -I accepted only too gladly, and that very evening I wrote a long letter -to my mother, explaining my good fortune, bidding her not to worry by -exaggerating, in her own mind, the dangers to be encountered. - -The next few days I spent mostly with my benefactor, for as such I -looked upon him, helping him in various ways in his preparations for the -voyage. As for myself, I required little more than a modest supply of -clothing. - -Mr. Sargent was thoughtful and considerate, however, and insisted upon -my procuring much that I deemed unnecessary for my modest requirements, -paying for the same from his own pocket. - -Our craft was a trim bark called the _Ethelyn Hope_, built at Searsport -three years before. She was two hundred and fifty tons gross measurement -and sat in the water jauntily and buoyantly. From her load water-line -to the tips of her topmast she was as trim a craft as one could wish to -see. As she lay at the wharf ready for sea, everything on deck had been -made snug, and not a coil of rope or spare block was out of place. Her -cargo consisted of case oil, salt fish and flour in her hold, and she -carried a good deck-load of lumber. She was bound for Cayenne, French -Guiana, on the north coast of South America. - -The _Ethelyn Hope_ was commanded by Captain Thomas Witham; and the -first, second and third mates, with nine able seamen before the mast -comprised the crew. - -Nothing remained to be done except to cast off the lines, when, released -from her bonds the bark slowly moved down the river. The sails on the -lower yards and jib-boom were set, and with a light breeze favoring her, -aided by the swift current, the city was soon lost behind High Head. - -By daylight the following morning we had passed through the "Narrows", -and just at sunrise all sails were set and the bark squared away for the -mouth of the bay where she was laid on a sou', sou'-east course as she -took her final departure. - -My spirits were decidedly buoyant as the bark glided out of the bay into -the open sea, and a delicious sense of elation took possession of me as -I realized that I was really on board a ship, with the land fading away -behind me, bound for a foreign shore, the wonderful tropics, the land of -palms of which I had read so much. I should see for myself the curious -things of the sea, strange countries and people; and perhaps encounter -fierce animals in the virgin forests, the home of birds of rare and -beautiful plumage. - -With a strong northwest breeze the bark stood away on her course, with -every sail filled out and drawing handsomely. Although the weather had -been clear and the sea fairly calm, by sunset a thin haze rendered the -outline of the horizon dimly visible, and the Captain began to fear a -blow. His nautical instinct made him sure that there was to be a change -in the weather, and he gave orders for everything to be made secure. -And, sure enough, at dusk the wind freshened and hauled around into the -north-east. - -It was about this time that I suddenly became conscious of a peculiar -feeling, a sudden dizziness, like the sensation caused by a boy's first -cigar. I knew well enough that I was experiencing the first sensations -of seasickness, and, suddenly losing interest in the sailing of the -ship, I went below and tumbled into my berth. - -Feeling somewhat better, while I lay quiet, I had nearly dropped off to -sleep when I was aroused by a tremendous noise, which brought me to my -senses, when I realized that the vessel was rolling and pitching wildly. -I could hear the howling of the wind around the deck-houses, and the -snapping of the great sails. Now and then I heard the sound of the -Captain's voice on deck as though he were giving brisk orders; and I -rightly concluded that we were having it very rough. I looked across -the cabin and saw that Mr. Sargent was in his berth, but as he was -apparently not asleep I spoke to him, asking if there was any danger. - -"Oh, I guess not," he replied. "We are having a pretty stiff blow." - -Strangely enough, I suppose, I did not now feel sick, though my head was -a little dizzy, so I concluded to go on deck. I cautiously ascended the -companion way, and found the Captain standing near the wheel, enveloped -in oil-skins, his head being covered by an ample sou'wester. - -"Hello, boy," was his greeting, "what are you doing up here? The best -place for you is below; you might get blown over-board." - -But I begged to be allowed to remain a little, arguing that I felt -better on deck, and the Captain relented and found a sheltered place -under the lee of the cook's galley, telling me not to try to move about -the deck. - -The bark was rolling and tossing, but appeared to be bounding through -the water like a race-horse. Soon I heard the Captain tell the mate that -the wind had shifted around into the east, and that they were in for a -stiff blow, and rain, too, before long. - -So it proved, and it was not long before the squall struck in earnest. -The ship careened, and a sea came over her weather rail, until the -lee-scuppers spouted green water, wetting me a little, even in my -sheltered retreat. - -The rain began to fall, and the sailors had their hands full. There was -a great commotion of loudly spoken orders, the tramping of feet, the -creaking of blocks, the rush and roar of the sea and the howling of the -blast through the rigging. All hands were called to take in sail, and -the bark, soon close hauled, was lying over nearly to her lee rail. The -heavy sea beat against her bows with all the force which tons of water -could exert, while the staunch little vessel, quivering for a moment -would seem to hesitate, and then plunge forward to meet the next -onslaught like an animate thing possessed of sensible emotions. The -spray, flying back over the bows, drenched the deck from fore to aft. -The topsail halyards had been hauled taut, and the sails filled out and -backed against the masts with a noise like thunder. - -I did not long remain in the scanty shelter afforded by the house, but -made the best of my way to the cabin. To make matters worse, I was -again off my "sea-legs," and was getting terribly sick. - - - - - *CHAPTER II.* - - _*Heavy Weather; the Sargasso Sea*_*.* - - -The gale continued until the end of the fourth day, and we were south of -the deep blue waters of the Gulf Stream, when it abated somewhat, and -though it continued to blow heavily, the sea was running more regularly, -in long, even swells which made the motion of the bark less -disagreeable, especially for me. - -The studding sails were taken in, and the wind was hauled, in order that -the Captain might be given an opportunity to determine our longitude. - -The Captain found that we were not far off the course, as the wind had -blown mostly from north, and northeast and east. The sails were -trimmed, and, by sundown the wind veered around into the northwest and -blew steadily, while the sea gradually subsided. We were now about two -hundred miles to the eastward of Watling's Island, one of the Bahamas, -also known as San Salvador, the first land in the New World discovered -by Columbus. The stars shone bright, and the bark, rolling easily, -plowed the warm waters of the sub-tropic sea. I remained with Mr. -Sargent long on deck that night, watching the phosphorence of the water, -which in these latitudes, is sometimes very brilliant. - -The morning dawned upon a tropic sea, for the bark had made good -progress during the night, and we were well abreast of the larger -islands of the Bahamas. The breeze was soft and balmy, and the ocean a -deep, crystal blue, of a hue never seen except in these southern -latitudes. This is owing partly to the remarkable reflection of the sky -but more to the extreme depth of the water. Myriads of flying fish rose -in flocks from the water and fluttered away on both sides of the ship as -the bark glided through the weeds of the Sargasso Sea. The Sargasso -weed is a genus by itself, which, thrust away to the south by the mighty -ocean currents, lies in a vast central pool, a great eddy between the -Gulf Stream and the Equatorial current; and here it revolves. It is -ocean born, and long ages have passed since it lost its habit of growing -on the rocky sea-bottom. Forever floating it feeds among its branches -whole families of crabs, cuttle-fish and mollusks, which like the plant -itself, are found in no other seas. - -The flying-fish interested me greatly, for I had read much about them. -I noticed that their flight was as perfect as that of some kinds of -birds, and that it very closely resembled that of the swallow, in that -it was a skimming, circling flight. I had read that the flying-fish -rarely leaves the water unless pursued by a shark or some other fish to -which it is a prey; and that, on leaving the water it does not really -fly, but, instead, emerges from the water on an upward plane, enabling -it to skim along for some distance. I had read, also, that the fish is -unable to remain in the air only while its wings are wet. This latter -statement is undoubtedly correct; but I observed that its flight was -perfect, the fish making use of its greatly elongated and highly -developed pectoral fins, as wings. I saw them flying singly and in -flocks or schools, when they were not pursued by sharks and I was -thoroughly convinced that they did actually fly. They gyrated in the air -exactly like swallows, and moved their wings very rapidly like birds. -There seemed to be no limit to the length of their flight, for they -would rise from beneath the bows and fly away in a continuous line until -lost to sight in the distance. - -Once one dropped upon the deck in the night and the cook broiled it, -assuring us that its flesh was very delicate, much like that of a fresh -water perch; and indeed, so it proved to be. - -The Captain had taken a course much further to the eastward than he -would ordinarily. Usually, in going to the Guianas, the route is through -the Bahama group, by way of the Crooked Island Channel, thence through -the Windward Passage, between Cuba and Haiti and across the Caribbean -sea by the east end of Jamaica. But Mr. Sargent wished to go further to -the eastward so as to pass among the Leeward Islands, perhaps landing -there to await the return of the bark from the coast. This plan could -be followed without detriment, as a little delay in reaching Guiana was -more than likely to result in an improved market for the cargo. This -explains the unusual course of the _Ethelyn Hope_. - - - - - *CHAPTER III.* - - _*A Terrible Storm; Leaving the Ship*_*.* - - -The weather continued fine for three days, after passing the latitude of -San Salvador, with a fresh breeze blowing from the northwest, which sped -the bark on her course so that she logged better than ten knots; but on -the fourth day the wind swung around to the north and gradually hauled -into the northeast, and the long, steady swells began to rise. - -The Captain at once prepared for a gale and ordered the sails trimmed to -meet it. That the apprehensions of the Captain were grave was proven by -the precautions taken; for not only was sail shortened to the last -extremity, but the hatches were securely battened down. - -The barometer began to fall about noon, and from that time the wind -increased until it was blowing a gale; but just after sunset the wind -almost died away, though the mountainous foam-flecked seas continued. - -As the sun went down the sky rapidly became overcast, and a cloud of -inky blackness appeared along the horizon. As we stood watching it a -long line of whiteness appeared between the sea and the black cloud, and -stretched away far toward the east. Gradually the white line came -nearer, until it proved to be a wall of foam. It was advancing toward -the ship with great rapidity; and as it came nearer the air above it was -seen to be filled with flying spray. - -The wind began to freshen, and the sailors were hurrying about in -obedience to the orders of the Captain, still shortening sail. All the -upper sails were reefed. - -Nearer and nearer came the wall of foam, and with a roar it struck the -ship, and the storm broke in a perfect tornado. - -The bark was careened until the lee scuppers were submerged; and the -staunch craft shook from end to end. For an instant she seemed buried -beneath the raging sea, and then rose and plunged into the next wave. - -Mr. Sargent and I made haste to go below, where we remained holding -ourselves in our berths while the ship reeled, plunged and groaned in -every timber and plank. - -A fearful report like the crack of a rifle told us that some sail had -been carried away; and then followed others. At length, from a change -in the ship's motion, we judged that the Captain was trying to put her -about and run before the gale; but suddenly a fearful crash which seemed -as though the bark had split from stem to stern was followed by a -terrible rolling and plunging. - -Crack! Crack! and the bark pitched and groaned worse than ever. - -We heard the Captain making his way toward the cabin, and then saw him -enter. His face wore a look of deep anxiety. - -"The masts have gone," he said, "and the bark is unmanageable. You must -prepare for the worst. We may have to take to the boats." - -"At once, Captain?" asked Mr. Sargent. - -"I cannot tell until the well is sounded; but I fear that she must -founder." - -At that moment the first mate entered the cabin and stated that the bark -was leaking badly. The water was rising fast in the hold. - -"We must remain on the ship to the last moment," said the Captain, "for -a boat could not live in this sea." - -The Captain returned to the deck, and how long we clung to the berths I -cannot tell, for I was dazed by the peril which threatened us--Were we -to be lost at sea, drowned, all hands? - -The Captain again entered the cabin. "We must take to the boats," he -said, "and Heaven help us." - -We hastened on deck just as we were, half clothed, leaving everything -behind. Nothing could be taken. - -When we reached the deck we saw the Captain standing by the starboard -boat. The other had been launched, and had instantly disappeared in the -darkness and foaming water. - -The Captain, first and second mate, Mr. Sargent and myself now alone -remained on the bark. - -We hurried into the boat. "We should not be far from one of the -outlying islands of the Windward group," said the captain; "and if the -boat can live in this sea until daylight we may reach one of the Virgin -Islands." - -The tackle was let go, and a great sea caught the boat. She was lifted -up, and up, and up, and then sank, it seemed, into a fathomless abyss. - -I saw the first and second mate bend to the oars. The Captain was in -the stern. The boat careened and seemed to start suddenly upward on an -inclined plane. - -A rush of water enveloped her. I heard a roaring sound in my ears, and -I knew no more. - - - - - *CHAPTER IV.* - - _*Cast up by the Sea on a Tropical Island*_*.* - - -When I regained consciousness I was lying upon a sandy beach. I was -uninjured, but rather stiff, while my body seemed to be bruised in -places. I was, of course, wet to the skin, and I crawled up and lay -upon the sand where my clothing was quickly dried by the hot sun, now -well up. - -Meanwhile I looked about me. I had been driven ashore between two -points of land, upon a narrow beach. The vegetation, very thick and -luxuriant, grew close to the line of sand, and all around me, beautiful -trees were waving in the balmy breeze, their shining leaves glistening -in the sunlight. - -I stood up and looked behind me, but I saw nothing save lofty mountains -heavily wooded. - -I had no doubt but that I was on an island, indeed I could be nowhere -else, and I judged that it must be one of the most northern of the -Leeward group. - -Looking toward the sea, I saw only the broad expanse of deep blue water -stretching away to the horizon. There was no other land in sight. - -The sea had become calmer, but the influence of the storm was still -evidenced by the heavy surf which broke upon the narrow beach. There -was no wreckage of any kind, no sign of anything or anybody belonging to -the bark. - -At first the utter lonesomeness and hopelessness of my situation -depressed me; but it would not do to give way to gloomy thoughts. I was -entirely alone, and, so far as I knew, upon an uninhabited island. My -future was a sealed book. After a while I began to take a more hopeful -view of the situation, and the novelty of my surroundings, and the -strange things about me, aroused my curiosity. So I determined to -explore along the shore. - -The vegetation was very dense, and appeared to be interwoven with vines -of monstrous size. One kind of tree, very tall and with a heavy long -narrow leaf seemed to be the most abundant; and from the descriptions -which I had read, and by the clusters of oblong fruit at the bases of -the leaf-heads, I knew them to be cocoanut palms. - -"If I am really alone upon an uninhabited island," I thought, "at least -I shall not starve so long as I am able to obtain plenty of cocoanuts." - -Slowly I walked along the shore, my face being toward the east as I knew -from the direction of the sun. First I decided to go to the top of the -loftiest headland to see if I could obtain any trace of the bark, -although I felt sure that she had gone down, and that all but myself had -perished; still, the loneliness of my situation caused me to cling to -what I felt was but a vain hope, that some one beside myself had -survived. - -With thoughts confused, and laboring under varying emotions, I walked -slowly along, keeping on the sand except when I was obliged to turn -aside to avoid a kind of dagger-like plant whose leaves were armed with -cruel points. - -Reaching the headland I was obliged to go through a thicket where my -scanty clothing, as well as my hands, was torn by great thorns. However, -I reached the point of land, and climbing to the top of a high mound I -looked around. Before me, and to my right and left, there was nothing -but the blue, heaving ocean; and behind me, I saw nothing but a dense -forest, with lofty mountains in the distance. There was no sign of life -save brilliant plumaged birds flitting about, and bright colored -butterflies glancing in the sunshine. - -Surely I was alone; but whether on an uninhabited island or not, the -future alone would reveal. For the present it did not matter, and I -must certainly depend upon my own resources. - -I returned to the spot where I had been cast ashore, meanwhile revolving -in my mind my present condition. What gave me great anxiety just then -was my lack of clothing. I had on only my trousers, and shirt, shoes -and stockings; and these were all I possessed in the world, but I was -overjoyed to find that my knife was still in one of the pockets of my -trousers. It was a good one, large and having two blades. The large -blade was long and strong, and the possession of it might mean much to -me in the future. - -Reaching the place where I regained consciousness after being thrown -ashore by the waves. I began to think of finding a good place to build a -temporary shelter. This seemed to be as good a location as any, I -thought, as I looked around. It was in a sheltered cove, a clear, -grassy plat surrounded by trees. - -"Why not make my camp right here," I asked myself; and as I reflected it -seemed to be the only place where I should locate for the present, for -here I should be in a position to watch closely in the hope that some -vestige of the bark would yet be washed ashore; for I thought that, if -the vessel had foundered, something belonging to her would very likely -come ashore, and I felt sure that some parts of the boats, and perhaps -the bodies of some of my unfortunate companions would be almost sure to -drift in. - -It was, I judged, now near mid-day, and the heat of the sun upon my head -gave me some concern. I must devise some covering for my head. Looking -about with this object in view, I saw hanging from a small palm tree -what looked like coarse canvas. On examining it more closely, I found -that it was really a sort of natural cloth, about the color of hemp, and -composed of fibres that appeared to be very strong, crossing one another -like warp and filling, but not interwoven. Instead, the fibres were -closely stuck together so that a strong, pliant fabric was formed. - -With my knife I cut off a large piece which I twisted about in such a -manner as to form a conical cap. The edges I fastened together with -long, sharp thorns that I cut from some bushes near by. This, though -rude, would protect my head for the time being. - -Before proceeding to begin the construction of my place of abode, I felt -inclined to look about for some means of satisfying the hunger which I -now felt keenly, for I had eaten nothing since supper the night before -on board the ill-fated bark. - -The cocoanut trees suggested the most available source of supply for the -first meal in the strange surroundings in which I found myself; so going -to a cluster of the trees near by, meanwhile wondering how I would -manage to obtain the nuts fifty feet or more above my head, I was -greatly relieved to find plenty of them lying upon the ground. But the -nuts that I saw were not like those common in the markets at home. -Instead, they were oblong and many times larger. I soon discovered that -to get at the meat I must first cut away the outer husk or covering with -which it was enveloped; so I opened my knife and set to work. It was no -easy task, for the husk was thick and tough; but after much labor I -succeeded in removing it until I bared the round, hard shell of the nut, -when, with a large stone I was not long in cracking it, and laying bare -the white meat. With the nut in my hands I walked about among the trees -as I ate. So interested was I in the beautiful, brilliant-colored -flowers, some of which were of enormous size, and in numbers of little -green lizards that hopped about over the leaves of the smaller shrubs, -that I did not at once notice, as I came into a grassy, circular plat, -that the ground beneath a compact, shapely tree was plentifully -besprinkled with golden globes, and I was in a high state of elation -when I discovered that they were oranges. The tree itself was loaded -with green and yellow fruit. I peeled one of the largest, and found -that it was delicious and juicy, but of a rather different flavor from -those to which I had been accustomed. But here was at least both -refreshment and sustenance, so I was in no danger of starving, and I -made a hearty meal. - -Crossing the grassy plat where the orange tree grew, I descended a -gentle slope among the palm trees and soon came to a beautiful little -stream of clear water. Having still one of the halves of the cocoanut -shell in my hand, I used it as a cup and took a long draught of the -water, which, though rather warm, appeared to be pure and wholesome. - -The stream at this point was quite broad and very shallow, and though -but a few rods from the mouth it flowed quite swiftly. Along the banks -I noticed that a certain tall, reed-like plant grew in great profusion, -and, on closer examination I discovered it to be a kind of wild cane, -with large, feathery, chocolate-colored plumes. - -I followed the bank of the stream to the shore, and then returned to my -landing place, walking along the narrow beach. - -Hunger satisfied for the time-being, I set about making preparations for -constructing my dwelling. Although in no need of protection from cold -in this tropical climate, I remembered having read that it was not -advisable to be without shelter at night, so I decided that my first -task should be to construct a house, or a hut. - -I first chose a clear place a little in among the palms, perhaps a dozen -rods from the beach, and, as accurately as I could by pacing, I measured -off an area ten feet square. Each corner I marked by driving down a -short stick, and then went in search of four corner posts. After a -little searching I found some straight trees about three inches in -diameter, having smooth bark and with but few limbs, each tree forked -about seven feet from the ground. After an hour's hard work, I -succeeded in cutting down four of them with my knife; and after trimming -off the branches and cutting off the tops, leaving ample forks, I -dragged them to the site of lay dwelling. I next felled another pole -which was cut in halves, leaving the butt end about four feet long. -This I sharpened at the thickest end, and with it made holes about -eighteen inches deep at each corner of the square to be occupied by my -house. - -Into each of these holes I set one of the forked corner posts, wedging -it firmly with stones from the beach, driven solidly down all around it, -filling in each with earth which I trod down firmly. Four long poles -were now needed to rest one end in each of the upright forks, so as to -form a frame, and I started away again, this time toward the brook, -which I followed up stream. I had gone but a short distance when I came -to a place where the stream widened into a broad pool. The water here -was dark and apparently deep, and all around it, gracefully bending over -the still depths, I found growing tall plants having small, narrow green -leaves. The plants grew in clusters, and some of them were very tall, I -judged from twenty-five to forty feet. I hurried forward with a view to -ascertaining whether they would suit my purpose, when I immediately made -a discovery which at once solved the question of obtaining an ample -supply of material for building operations, both now and in the future; -for the tall, graceful plants proved to be bamboos. I knew them from the -descriptions I had read, and from the regular joints, just like those I -had seen on the bamboo fishing rods at home. - -I selected several of the bamboos, each being about two inches in -diameter, and although I found them to be very hard, I managed to cut -them down, and to trim off the branches and the tops. By making three -trips I dragged the bamboos to my building site. Laying them along one -side of the area to be occupied by the house, I found that they were -nearly twenty feet long. Four of them I cut off to the required length. -I then raised one on either side, one end of each pole resting in one of -the forks of the uprights. A pole was then laid across each of the -other sides, resting upon the poles supported by the forks, so that a -sort of scaffold was formed, which needed only to be covered over to be -complete. - -I had worked so busily and had become so much interested that I scarcely -noticed that the sun was already sinking behind the palm trees, and -casting long shadows across the beach; so, as I was aware that darkness -very quickly follows sunset in the tropics, I must make haste and -provide a temporary shelter for the night before suspending work. I -therefore cut the rest of the poles in halves and laid them across the -two longer poles resting in the forks, thus forming a gridiron-like -structure. With my knife I cut a large quantity of leafy branches from -the shrubs that grew near at hand, and then went to the brook for an -armful of wild canes. With this material I covered a portion of the -scaffold, making quite a good shelter between myself and the sky. - -As the sun sank lower and the shadows deepened, I felt a sense of -loneliness steal over me, for the idea of spending the night alone, I -knew not where, perhaps on an island, with the boundless ocean on one -side, and a deep, unknown forest on the other which might conceal fierce -wild animals, was not at all pleasing. But I must train myself to know -no fear, and the sooner I began to school myself to this end, the -better. - -Although I felt sure I should not sleep with nothing to protect me and -with no means of making a fire, I instinctively began to think of -providing some sort of couch; and again I took my knife and cut a -quantity of bushes which I piled in the form of a bed beneath the -scaffold. I next cut several armfuls of the tall grass which grew all -around and with it covered the couch of bushes. I now had an acceptable -bed, so constructed that one end which was to serve as the head, was -about a foot higher than the other. - -By the time I had finished it was quite dark; but I still stood leaning -against one of the corner uprights with my face turned toward the -forest, hesitating what to do next, and instinctively listening for some -new sound. There was no breeze stirring, and the sea lightly washed the -sand with a low murmur which tended to increase my feeling of -loneliness. Since sunset the air had become beautifully cool. For a -long time I stood motionless. - -The sounds of the night were about me; and once I started violently when -I thought I heard a twig crack. Then I heard, apparently only a little -distance away, a noise like a stone, thrown by some one, striking the -ground; but, after the startled feeling had partly left me I reasoned -that the noise was made by a ripened cocoanut falling from the tree. -The indistinct notes of many insects, new and strange, filled the air, -and one particularly noisy insect gave forth a sharp clipping sound like -that made by shears in the hands of a barber. Sometimes a note like -that of a bird varied the myriads of sounds. Feeling reassured, after a -time, I cautiously lay down upon my couch, but still listening. How -long I remained conscious I cannot say; but I must have been very weary -from the excitement of the ship-wreck, the hardship of being cast ashore -and the busy day's work. - - - - - *CHAPTER V.* - - _*Strange Surroundings; Building a House*_*.* - - -My next sensation was that of the sun shining in my face when I awoke in -the morning. At first, as I looked out from beneath my shelter I could -scarcely comprehend where I was or how I came there; but the events of -the day before soon returned to me. For a few minutes I lay still, -looking around upon my beautiful surroundings. What a perfect paradise -it was, and how overjoyed I should be were I here under different -circumstances. - -There was a gentle breeze stirring, just enough to move the feathery -leaves of the palms and to slightly bend the tall grass; and though I -could not see any of them, I heard birds giving forth discordant notes -in the forest around. - -But I must stir myself, for there was much to do. My house must be -finished, I must devise some articles for personal use, and the problem -of my future sustenance must be solved, for I could not long continue to -work and subsist entirely upon cocoanuts and oranges, although they -would answer well enough for the present. - -So I sprang up and going directly to the stream I bathed my face and -hands. Having no towel and seeing no substitute for one, I sat down and -dried myself in the sun. - -Cracking another cocoanut in the same manner as I did the day before and -gathering some oranges, I sat down with my back against the palm tree -and proceeded with my frugal breakfast. As I had neglected to provide -myself with a meal ere I retired the night before, I was very hungry and -my appetite was not satisfied until I had eaten nearly a dozen oranges, -beside the cocoanut. Using a half shell of the cocoanut as a cup, I -took a long drink of water from the stream and turned again toward my -embryo dwelling. - -I thought it best to construct the walls first in order to provide -against the possible attacks of wild animals, and knowing this to be the -first part of the dry season which, in the latitude in which I judged -myself to be, lasts from the middle of November until May, there was no -immediate necessity for providing shelter from rain. - -The necessity of devising some plan for keeping an accurate account of -each day as it passed, now occurred to me, and as I walked back to the -pool for another supply of bamboos, I revolved the question in my mind. -The record which I proposed to keep must be indestructible, and in some -compact, portable form so that I could easily take it with me in the -event of sudden departure from my habitation. One of the halves of the -cocoanut shells which caught my eye as I passed the spot where I had -partaken of breakfast, gave me an idea which I at once adopted. - -Then and there I put the plan into execution. It was this: I resolved to -use only the halves of the cocoanut shells that contained the natural -holes through which the shoots of the germinating nut emerge from the -shell. The meat was removed from the half shell, leaving the two holes -through it. - -At the close of each day, as near sunset as possible, I would cut a deep -notch in the edge of the shell, and each shell should have as many -notches as there were days in the month. On the completion of the month -I would carve with my knife the name of the month and year; and in this -way I hoped to preserve a correct record of the time. As each month was -finished I proposed to pass a cord through one of the holes; and for the -purpose I at once braided a strong cord from the fibres of the cocoanut -cloth from which I had constructed my head gear. - -I remembered, accurately the day of the wreck, and as I had been on -shore one day, I out the first notch, and engraved on the shell: -"December 18th, 18--." - -As I marked upon my calendar I wondered how many shells I should have -upon my string ere I was rescued from my lonely position. "Perhaps," I -thought, "I may never see any other place." But I resolved not to -harbor gloomy thoughts; and tying a large hard knot in one end of the -cord, I strung the shell upon it, inserting it from the outside. -Succeeding shells strung upon the cord would fit into one another like a -nest of bowls. Thus I would have a complete record, and a practically -imperishable one. - -As I knew the day of the week on which I had commenced my lone life, I -resolved, for each Sunday, to bore a hole instead of cutting a notch, -for I intended to observe the Sabbath by abstaining from work. - -Continuing my way to the pool, I set to work cutting bamboos. I -selected only those measuring about two inches in diameter, and before -the sun reached the zenith I had thirty of them cut and trimmed, ready -to drag to my house. - -I found it hot work, and I threw myself down to rest. For the first -time I caught sight of the birds that had been making such a babel of -discordant sounds all the morning. Several of them were flying about -near the opposite side of the pool, and I at once recognized them as -parrots. - -"What a consolation it would be," I thought, "if I could capture one and -teach it to talk. It certainly would prove far better than no -companion." - -Having landed the bamboos at the house, I set about cutting them into -lengths corresponding to the height of the corner posts. These I set -into the ground at regular intervals, in line with the posts, lashing -the upper ends to the horizontal poles resting in the forks, and to the -poles across the other two sides, using for the purpose a long, supple -vine which I found growing in plenty in the edge of the woods, twisting -around the trunks of the trees. - - - - - *CHAPTER VI.* - - _*The Stockade; A Crusoe's Life*_*.* - - -By the time I had finished setting the poles into the ground, thus -forming the enclosure of the house, my appetite began to assert itself; -and I was again reminded that I must search for food other than -cocoanuts and oranges. More substantial nourishment I must have if I was -to continue to work and retain my health and strength. But my extreme -anxiety to carry along the construction of my house sufficiently far to -afford a feeling of security at night, decided me to make a few more -meals of the oranges and nuts before suspending work long enough to -discover or develop resources. - -Again I went to the pool and cut two more bamboos, each twenty feet -long. I then cut them in halves, making four poles each ten feet long. -Carrying these to the house, I lashed one across the upright palings -midway between the upper pole and the ground, lashing them firmly to -each of the palings. This strengthened the structure, and shaking it -with all my strength I was gratified to find that, though naturally -elastic, it was firm and strong. - -As I now had a safe protection from any wild animal of moderate size and -strength, I felt that I should be secure at night. I was on an island -somewhere to the northeast of the Caribbean sea, in fact, I reasoned -that I could be nowhere else; and from this, together with what I had -read, I concluded that there could be no very large or ferocious wild -animals in the forests about me. - -I still had some time to work before sunset, and I therefore went to the -bank of the stream to cut a quantity of wild canes which I proposed to -weave in the form of basket work, between the palings, thus forming the -walls of my house. - -Cutting the canes was easy work, and by sunset I had a great pile of -them landed by the house. - -Again satisfying the cravings of hunger with oranges and cocoanuts, -washed down with water from the brook, I cut another notch in the -cocoanut-shell calendar, and after sitting and listening to the varied -insect sounds until it was quite dark, I retired, to my couch within the -inclosure. - -Lying upon my couch, until I fell asleep, I revolved in my mind various -plans for the future. The details for the construction of my house were -pretty well worked out in my mind; and the desirability of surrounding -my abode with some sort of a stockade occurred to me. I had little fear -of attacks from wild animals, but I presumed that the island was -inhabited in some part of it, by what sort of people I had not yet -considered. - -Indeed, it was extremely improbable that an island in this quarter of -the world could be totally uninhabited. Whether the islanders proved -friendly or otherwise, the idea of a stockade as a protection against -possible surprise met with my immediate approval. - -Another question of extreme importance to be considered was that of a -permanent food supply. Perhaps only cocoanuts and oranges abounded in -my near vicinity; at any rate, I resolved to carefully survey the -adjacent region for the purpose of ascertaining its resources. - -Then the question of providing clothing for myself must be considered, -for, at best, my present raiment would not long survive the rough usage -which it was now receiving, and to which it would hereafter be subjected -in the bush. I even thought it might be well to construct a suit from -the cocoanut-fibre cloth, and thus save my civilized clothes for the day -of my rescue. - -Many other things passed through my mind in rapid succession as I lay -upon my couch, among them the project of starting out upon a tour of -discovery in an endeavor to ascertain the extent of my domain, and if it -was inhabited in any part of it. - - - - - *CHAPTER VII.* - - _*A Cocoanut Calendar; Food Supply*_*.* - - -The notches in the cocoanut calendar grew in number as the days passed, -busy days of hard, incessant labor, and four months of my exile elapsed -ere the house was finished to my satisfaction and a substantial stockade -erected around it. The walls of my house were made of the wild canes -closely woven like basket-work. It had been done very carefully, and, -when completed, I had a perfect shelter, both from the sun and the wind. -The roof was made of the long grass, alternate with layers of bamboos; -and by using the larger bamboos in the centre of the roof, when by -successive layers it reached the proper thickness, I had a roof which -sloped steeply from the centre to each edge, which, carefully covered -with an outside layer of the long grass dressed from the top downward, -would perfectly shed the water during the rainy season. The thickness -of the roof rendered it impervious to wet, and, as I soon discovered, -almost a non-conductor of heat. - -I left no windows in the house, as I thought there would be sufficient -ventilation through the interstices of the cane-walls, but I constructed -a door three feet wide and five feet high, by lashing bamboos together -in the form of a gridiron, and then weaving in cane as I had done in -constructing the walls. For hinges I made use of vines twisted -together. - -The stockade surrounded the house at a distance of about six feet from -either side, and it cost me several weeks of steady work. I had first -to cut a great number of good-sized bamboos, which, with only my knife, -was very laborious work. I had frequently to sharpen the knife on a -piece of soft, porous rock which I found near the brook. - -Each bamboo was cut off to a length of ten feet, and sharpened at the -small, or upper end. These I set into the ground at intervals of one -foot, to a depth of two feet. Then, at a distance of one foot from the -top all around the enclosure, I lashed long bamboos, using the tough -vine which I found in abundance near the edge of the bush, winding it -around each upright bamboo, and around the horizontal poles. Between -the horizontal pole and the ground, I wove a close basketwork of the -vine. It was harder work weaving in this vine, as it was larger than the -canes; but it was very tough, and a wall composed of it closely woven -would prove a very effective defense. - -So I kept busily at work, day after day, cutting the vines, trimming off -the leaves, dragging them to the house and weaving them in around the -bamboo uprights, until I finally had a wall about me elastic but capable -of sustaining a great strain, the sharpened ends of the upright bamboos -forming an effectual safeguard against the walls being scaled from the -outside. - -After the woven-work of vines was thoroughly seasoned, which did not -take long, I cut round holes six inches in diameter, four on each side, -about five feet from the ground, in order that I might command a view in -all directions without leaving the enclosure. - -In the side facing the sea, I made a door, constructed in a manner -similar to that in the house; but, for the stockade door, I devised an -arrangement for securely barring it on the inside, by using two large -bamboos each two feet longer than the door was wide, held in place by -rings of the supple vine which I twisted about the two door-posts. - -These rings were made by first bending several inches of one end of the -vine in the form of a circle, and then winding the rest of the vine -around this ring. Through these the ends of the bars passing across the -door were placed, which, if anything, made the opening, when closed and -fastened inside, stronger than any other portion of the structure. - -During all this time I had lived solely upon cocoanuts and oranges, -varied with a few shellfish, somewhat resembling periwinkles, only -larger, that I found along the beach. These I ate raw, and found them -rather palatable but somewhat tough. However, as I continued in good -health and strength, I preferred to complete my house and stockade -before making a systematic attempt to provide other food. - -Nothing now remained to be done in connection with my dwelling, but to -carry into execution an idea which I had evolved while at work, that of -transplanting some creepers from the edge of the forest and training -them along the stockade, so that, as I calculated, in a short time, in -this tropical land of rapid growth, they would completely cover the -stockade, and render my retreat more safe from observation, should my -solitude be invaded. - -During all this time I had suspended work on Sundays, but I had occupied -the time in making short trips inland, and along the coast in either -direction; but finding the forest very dense as I left the shore, I -could not have gone more than four or five miles in any direction. My -trips along the shore were without results, so far as enlightenment -concerning the extent of the island was concerned, for every bend of the -coast revealed only headlands and more coast-line stretching away -beyond. - -The results of my wandering in the bush had troubled me not a little, -for I had found no new fruits and vegetables, and had discovered no -animals, or birds that I could bring myself to think edible. There were -only parrots and smaller birds, some of brilliant plumage; and even had -I chosen to eat them I had no means of securing the game. I was -somewhat surprised not to find more humming birds. I saw only one kind, -a large, black species, having two tiny golden feathers each about six -inches long at the sides of its tail. Of snakes, I had seen none, nor -land turtles. - -The sea-shore, too, seemed to be as devoid of food supplies, for I had -seen no sea turtle, though I knew that they should be plentiful in this -latitude. - -But I refrained from attempting a systematic exploration, feeling it -would be wise to first provide as secure a retreat as possible for my -permanent headquarters. - - - - - *CHAPTER VIII.* - - _*Thoughts of the Future; Making a Bow-Gun*_*.* - - -My house was now finished, and I began, with a light heart to think -about starting on a long exploring trip. Before taking my departure, -however, two questions of importance must be solved, if possible, -namely, that of devising a weapon with which I could shoot game, if any -was found; and some means of procuring fire. - -The morning following the completion of the house and stockade, as I was -walking toward the orange tree which continued to furnish me with an -ample supply of fruit, an idea came to me, and so astonished was I that -I had not thought of it before that I stopped short and gazed straight -ahead of me for several minutes. - -My knife! - -Here was steel; now for a flint, and fire would be procurable at any -moment. I understood the use of flint and steel, for many times, in our -boyhood, my brother and I, on our excursions in the woods, had made -fires with old gun-flints and our pocket-knives as steel, for cooking -grey squirrels when we were fortunate enough to shoot any. We did this -from choice, because of the novelty. - -Without further thought of breakfast I turned toward the shore to search -for a substitute for flint, for I did not expect to find the real -article here, as I had only seen soft, calcareous rock which appeared to -be the prevailing kind. - -A long search up and down the beach failed to disclose any hard rock, -not even a pebble of sufficient size. Shells were abundant, but they -would not answer the purpose. I next turned my attention to the brook, -and searched along the shallowest places for a hard stone. I found one -at last, round and flat, about the size of a silver dollar. It was very -dark, almost black, and appeared to be quite hard. Wiping it with my -hand I laid it down in the sun and waited impatiently for it to dry. -When perfectly free of moisture, I opened my knife, and holding the -blade firmly in my left hand, I struck the stone sharply against the -back of the blade, with a quick downward stroke. No spark appeared. -Over and over again I tried but without success, but I saw that the -stone scratched the steel, which gave me hope that the stone was -sufficiently hard. - -After several more trials, a tiny spark shot downward from the blade. -My joy knew no bounds. Tinder must be procured. Like a flash came to -my mind the feathery heads of the wild cane. If I could find one dry -enough I thought it would do. I at once ran up stream to where the -canes grew, and after a little search I found a plume that was dead and -quite dry. Bending the cane down I gathered a handful of the floss from -the head, and going to the foot of a cocoanut tree, I lay the cane floss -down by the foot of the tree and once more tried to produce a spark. I -was soon able to obtain a spark frequently, but they invariably failed -to reach the floss, or to ignite when they touched it. But I saw that I -had fire within reach, and it only required perseverance to procure it. -Holding the knife blade closer to the floss, I struck again. This time -a shower of tiny sparks descended to the floss, and, yes, it had caught! -Quickly dropping the knife and stone I partially covered it with my -hands and very gently blew upon it. A tiny wreath of smoke arose as the -fire spread through the wad of floss. Blowing upon it still harder, in -short quick puffs, a tiny flame leaped up; and quickly gathering such -dry leaves and grass as I could reach, I heaped them upon the flame. -These were followed by small dry sticks until I had a good fire going. -I now only needed something to cook, and that I proposed to search for. -But fire was desirable as company at night, and to ward off wild beasts -should any be found; also in the future I might wish to make signals by -the aid of smoke. - -Not wishing to injure my faithful friend the cocoanut tree, I allowed -the fire to go out, feeling full confidence in my ability to procure it -any time I wished. - -I now set about preparing for my journey of exploration, meanwhile -carefully watering, several times each day, the creepers that I had set -out along the walls of the stockade, until they showed no further signs -of wilting during the greatest heat of the day. The water I brought, -with much labor and many trips, from the brook, in cocoanut shells. - -It occurred to me to plant vines in front of the door of the stockade, -so that, should I be absent for a great length of time, they would grow -up over the door and still further obscure my retreat. Acting on this -idea, I searched about the bush for a vine less woody than those planted -along the stockade. At length, on the further side of the clearing, I -discovered a vine, not unlike a morning glory vine, only it had larger -leaves, climbing up a tall, smooth tree, and this seemed to answer my -purpose. So, getting down upon my knees I began to dig around the root -in order to move it without disturbing the earth immediately surrounding -it; when but a few inches below the top of the ground I came across a -round, hard object which I at first thought to be a large root of the -tree, but in digging still further around it I saw that the supposed -root moved, until finally I lifted it out of the ground. As I did so I -noticed that it had one end attached to the vine that I was after. The -root was fully a foot and a half long, and about five inches in -diameter, slightly rounded at the ends. I cut off the vine with my -knife, and ran with the root to the brook and washed it clean. I now -saw that I had found some kind of a tuber. With my knife I cut through -the thin rough skin, disclosing a white substance beneath. Quickly -cutting it in halves I found that the inside of the tuber was white and -starchy. I wondered what it could be. It was not a sweet potato, for -the latter is yellow. Then I began to think of the roots that I had -read about in books of travel in the tropics, and the first that came to -my mind was the yam. Yes, this must be the yam, though I did not know -before that its foliage was in the form of a vine. - -Here food was in plenty, healthful and nourishing, and sufficient to -sustain life even if I found no other, it being only necessary to roast -them in ashes. - -I resolved to plant yam vines in front of the gate to the stockade, for, -while the vines were growing up to conceal it, they would, in the -meantime be storing away food for me against my return. This plan I put -into immediate execution. - -My next thought was of devising a weapon for offence and defence, also -to be used in killing game. The idea of a bow and arrows at first -suggested itself, but this was abandoned for the bow-gun, for, as boys, -we were able to do good execution with the latter as it had a stock and -breech, admitting of securing better aim. - -Looking about for material from which to construct the bow-gun, the -bamboo seemed to be the most available for the barrel; so I cut down one -about two inches in diameter, from which I selected the longest and -straightest section between the joints. Next I cut a deep notch about -four inches from the larger end, and extending to the centre of the -bamboo. From the lower end of the notch I split away the upper half of -the tube, thus forming a spout about four feet long which was to carry -the arrow. For a breech I selected a forked stick, the butt of which I -carefully rounded and smoothed until it would fit tightly into the round -socket at the larger end of the barrel, above the notch. This, though -crude, furnished a very fair substitute for a breech to rest against my -shoulder when taking aim, particularly as I had thought to select a -forked stick which had the butt slightly bent so that, when fixed in the -breech-end of the barrel, the proper elevation was given. - -The next step was to make a bow and fix it firmly across the under side -of the barrel, at right angles to it, I searched about in the bush a -long time before I found a tree of the right size, straight and without -branches; and, on bending it down toward the ground and cutting it, I -found that it was elastic and quite hard. From the tree I cut a section -about three feet long, which I squared for a distance of two inches in -the middle, whittling what was to be the inner side down flat from -either side of the squared part to either end, each half tapering -slightly from the middle. I did not remove the bark from the back of -the bow. - -Next I cut a square slot about the width of the squared part in the -centre of the bow, in the under side of the bamboo about a foot from -what was to be the muzzle, being careful, however, not to cut through -into the groove of the barrel. Into this I carefully fitted the squared -portion of the bow, after which notches opening in opposite directions -were cut on the lower side of the barrel, one on each side of the bow. -With one of the supple vines I then lashed the bow firmly, drawing the -vine over the notches. When the vine was thoroughly dry the bow would be -held firmly and rigidly in place. - -The question of arrows was quickly solved, for I could think of nothing -that could serve the purpose better than the long smooth stem which -supported the heads of the wild canes These were of just the right size -and length. I cut several dozens of them, sharpening one end of each, -and notching the other to receive the string. To give sufficient weight -to the execution end of the arrow, I split a piece of the tough vine -into fine strips, with which I closely wound the arrows near the ends, -until the proper weight was secured to balance them during their flight -and thus render them accurate. For the wings of the arrows I used sprays -from the plumes of the wild cane, until I could find something more -suitable, fastening them to the string end with fibres from the ever -useful vine. - -It now only remained to provide a string for the bow, before the weapon -could be tested. Carefully separating the longest fibres of the cocoanut -cloth. I braided them into a strong cord of uniform size, which I -fastened to the bow. - -And now for the test! Drawing the string back to the notch, I placed -one of the arrows in the groove of the gun and, raising the gun to my -shoulder, I released the string with an upward pressure of my right -thumb, at the same time pointing the gun in the direction of the brook. - -As straight as a line could be drawn, the arrow sped away over the brook -and was lost in the thicket beyond. I felt confident of the success of -my bow-gun, and after constructing a quiver for the arrows from a piece -of the cocoanut cloth fastened together with thorns, and braiding a cord -with which to sling it over my shoulder, I turned my attention to the -final preparations for departure. - -These consisted of providing a store of provisions in case I did not -immediately find food on the way. I roasted several of the yams, and -gathered two dozen oranges which were stored in a bag made of the -cocoanut cloth. I did not include cocoanuts, for I was sure to find -plenty as I went along. - -I took the precaution to gather a quantity of the cane floss for tinder, -which I placed in a short piece of bamboo, which I stopped up tightly at -both ends with wooden plugs. This was to protect it from moisture in -case of rain. I also took the cocoanut calendar. - -The morning for departure arrived. Taking a farewell plunge in the -brook, I made a hearty breakfast of yams and oranges, after which, -closing the door of the stockade and fastening it with withes of the -vine, I slung the quiver of arrows and the bag of provisions over my -shoulder, took the bow-gun and started away along the shore, going in a -southerly direction. - - - - - *CHAPTER IX.* - - _*Starts to Explore the Island; Turtles' Eggs*_*.* - - -I followed the narrow line of sand, sometimes having to make a detour -inland to get around a rocky point of land which jutted out into the -water, or to avoid a dagger-like plant the spike-like leaves of which -were armed with spines as sharp as needles. This, I concluded, must be -the Spanish bayonet. - -The sun shone brightly, and the sea, deep blue and calm, stretched away -toward the west, the long, gentle swells causing but a ripple on the -beach. As I progressed, the island along the shore became less -attractive than it was in the near vicinity of my house; and in some -places it had a parched appearance. Once I was obliged to cross a flat -area of several acres in extent, bounded by a high bluff, where I had to -make my way cautiously among cactus plants of various kinds; some low -and spreading over the ground and bearing beautiful, yellow, wax-like -blossoms, and others a great size, like trees denuded of the smaller -branches and twigs. - -The sun had reached the zenith when I came to a small stream and sat -down beneath a wide-spreading tree to rest, and to refresh myself from -the provisions that I carried. As I ate I gazed up among the branches -of the great tree, whose broad leaves furnished such a grateful shade, -when I saw that it bore fruit, round and green, five or six inches in -diameter. This I believed to be bread-fruit, from the pictures I had -seen, and I resolved to carry two or three along with me, only obtaining -them by climbing the tree. - -Although I did not intend to travel steadily in the heat of the day -during my march, I felt anxious to make a good beginning on the first -day out, so after getting cool and feeling well rested, I went on. - -As I crossed the brook, scores of small brown crabs scudded away along -the bank. They were the first I had seen during my sojourn on the -island. Spiders, I had seen many of, some of great size with hairy -bodies and long legs; but as they showed no ferocity, I had no fear of -them. Indeed on account of their great size I did not believe them to -be poisonous. As a rule, the natural histories said, poisonous spiders -of the tropics are not of great size, and most of them have short legs. - -Having made a long detour around a swampy place which extended to the -sea, I came out of the bush upon a wide beach shaped like a semi-circle, -or half-moon; and as I did so my attention was attracted to several -large, glossy, blackish objects scattered over the beach. I approached -one, and found it to be a monstrous turtle. There must have been -hundreds of them, and, one by one, as I moved about, they started away -toward the water. Some of them were very large, and must have weighed -three or four hundred pounds. Had I been so disposed I had no means of -dispatching one for food, but I felt sure that the turtles had been -depositing their eggs in the sand, and I could easily roast the eggs in -the fire, which would form a very acceptable adjunct to my larder. - -Accordingly, digging into the sand where the turtles had been lying, I -found plenty of round white eggs, a quantity of which I gathered to add -to my stores. - -It was now near the end of the afternoon, as I observed by the sun, and -I decided to select a place to camp for the night. I selected a spot -near a thicket of thorn bushes, which would form an effectual protection -to the rear, and then began collecting dry branches for a fire. The sun -was low in the sky, and the heat was greatly moderated, and, by the time -I had collected a large pile of fire wood, a sea breeze sprang up, -taking the place of the land breeze of the day, making it cool and -comfortable. - -I had no difficulty this time in starting a fire, and as soon as it had -burned down sufficiently I buried a yam and some of the turtles' eggs in -the ashes, and, while they were cooking I occupied the time cutting away -a part of the smaller thorn bushes, making a cleared place in which I -could sleep during the night, the thicket over me furnishing protection -from the dampness of the air. - -By the time this was accomplished, and a cocoanut shell of water was -brought from the brook, I judged that the yam and eggs were sufficiently -cooked, which they proved to be when I uncovered them, and I at once -proceeded to eat my evening meal. The eggs proved to be of good flavor, -but wanted salt. This reminded me that I must provide a supply of salt, -which I could do by evaporating some sea-water as soon as I had the -opportunity. - -It was now past sunset and rapidly growing dark; so I replenished the -pile of firewood, and piling a quantity of it upon the fire, I lay down -with a bunch of grass for a pillow, and in a short time fell asleep. - - - - - *CHAPTER X.* - - _*Under the Coils of a Snake*_*.* - - -When I awoke in the morning it was with a peculiar sense of oppression. -In the first drowsiness I thought there was a great weight across my -chest; and my arms were aching. I tried to move, but found that I could -not lift my arms. They seemed to be pressed closely to my aides. -Thoroughly awake now, I was terrified to find that I was lying beneath -the folds of an enormous snake. - -Frightened as I was beyond all expression, I maintained sufficient -presence of mind to keep perfectly quiet until I could more fully -realize my true situation--and, above all, locate the position of the -great reptile's head. - -As I gazed at the great scaly coils that enveloped me, I saw that the -snake was of a pale yellow color. It was perfectly motionless. By -tracing the taper of its body I saw that the head must be somewhere near -my right shoulder. - -I was in a great quandary what to do. Although still anxious for -results, I was now quite calm, and my mind was full of plans for -escaping from the terrible coils. I dared not move for fear that the -snake would strike me with its fangs, or that it might encircle my body -and squeeze me to death. Some snakes, like the boa-constrictor, kill -their victims by this method; and while I felt sure that this snake was -not a boa, on account of its color, I felt that it had the strength to -crush me to death. - -For a long time I lay in this position, how long I could not tell; but -the sun had grown intensely hot as it beat down upon the thicket. I -heard the cries of the birds, and looked up at the blue sky with the -fleecy clouds floating across it, wondering whether it was to be my fate -to die here in the folds of a huge serpent. I wondered too, if bye and -bye my bones, bleached white, would be found in the thicket on the shore -of this lonely island. - -I was gasping for breath on account of the heat, my cramped position and -the weight of the serpent's folds across my chest, when I felt it move a -little. I wondered if it was preparing to strike me. I did not move, -and in a moment it began to move again, and the coils slipped across my -body. Slowly it continued to move, until my arms were free and its tail -swept across my face. - -I was now free, but I waited a few seconds to see if the snake was -leaving me. Distinctly hearing it gliding from me, I arose quietly, -feeling stiff and sore in my arms and chest. The snake was not in sight, -but seeing the grass moving a little distance away, seizing a large -stone I sprang after it, but it escaped into the bush. - -I reasoned that the snake must have crawled under the thorn bushes after -I lay down, and that it coiled upon my body for warmth, as the nights -were frequently uncomfortably cool; and so soundly had I slept that its -movements had not awakened me. - -After this unpleasant adventure I felt anxious to be moving, and, making -a fire, cooked some eggs which, with oranges from the stores, comprised -my breakfast; after which I gathered a few more turtles' eggs, and -resumed my march. - -As I had done the day before I followed the coast, but instead of -keeping along the sand I followed the edge of the forest, thinking it -might prove more advantageous to do so as it would enable me to keep a -look-out for game, and perhaps discover new fruits. My progress was -necessarily much slower, but the walking was easier as the trees -shielded me from the direct heat of the sun, which, on the beach was -terrific, the white sand producing a fearful glare which caused no -little pain in my eyes. - -As I proceeded, the country became more open, and I frequently crossed -quite large treeless tracts of tall grass, or stretches which, had it -not been for the tropical vegetation surrounding might have been taken -for New England pasture land. - -One morning, just after resuming my march as I was crossing one of the -latter grass tracts, a bird different from any I had before seen arose -from the ground and flew into the thicket on the opposite side. Its -color was light drab, and the wings and under tail feathers were white. -I approached the edge of the bush cautiously, meantime, drawing back the -string of my bow-gun and fixing an arrow in place. Laying aside the bag -of provisions I crept softly along, until a sharp "coo-o-o" drew my -attention to the branches of a tree, where I saw the bird stepping -gingerly along one of the larger limbs. Apparently it had not seen me, -so, carefully moving to one side until I had a low bush between me and -the game, I worked up a little nearer in order to make sure of being -within range of the arrow. Then, rising quietly to one knee, I took -careful aim and released the string. The sharp "twang," much to my -surprise was instantly followed by a flutter as the bird came tumbling -to the ground. I hastened forward and picked it up. The arrow had -passed entirely through the neck, so that it was quite dead in a few -moments. I saw that it was a species of wild pigeon, and therefore -edible; and I congratulated myself on securing such an acceptable change -in my fare. - -I saw no more pigeons after that, but during the succeeding days I found -several orange trees from which I replenished my supply of this -refreshing fruit. - -I continued steadily on, making no important discoveries, following the -edge of the brush, but always keeping the sea in sight. Almost every -day I went to the beach to look for turtles' eggs, which I usually found -in abundance. - -The coast continued to loom up before me, head-land after head-land, -stretches of beach and rocky bay shores. Allowing for the indentations -of the coast that I followed, I concluded that the island was a large -one; and, the fact that I was gradually turning toward the direction of -the sun convinced me that its shape was nearly round. - -I always camped just before sunset that I might have sufficient time to -make a fire, cook and eat supper before dark. - -I had not kept a fire after supper was cooked, as, having neither seen -nor heard anything of wild animals of any kind, I did not feel the need -of it; and, beside, I was becoming accustomed to being alone, and to -sleeping in the open air, and the nervousness of the first few nights -after I was cast ashore had entirely left me. - -At the end of the sixth day I had, in my journey, turned around so that -the direction which I followed was a little more than right angles to -that taken where I left my house. In other words, instead of going -nearly south, my course was now nearly southeast. - -At the end of the seventh day I came to a large stream which was too -wide and deep to ford. The next day being Sunday I resolved to pitch -camp and remain there until Monday. Meanwhile I would decide whether to -devise some means of fording the stream, or follow up its course. - -Although I had not, as yet, done any work on Sunday, I decided that it -would be no great violation of the day to try to evaporate a little sea -water, while I was in camp, and thus procure a little salt, which I was -craving. - -That night before going to sleep, I revolved several schemes in my mind, -and, ere I fell asleep, I believed I had solved the question of making -salt. - - - - - *CHAPTER XI.* - - _*The Cave on the Mountain; A Beacon; Attacked by Wild Pigs*_*.* - - -After breakfast the following morning, I cut a large quantity of fine, -long grass, which I proceeded to make into large bunches, all I could -hold in my hands, tieing them with wisps of the grass itself. Then I -cut two forked stakes and set them into the ground about ten feet apart. -Going a few rods up the bank of the stream where I saw some bamboos -growing, I cut one, and trimming it, carried it to the camp, and placed -it, one end in each of the forks of the stakes. - -Taking the grass I went to the edge of the beach and thoroughly -saturated it in the salt water after which I carried it to the camp, and -parting each bunch in the middle, I hung them over the pole. - -The idea proved highly successful, for the hot sun evaporated the water -very quickly, leaving particles of salt clinging to the grass throughout -each bunch. - -I then gathered a quantity of broad leaves which I laid on the ground so -that their edges over-lapped, and by gently shaking the bunches of grass -the salt fell upon the leaves in a fine white shower. - -I repeated the process several times until I must have had fully half a -pound of salt. - -Preparing a short piece of bamboo by plugging one end as I had done in -making the box for the tinder, I carefully gathered up the salt and -poured it into the bamboo, enough to last a long time. - -I had determined to go no further along the coast, but to follow the -course of the stream to its source which I judged must be among the -mountains which seemed to extend across the northeast corner of the -island. This I wished to do along the opposite bank, but, as I could -not cross the stream at this point, I decided to follow the bank on -which I now was, rather than take the time necessary to construct a -raft. - -If I followed the stream to its source I should reach the mountains, and -besides, have gained a fair idea of the island in all but the extreme -south-eastern part. From the tops of some of the mountains, I believed -that I could gain a very good view of the small portion untraversed, or -rather not encircled by my route, which could not be very great. If the -island was inhabited anywhere in that direction, I believed I should see -some signs from the tops of the mountains. - -I really had no faith that the island was inhabited, for, being -comparatively small, if there were people there I must have met some -signs, ere this, to indicate it. - -I had another object in wishing to reach the mountains, which was to see -if any land was in sight to the south, east and southeast. One thing I -was perfectly sure of, that this island was near the Virgin group, -perhaps a little north of those islands, if not even one of them; so -that, if people did not regularly inhabit it, there must be islands not -far away that were inhabited, and people must, therefore, occasionally -visit my island. - -I felt, moreover, anxious to reach the mountains as quickly as possible, -because, as I had calculated from my limited knowledge of the climate, -the rainy season must soon set in, which would make travel unpleasant, -if not difficult or impossible. And besides, I wished to be away from -the lowlands of the coast during heavy rains, as I knew it could not be -so healthful as the mountains. - -So, getting my effects together, I set out, following the course of the -stream. - -For the first few miles the stream flowed across a flat country, which -became rocky the further I went, and the stream became more rapid in its -flow. - -Several pretty cascades were passed and, in places, I was obliged to do -some sharp scrambling over rocks that were overgrown with creeping -vines, among which convolvuli were conspicuous. - -For four days I continued to ascend the stream, until lofty hills began -to rise on either side abruptly from the banks; which indicated that I -was getting very near the mountains. - -The sides of the foot-hills were heavily wooded, but, as I left them and -entered the mountains, gradually ascending to a higher altitude, the -vegetation grew less dense and changed in its general appearance. - -The stream was now little more than a small rushing mountain torrent, -foaming over the rocks. At the end of the fifth day, just before -sunset, I reached the source of the stream, for coming suddenly to a -wall of rock above which the mountain rose precipitously, I beheld the -brook bubbling forth from the bowels of the mountains. I decided to -camp here for the night, and proceeded about my usual preparations for -getting supper. I had no yams, but plenty of oranges; but presently I -saw some yam vines growing a short distance away, and it was the work of -a few minutes only to procure enough for supper and breakfast. - -When I awoke in the morning the sky was partially overcast. As I had -calculated, the rainy season was undoubtedly about to set in, and I -resolved to hasten to the top of one of the mountains as quickly as -possible, as I felt that, upon the outlook from the highest elevation -depended my plans for a considerable time in the future. - -So, hastily preparing and eating my morning meal, I climbed to the top -of the rock which rose above my camping place, and saw that the highest -mountain was not more than five miles away. I set out at once. The way -was not difficult except where it led across a deep ravine at the foot -of the mountain, where the undergrowth and creepers formed a dense -tangle; but once through this, I found the way almost clear of low bush. -I now began a steep climb. As I ascended, the cocoanut trees became -less plentiful, and their places were taken by other species of palm, -great ferns as large as trees, and giant cacti. - -As nearly as I could tell, with the sun partly obscured by clouds, it -was near mid-day when I came upon a broad table-land of grass, dotted -here and there with groves of trees. Beyond, rose the last peak. -Fearing rain, I pushed forward, resolving to reach the top before dark, -and camp, so as to be ready to take observations early the next morning. - -It was quite dark when I came to the summit. I could see nothing, of -course, until daylight, and I searched about for a place to camp. There -was a strong breeze blowing and the air was quite cool, so I found -shelter behind a great boulder and prepared to spend the night. I still -had a few yams with me, and three turtles' eggs, and these I cooked and -ate. I then proceeded to make myself as comfortable as possible by -lying close to the rock, and, having nothing else to do, I went to -sleep, the long climb having wearied me. - -Once or twice during the night I awoke feeling very chilly, and I was -not sorry when the first faint gleam of dawn appeared. - -The sun rose clear, but, to the south-east, fleecy clouds were scudding -along toward the land. In all directions, however, the line of the -horizon was distinctly visible, and the peak commanded a view of the sea -at all points of the compass, and of the whole island. - -I scanned the line of sea and sky all around, but saw nothing that -looked like land. A little to the south-east there was a faint, -serrated line against the sky, but I concluded that it was only a cloud. - -As I stood scanning the great rim of the ocean, there came to me a -strong feeling that I would like to establish a beacon on the summit, -one, if possible, which could be seen from a ship several miles at sea; -and the more I thought of this project the more strongly was I convinced -that it would be a wise thing to do; for, in the event of a ship's -passing on this side of the island, a prominent structure on the -mountain might attract attention and lead to my rescue. I thought it all -over as I retraced my steps to the boulder, and resolved to look about -for a suitable place to make a substantial shelter while engaged in the -work. I deemed it advisable to go further down the mountain where the -vegetation was more plentiful, and where I might find fruits, and -possibly game--though game did not seem to be plentiful, but brilliant -plumaged birds were numerous. - -In the edge of the bush between the table land and the mountain peak, I -discovered a small grove of about a dozen orange trees, and here I at -first thought that I would make my camp; but a little further to the -south I saw a great rock, which appeared to over-hang several feet; and -the idea at once struck me that it might be wise to encamp beneath its -shelter. - -So, turning in that direction I was not long in reaching the rock. It -was at the base of a spur of the mountain; and the top not only overhung -the base considerably, but, there was a sort of natural excavation which -formed quite a large cave, open on three sides, it was true; but here I -saw great possibilities in establishing my camp while erecting the -beacon. Besides, I fully expected the rainy season to set in almost any -day, and should I have to stay here for several months, the rock would -afford me the best of shelter. - -So, having decided to make this the base of operations for the present, -I took my bow-gun and set out to forage for supplies, of which I stood -in immediate need. - -I went down among the trees in the intervale between the two mountains. -The vegetation was very luxuriant, but not so dense as in portions of -the lowlands across which I had marched. I had noted that the cocoanut -palms were less plentiful here, and that there were several other kinds -of palms that I had not seen before. One of these had a trunk covered -with great sharp spines, and from the grapelike cluster of fruit at the -top I knew it must be an oil palm; but I saw only a few of these. -Another had a bottle-shaped head of vivid green just below the leaves, -which I at once recognized as the "mountain cabbage," or cabbage palm. -These were very plentiful. - -Skirting the edge of the bush, a short distance to the north, I turned -to penetrate further toward the valley, when suddenly, as I took a step -forward, I felt myself sinking downward. I threw down my gun and tried -to save myself by clutching the creepers; but I continued to sink into a -mass of vines. I was considerably frightened, and wondered, for a brief -moment, if I had fallen into the opening to a cavern; but suddenly my -feet touched solid earth, and I found myself standing beside what -appeared to be an old wall--about the height of my shoulder. Pushing -aside the creepers I saw that it was really a wall, built of large -stones and some kind of mortar. I was so astonished at the discovery -that I could scarcely collect my thoughts. Looking around, I was still -more perplexed, for only a few feet away there was a rectangular -enclosure which looked like the ruined foundations of a house. I found -that the wall extended for perhaps fifty feet in each direction, the -opposite side being flush with the rising ground above. An examination -of the rectangular enclosure showed unmistakably that it was a portion -of the foundation of a house. - -What could this mean? It could mean but one thing; that people had -lived here. But when, I could form no opinion; but from the appearance -of the masonry it must have been many years before. The ruins, as well -as the wall, were thickly overgrown with creepers and other vegetation. - -Still further signs of the former presence of man now attracted my -attention. A great plant, like an immense lily, with broad leaves six -or seven feet long was growing near by at the edge of the small clear -area surrounding the ruins; and, on going nearer to examine it I quickly -recognized it from the great bunch of elongated fruit which hung from -the crown of leaves. - -Banana trees! - -And there were many of them scattered around. Here was a never-ending -supply of food, of the most nourishing kind. I walked around to the -south side of the clearing, where I found other trees, much resembling, -in general appearance, the banana trees; but the fruit was much larger, -and curved like a scimitar. - -My reading of books of tropical travel stood me in good stead as it -aided me in recognizing trees and fruits that proved of great use to me. -This latter, I knew to be the plantain. A still further search revealed -yams, and several clusters of canes, much larger than the largest -cornstalks that I had ever seen. - -Here was another valuable discovery--sugar cane! Taking out my knife I -cut one of the canes, and was delighted to see that it was full of -limpid juice. I tasted it and found it very sweet and very refreshing. -I sucked several joints of the sugar cane dry, and then turned to gather -some of the bananas. The bunches were rather small, but several -appeared to be quite ripe. I also dug some of the yams, and with a -sugar cane under one arm, my bow-gun under the other, the yams and -bananas in my hands, I started back to the camp. I could not climb the -wall, loaded as I was, so I set about to go around the end nearest to my -cave-dwelling; when I saw a pigeon, like one I had shot near the coast, -fly up and alight on the wall. As quickly as I could I laid down my -load, and, adjusting an arrow in the bow-gun, took careful aim and -released the string. Again my aim was true, for the arrow pierced the -neck close to the body. It must have been killed almost instantly, for -it quickly ceased fluttering. - -With this addition to my forage, I proceeded slowly to the camp. With -food for two days at least, I now began to form plans for making the -"cave," as I chose to call it, habitable. I proposed to close the two -ends and a portion of the front, by setting bamboo, which I had seen -growing plentifully in the valley below, into the ground, and weaving in -vines. I only intended to make a temporary shelter against the wind, -and had no idea of spending the time and labor that I had on my house on -the coast. - -It was slow work cutting the bamboos and dragging them up to the cave, -and this occupied me several days. These had to be cut into the proper -lengths, and set into the ground, so that the upper ends would come -firmly up against the overhanging rock. As I worked, my plans for the -future matured, so that I foresaw an extended sojourn here. The -ultimate outcome was, that the inclosing walls of the cave were, when -finished, fully as substantial as those of my house at "Sargent" Bay, as -I had resolved to call the place where I had drifted ashore, in honor of -my late benefactor. The paling of bamboos was closely interwoven with -vines, and I constructed a door for the front. I now had not only a -comfortable but a substantial dwelling, which would afford protection -from the wind and rain, no matter from which direction they came. - -About every other day I went to the old ruins to procure bananas and -yams; and, on these trips, I shot several pigeons which proved to be -very delicate and tender. I often roasted yams, and found them to be -very hearty food; and became very fond of them. - -Frequently, of late, there had been showers of rain, which proved to me -that the rainy season had set in. I made frequent trips to the top of -the mountain, and, each time, I saw that the peculiar serrated line -against the sky, which I at first thought must be a cloud, had remained -stationary. This convinced me that it was land, and as it was evidently -the top of a mountain range, it must be a great distance away. - -I speculated as to what land it would be. If my suppositions were -correct as to the position of the island on which I was exiled, from the -direction it might be one of the Virgin Islands. If so, the Leeward -Islands lay beyond, further to the east and south-east. - -My mind was now filled with the project of erecting a substantial -beacon, one which would be seen from some distance at sea. Gradually I -evolved plans for the structure. The first step was to cut the tallest -and largest bamboo which I felt capable of dragging to the peak. I -found one that suited me. It was a long tedious task to cut it down -with my knife, but it was finally accomplished, and I dragged it to the -front of the cave. - -It was my intention to devise a headpiece to fasten securely to the top -of the bamboo in order to render it as conspicuous as possible. This -would have to be done before the bamboo was raised and set into the -ground. - -The daily showers became more frequent and more severe, and some days -the rain would sweep across the mountain in perfect torrents. -Nevertheless, I succeeded in cutting several more bamboos, of smaller -size, and I also brought several bunches of bananas and plantains, and a -quantity of yams up to the cave. - -I now set to work to complete the beacon. Cutting the bamboos to the -required lengths, I lashed them together in such a manner as to form a -sort of gridiron, eight feet long and six feet wide. This I filled in -with a basket-work of vines, woven very loosely that the wind might -easily pass through it, to prevent its being blown down when raised to -the top of the pole. - -At length the beacon was finished, the gridiron being firmly lashed to -the upper end of the bamboo; and I had been on the mountain seven weeks. -The rainy season was well under way; but I worked during the intervals -when it ceased to rain, and, by means of a sharpened stick, aided by my -knife, I dug a hole fully four feet deep, on the highest part of the -mountain. I found it difficult work to raise the bamboo with the -gridiron at the top, and plant its base in the hole, but, after many -trials, I succeeded, after which I wedged it firmly with stones and -earth solidly packed. - -It would be useless to attempt to leave camp while the rain continued, -and I had fully reconciled myself to remain until the close of the rainy -season; and I hoped that I could find enough to do to occupy the time. -I was obliged to go frequently in quest of food, and I set about -preparing a brief account of the circumstances of my exile in the -island, the date of the wreck and the date of the raising of the beacon; -also, explicit directions for finding "Sargent" Bay, where my house -stood. This was carved in deep letters around the smooth surface of a -large section of bamboo, like a Chinese prayer cylinder. This was -fastened to the bamboo signal pole, a few feet from the ground, to guide -anyone who might chance to notice the beacon and investigate its -meaning, to my rescue. - -I made a coat and kilt reaching to the knees, from cocoanut cloth. The -coat was without sleeves, but it would save my only shirt, and the kilt -would prove a great protection to my trousers, which were already -showing signs of hard usage. These garments were sewn together with -fibres of vines, a long, sharp thorn being used as a needle. I also -made a new hat, of more skillful workmanship than the first, which I had -worn until the present time. - -Twice, each day, I went up to the beacon to scan the horizon. I saw no -vessels, but the distant, faint outline of mountains remained in sight. -This position commanded a view of the entire island, and I studied it -with interest. It was nearly circular in shape, and I calculated that -it was not over forty miles in diameter. I had thought seriously of -descending to the eastern slope of the mountains, and exploring the -small portion which had not come, thus far, within my projected route. -This belt of country, between the foot of the mountains and the sea, -seemed, from my elevated position, to be very flat, and more sparsely -wooded than the other side of the mountain; but the question of its -being inhabited was settled by the torrents of rain, for, for miles to -the east and south-east the country was under water. - -The rain had apparently been the heaviest on the east side of the -island, for none of the west side was inundated, as far as I could -discern; but the stream, along whose banks I had marched from the coast, -was swollen to the size of a great river. - -After I had made the clothing, I searched the edge of the bush until I -found some wild canes, growing by a swampy place, from which I made a -supply of arrows. Frequently I shot a pigeon, the birds apparently -being driven into the open by the rain. One day when I went to procure -a fresh supply of bananas, as I extended one hand to cut off a bunch, I -sprang back and quickly retired several rods. The cause of my -precipitate flight was nothing more nor less than a great yellow snake, -exactly like my unwelcome companion on the coast. It was coiled among -the leaf stems of the banana tree. I did not disturb it, not feeling -particularly curious as to its disposition under the present -circumstances; and the next time I came it was gone. I named it the -"banana snake," in commemoration of the latter incident, and because of -its color, which was nearly that of a ripe banana. - -The nights, at this elevation, and during the rain, were cold, but the -cave was quite comfortable, and I built a small fire just inside the -door each night, to drive out the dampness; having, from time to time -before the rain became too constant, filled all the available space in -the cave with dry wood, only reserving enough room to lie down to sleep. - -The weeks passed, rather tediously after I could think of but little to -do, but the rain was not so steady and, almost every day, there were -several hours when it entirely ceased to fall. There being only short -grass around the top of the mountain, I utilized these intervals of the -cessation of rain by exploring the mountain to the line of the bush, all -around. There was nothing but rocks, with occasionally a few small -shrubs. But one day I made an interesting discovery. Nearly down to -the line of the bush on the opposite side from my camp, I came across a -similar over-hanging rock; but on going under it, I perceived a large -crevice, which, on close examination, I found extended into the mountain -for some distance. I had my tinder and flint with me and, gathering a -few dry leaves and sticks that lay around near the opening, I made a -fire at the entrance. By its light I could see that I had found the -entrance to a cavern, but I could see only a few feet from the mouth. -The walls were dark and the top of the cavern was not more than four -feet from the floor. I determined to still further explore it with a -torch. - -For a week I did not again go near the cavern, but made daily trips to -the beacon for the purpose of taking observations, but all the time I -was trying to invent a torch. Nothing suitable for the purpose, which -would burn for any length of time, suggested itself to me, until, one -morning, while at the ruins for yams and fruit, I saw some ripe -cocoanuts on the ground. - -"Why not use the oily kernel of the nut?" - -I at once proceeded to act upon this suggestion. Taking a couple of nuts -to the camp, I split them in halves, fastening one into a split stick, -making a sort of ladle. Hastening to the cavern on the other side of -the mountain, I made a little fire at the end of the stick, and had the -satisfaction of soon seeing the oily meat of the nut blaze up in a -steady, yellowish flame. Watching it for a moment, I saw that the meat -charred very slowly, while the oil was tried out by the heat to feed the -flame. - -Taking the torch and the spare nuts with which to replenish the torch, I -entered the mouth of the cavern. I was both surprised and disappointed, -for it was neither beautiful nor grand. The roof was low, and the walls -were dirty and grimy. The cavern was not more than six feet wide and -four feet high, and I was obliged to stoop as I moved along. The cave -took me straight into the mountain for a few rods, when I came to what -appeared at first to be the end; but I soon discovered a small opening a -little to my right, through which, after hesitating a little, I crawled -on my hands and knees. I went but a few feet before I emerged into a -chamber of considerable size, where I could stand erect; and here I was -greeted by a cloud of bats that flitted about as though bewildered by -the light, their wings making a curious, uncanny fluttering sound. I -could see the roof plainly, and clinging to it, with their heads -downward, were thousands of bats. There were, depending from the -ceiling, a few small stalactites, but they were dark and grimy. I -examined the floor of the cavern, which revealed to me its true nature. -I was in a guano cave, the floor of which was thickly covered with the -guano of the bats, the accumulation of centuries, probably. - -"What a fortune there is here," I thought, "if all this guano could be -cheaply conveyed to the coast and loaded into vessels." - -Although the air in the cave seemed to be pure, it was not a pleasant -place, and most unattractive; so, after discovering a small passage, -like the one I had just crawled through, leading further into the -mountain, I retreated toward the entrance and was soon in daylight, -feeling no desire to further explore a cavern devoid of all the beauties -usually attributed to such natural phenomena. - -The days dragged now, as I waited for the weather to clear, with nothing -to break the monotony but occasional trips to the ruins for yams, -oranges, plantains, bananas and sugar cane; and sometimes I would stalk -pigeons, when my bow-gun proved very effective, especially as I every -day became more skillful in using it, while the birds suffered in -consequence. - -Several times each day I went to the beacon to scan the horizon; but I -saw no sign of a vessel. I reasoned that my island must be out of the -regular track of vessels going to the Windward or Leeward Islands, as I -knew it to be, of ships bound to the South American coast, Central -America or any of the large West India Islands. But the far distant -mountains still showed plainly against the horizon. - -While gazing away toward the east one day, the idea came to me to try to -construct a boat, on my return to my house on the coast, in which to -attempt to reach the distant land. I was not skilled in sailing a boat, -but I reasoned that, with a fairly staunch and steady craft, provided -with some sort of a sail, I might, when a long period of fair weather -was promised, escape to the land which I dimly saw to the eastward. This -plan occupied my mind continually for days, and, so seriously did I -begin to consider it, that I became extremely impatient to start away -for the coast. - -Three weeks more of weary waiting, and the rain ceased to fall steadily, -and then the sun began to break through the clouds at intervals, but the -showers were still frequent. From the beacon I could see that the -floods in the lowlands to the east were subsiding, and that the river -along which I had traveled from the coast, was assuming its normal -proportions. - -Gradually the clouds dispersed, and whole days of bright sunshine -followed. The rainy season was drawing to a close. A few days of clear -weather would dry the ground and the bush so I would be able to set out -for the coast. - -I felt a pang of regret at the thought of leaving my home under the -cliff; but then, perhaps I might come back. I could not tell. Perhaps -I should have to give up the idea of building the boat, and then it -might be years before I was rescued. I might, indeed, spend my entire -life here alone; but this thought I put away from me. - -My preparations for leaving the mountain were easily made. I left the -house under the cliff exactly as it was, save the closing, securely, of -the door; and one morning as the sun came up out of the sea, and the -lovely island verdure lit up with a gorgeous blending of green, purple -and gold, I took a farewell look all around the horizon from the peak, -and, with my gun, arrows and bag of provisions, dressed in the rudely -made cocoanut-cloth garments, I started down the mountain, taking, as -nearly as I could, a northeast course toward the coast. - -The ground was yet sufficiently damp to render it pleasantly springy and -cool to my feet, and the freshness of the verdure of the forest and bush -which I traversed imparted to the air a pleasant coolness, even though -the sun shone fierce and hot. Birds were flitting like iridescent gems -through the trees, and tittering curious discordant cries. Not since -the beginning of my exile had I been conscious of such cheerfulness and -light-heartedness as on this morning--and, with all, I had the feeling -of going home, as, indeed, I was. - -Crossing the valley at the foot of the first mountain peak, I ascended -the lower spur and descended its side toward the level country which lay -between it and the coast. In general appearance, the bush here did not -materially differ from that to the southwest, traversed during my march -from the coast months before. - -Shortly after entering the belt of virgin forest which skirted the base -of the mountain range, I emerged into an opening, perhaps two acres in -extent. It was covered with thick grass, green and luxuriant after the -rains. The grass was not tall, perhaps two feet high, apparently a new -growth, and I started to cross it. A tall cactus, a veritable tree, -stood alone near the centre of the grassland, and toward this I took my -way, thinking that I would like to examine it closely, as it was the -largest one I had seen on the island. - -After examining this giant of the tropics, I continued my way across the -intervening space toward the bush on the other side. I was nearly out -of the grass, when a strange sound caused me to stand still and look -about me. - -The sound came in a series of short, angry grunts, like "woof! woof!" -and, a short distance to the left I saw the grass violently agitated, -while the noise came nearer to me. - -I at once decided that some animal was coming toward me, whether to -attack me or not, I could not tell. But I quickly decided that the most -sensible thing for me to do would be to seek safety. Naturally I -thought of the bush, and ran toward it. The moment I started to run the -"woof, woof!" followed me, and I increased my speed as fast as I could, -hampered as I was by the thick grass. The terrible, guttural sound -gained upon me as I plunged on, but at last I reached the bush, and, -seeing a large tree with branches near the ground, just ahead of me, I -dropped my gun and bag of provisions, and grasped the lower limb. -Quickly I climbed up to what I considered to be a safe distance, and -then looked down to see what sort of a beast my pursuer would prove to -be. - -I had but a second or two to wait, for soon, not one but three shot out -of the grass and rushed to the foot of the tree. I could not mistake -them. They were pigs, wild pigs. - -They looked up at me with little, cruel looking eyes, and one, the -largest, which had probably led the chase, snapped his jaws, showing -long, white tusks, ran around the tree and continued the "woof, woof!" -throwing up his head and, as he apparently grew more angry because I was -above his reach, flecks of foam were flung from the ugly jaws. This one -was, without a doubt, the boar. The other two were smaller, and seemed -to be taking matters more coolly. - -They were villainous-looking beasts, gaunt, with long legs and sharp, -pointed heads; and their color was a sort of rusty-red. Feeling -perfectly safe, the question which naturally first occurred to me was, -"how long shall I be besieged in this position?" There seemed to be but -one course to follow, at present, and that to await developments. The -pigs had not appeared to notice my paraphernalia. - -After a while the boar grew calmer, and finally all three lay down near -the foot of the tree. I made myself as comfortable as possible, and -looked down at them. - -The day dragged along monotonously, while I was able to change my -position so frequently that I was not cramped; but I began to get very -hungry, having eaten nothing since early in the morning. The pigs -continued to remain on guard, the boar now and then getting up and -regarding me contemplatively, until the sun sank behind the forest. -Then the pigs moved away into the grass. It was soon dark, and the -moon, which was near its full, came up over the mountains; but I was not -long able to distinguish the movements of the pigs in the uncertain -moonlight. - -Patiently I waited, until the moon was directly over the clearing. -There was no sound of the pigs, and, after a little, I slid to the -ground and, cautiously gathering up my gun and provision bag, moved -noiselessly away into the bush. The moonlight favored me, and I hurried -on for several miles, when I was brought to a halt by a small stream. -Feeling safe from the pigs, I decided to camp here until daylight. I did -not dare make a fire, so, after satisfying hunger with a portion of a -pigeon which I had roasted before setting out, and an orange, I sat down -by a large tree and, leaning against the trunk, was soon asleep. - - - - - *CHAPTER XII.* - - _*Return to the Coast; A Mangrove Swamp; Fever*_*.* - - -When I awoke it was morning, and the sun was fully an hour up. Taking a -hasty bath in the cool water of the stream, and after a hurried meal, -crossing the stream on the stones that were not submerged, I set off -along the east bank. The stream flowed in a northerly direction. By -keeping close to the edge of the forest I made rapid progress. Nothing -occurred to distract my attention, except the sight of a small flock of -pigeons, one of which I killed. I encamped for the night in the edge of -a thicket, and made a fire to roast the bird which I plucked while -waiting for a bed of coals. - -At daylight in the morning I continued my course down the stream which -was now much wider and deeper. Its edge was thickly fringed with -bamboo, and the idea came to me that I might construct a raft from them, -and float down stream to the coast; but then, the stream was apt to -become suddenly shallow in places, and it contained many large stones, -and after delaying for several days while constructing the raft, it -might prove to be time and labor lost. - -At the close of the fourth day, as the sun was declining behind the palm -trees, I was astonished, on emerging from a thicket, to see the ocean, -blue and calm, stretching out before me. I had failed to note the fact -that I had followed a more direct course from the coast than when I -marched toward the interior, and that the mountains were much nearer the -north coast than the west. For the last two days I had noticed that the -cocoanut palms were more plentiful, as were also the bamboos along the -stream, both of which should have reminded me of my approach to salt -water. I had reached the coast sooner than I expected. - -Knowing that I would probably not be able to cross the stream at its -mouth, I found a place where a few stones rose above the water, and -managed to cross to the other bank. The mouth of this stream differed -from that of either of the other two streams that I had seen. It was -broad and muddy, covering a wide expanse, and what seemed the strangest -to me was that trees were growing from the water, covering the entire -area of the mouth of the stream. Each tree rested upon the apex formed -by a cluster of roots, which rose from the water, looking like gigantic -spiders or devil-fish. I could see under the whole aquatic forest, a -tangle of slimy roots above the dark water. The air was permeated by an -indescribable stench; and around the edge of the dark recess, black, -hairy crabs crawled about, or lay by the festering pools. I concluded -that this was one of the famous mangrove swamps, and I decided to retire -from such an undesirable locality. - -Accordingly I proceeded along the beach until I was free from the smell -of the swamp, where I made camp for the night beneath some spreading -trees near the water's edge, making a fire and roasting yams, and -broiling a pigeon which I had killed just after crossing the stream. - -When I awoke in the morning I felt that a change had come over me. I -felt dazed, the back of my head was aching, and I had a burning fever. -After a few moments I remembered the swamp. The air which I had been -breathing must be laden with fever. I staggered to my feet and, without -stopping to get breakfast, I started along the beach, my course now -being toward the west. - -I felt very weak and walked with great difficulty. I was obliged to stop -frequently to rest, and toward mid-day I managed to eat the remainder of -the pigeon that I had broiled the night before. Once I saw some orange -trees, but the fruit was both sour and bitter. I sucked some of the -juice, however. The bitter and the acid seemed to allay my fever a -little, and I soon felt less weak. I camped at sundown, and went to -sleep with confidence that my condition would be improved in the -morning, as I was at a safe distance from the swamp. - -For two days more I marched along the shore, finding sweet orange-trees -frequently, and plenty of pigeons whenever I chose to make a short -detour into the forest. - -At last a high mound appeared ahead where the shore seemed to take a -sharp sweep toward the south, and, hurrying forward, I was soon standing -at the top of it and, to my great joy, looking down upon the bay where I -had been cast ashore. - -Crossing the familiar little stream, I hastened toward my house. It was -with a feeling of relief that I saw that everything was apparently as I -had left it. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIII.* - - _*A Feathered Companion; Making a Fish-Trap*_*.* - - -Everything about my house was as I had left it. Nothing had been -disturbed, the overflowing stream not having reached it. The vines -around the stockade now completely covered it, and the yams that I had -planted in front of the stockade-gate were thick and luxuriant, the -great, bean-like leaves completely concealing the entrance. - -The effects of the fever were fast leaving me, and I grew strong -rapidly. There was much to do, now that I was settled down at home. I -dug up the yams in front of the stockade-gate and stored them in the -house for future use. Then I carried out the couch and made a new one -of fresh branches and grass, more comfortable than the first had been. - -I also made two fire-places, mere enclosures for keeping the coals in -place. These consisted of circular enclosures of stones brought from -the stream, each about three feet in diameter and one foot high, one -being in a corner of the house for use during rainy weather, and the -other in the enclosure of the stockade, near the gate. - -My next thought was to plant yams by the trunks of all the trees near -the house. This would furnish me an inexhaustible supply, and of a -superior quality, as the vines would have plenty of chance to climb, up -and around the tree trunks. - -One day while walking through the bush in search of pigeons, having -succeeded in killing two, I came across several cocoanut palms of much -smaller size than any I had yet seen. They were not more than fifteen -feet high to the base of the leaf heads, and their tops were very -spreading, much more so in proportion to the length of the trunks than -in the case of the larger trees. But these all bore great bunches of -nuts, and I began to wonder how the unripe nuts would taste, and whether -they contained more water than the ripe ones. - -With but little difficulty I climbed one of them, and with my knife -clipped the stems of several of the nuts, which went tumbling to the -ground. - -Descending, I cut off the husk of the end opposite the stem, until I -could make a hole through the shell. The latter was very thin and soft, -and the knife went through it easily. My knife was always in excellent -condition, kept so by frequent sharpening on the stone which I used for -striking fire to the tinder. - -Raising the nut as though it were a canteen, I drank the water. It was -somewhat different from that of a ripe nut, much sweeter, more limpid -and very cool and refreshing. After the water was drained from the nut -I out it open, when I found the whole inside lined with a whitish, -translucent pulp, of the consistency of solid jelly. This I found to be -delicious, but, after having eaten a little, rather sickish. However, I -carried several of the unripe nuts to the house, and soon became very -fond of them. I made frequent trips to the young palms and the water -became my principal beverage, while my only dessert was the jelly, for -which I carved a rude spoon from a piece of hard wood. - -I noticed that the parrots were not so noisy as they had been before I -left for the interior, and for several weeks I was at a loss to account -for it. But one evening, while returning from the water-cocoanut palms, -I espied two diminutive parrots fluttering through the bush. They were -young ones and not quite able to fly, though nearly fledged. They would -launch out from a limb, sometimes falling short of their next perch, and -sometimes striking against a limb, when they would flutter to the -ground, making small, parrot-like cries. They were a beautiful green, -with red wing feathers and red breasts and necks. The parent birds all -the while remained near-by, as though encouraging the little ones in -their attempts to fly. - -I tried to catch one of them, but they were sufficiently active to evade -me successfully. I felt a great desire to capture one and teach him to -talk, for I sometimes longed for a companion to speak to. Finally I -evolved a plan for catching one. I set to work to construct a net, for -a snare would injure them. I prepared a great quantity of fibres from -the cocoanut cloth, and with it wove a purse-shaped net, perhaps two -feet in length. This was to be suspended to a limb of a tree, and -baited with a piece of roast yam suspended over the mouth of the bag in -such a manner that, when the young parrot reached for it, he would be -almost sure to lose his balance and fall in. Its weight, together with -the fluttering of the bird, would draw the mouth of the bag together and -prevent its escape. - -This net cost me several weeks of work, but it was at last finished and -ready to set. This I did very carefully, selecting a low limb in what -seemed a favorite place for the parent birds to give flying lessons to -the little ones. - -For several days the net remained undisturbed, and every morning I -supplied it with a fresh, white piece of yam. - -One morning, just at daylight, I was awakened by a great outcry of -parrots, and, feeling sure that one of the young birds had fallen into -the net, I hastened toward it. Sure enough, the net had done its work, -for it was bobbing about and swaying from the limb, while muffled little -shrieks came from the nearly-closed mouth; and from the trees around -there arose a perfect babel of discordant cries of parrots, old and -young. The two parent birds were perched on the limb over the net, when -I arrived, but on my approach they flew away a short distance, hurling -cries of defiance at me. Carefully I cut the net clear of the limb and -carried it to the house, the belligerent little parrot all the time -fluttering and shrieking, and striking at my hand whenever it was near -the opening. I reproached myself for not thinking to make a cage for it -when captured, and I was obliged to secure the opening and deposit the -net in the house, while I made a cage for my future companion. This was -not a difficult task. Going to the brook where the wild canes grew, I -cut a quantity of them and, cutting them to the required length, I stuck -them into the ground, leaving spaces about two inches wide. The canes -formed a small yard about two feet square. The top was covered with a -piece of cocoanut cloth, the edges being tied all around to the upright -canes. - -How to get the fighting little bird out of the net and into the cage was -the next question. I did not exactly relish the idea of putting my hand -into the net, so finally I decided to lift one corner of the cocoanut -cloth on the top of the cage, and, loosening the mouth of the net, -insert it under the cloth, at the same time reversing the net. The -scheme worked perfectly and the little parrot tumbled into the cage, his -feathers all ruffled. He was a curious little thing and I laughed aloud -as, without uttering a sound, he proceeded to smooth his feathers, and -then to circumnavigate the cage. He then retired a little from the bars -and regarded me with the utmost seriousness, canting his head, looking -at me first with one eye and then the other. Then he began to dress his -feathers, evidently resolved to make the best of it all, and to feel -perfectly at home from the first. - -I made my pet a little run-way outside the wall of the house, -constructing it in the same manner as I had the cage, covering it half -with cloth and the remainder with canes so he could have both sun and -shade. This enclosure I connected with the cage by cutting a square -hole through the wall of the house. - -As the weeks passed, the parrot grew, his wing and tail feathers -developed, and he became very beautiful. He enjoyed his new home, -apparently, spending a part of his time outside, and part inside. He -enjoyed the sunshine, but would never remain long in it. He preferred -the shade of the cloth covered portion. Nights, he always passed -inside, and I made a perch for him to sleep on. It was simply a cane -passing through the cage and securely fastened to a bar on each side. -Hours and hours he would spend, swinging on this bar over and over, -holding on with his claws, and then with his stubby beak. I fed him on -yams, bananas and oranges, but the banana was his favorite food. - -Every day I talked to him, telling him all about the ship-wreck, -discussing with him the various tasks that occupied me, and the -probability of my rescue. I named him Puff Ball on account of his shape -when captured, and then I called him simply "Puff." Puff listened -patiently to all I had to say, frequently interjecting a sharp comment. -Sometimes he would interrupt me by setting up a loud screeching, and I -always had to cease talking when Puff had the floor. - -For weeks he did not appear to attempt to imitate my words, and I began -to despair of teaching him to talk, when one morning, as I lay awake for -a few minutes before arising, I heard him softly chattering to himself. -I listened and heard him say "Puff," "Puff," very distinctly. I was -delighted and, going to the cage, I complimented him on his first -attempt. - -Once while bathing in the stream, I noticed, for the first time, several -fish gliding through a quiet pool. From the momentary glance I had of -them they appeared to resemble the white perch of the lakes at home. - -This opportunity to add to my larder could not be neglected, and I set -to work to devise a plan for capturing them. I thought, at first, of -making a hook from thorns; but this idea was abandoned as not apt to be -practical, and I hit upon a plan for making a net. The first -inspiration gradually developed into a trap, and took definite shape as -I revolved the matter in my mind. It was a simple device, but I spent -much time and patience in perfecting it. - -First selecting one of the supple vines, about half an inch in -thickness, I bent it into the form of a hoop, two feet in diameter, -uniting the two ends by lashing them with smaller vines. Then, with the -aid of a sharp thorn and thread from the fibre of the cocoanut, I sewed -together pieces of the cocoanut cloth so as to make a bag three feet -long, with an opening of the same diameter as the hoop. Then I sewed -the edge of the opening of the bag firmly to the hoop, which kept the -bag rigidly open. - -Next, from more vines, I wove a funnel-shaped basket, the larger end -fitting inside the hoop, while the smaller end, which was inserted into -the bag, had an opening about six inches in diameter. The larger end of -this basket, which was like an inverted cone, was lashed to the hoop, -all around. - -This was my fish-trap, and as soon as it was ready I took it to the -brook. The water was normally low and, finding the narrowest place in -the current, I built across it a wall of stones, having an opening in -the centre of the wall, in width just a little less than the diameter of -the hoop. The trap was then set into this opening, with the mouth -pointing up-stream, the gentle current keeping the bag distended, while -the hoop projecting across the edges of the opening in the wall held the -bag in position. - -I expected that the fish, swimming downstream, finding no other passage, -would enter the opening of the bag and pass through the small opening in -the lower end of the cone, thereby becoming imprisoned. From similar -devices that my brother and myself had made and used in the brooks at -home, I knew that, once inside, the fish would huddle in the lower end -of the bag and make no effort to repass through the opening in the end -of the cone. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIV.* - - _*Another Exploring Trip; Tropical Fruits*_*.* - - -The morning following the setting of the trap I removed it and, allowing -the water to drain out through the meshes in the bag, I found three -beautiful silvery fish, not unlike the white perch of the northern -waters. Cleaning them, I broiled them over the coals, and found them to -be delicious, delicate and fine flavored. After that I had no lack of -fresh fish. - -Puff, meantime, had made rapid progress in the art of talking and could -carry on quite a conversation--and many were the hours I spent assisting -him in adding to his vocabulary. He insisted upon following me -everywhere I went, always walking and never making any attempt to fly, -his instructions in the use of his wings having been neglected since his -capture. When walking through the bush in search of pigeons and other -provisions, I always carried Puff perched upon my shoulder, and he never -made any attempt to escape. He seemed as perfectly satisfied with my -society as I was with his, and we kept up a continuous conversation. - -My supply of salt becoming nearly exhausted, I procured a large supply, -enough to last me many months, by the same process as had been employed -on the first experiment while marching along the coast. This I sealed -securely in joints of bamboo. - -Having no particular task on hand, one afternoon I proceeded to prepare -a supply of provisions, roast pigeon, fish, yam, a few oranges and half -a dozen green cocoanuts, preparatory to setting off, the following -morning, to explore along the bank of the stream, which flowed almost by -my door, toward its source. I knew that this was a separate stream, -independent of the other two that I had met with. I remembered that I -had not crossed a third stream on my march from the mountains, and I was -curious as to its source. Certainly it must be much shorter than the -other two. - -Seeking my couch early in order that I might set off by daylight, before -going to sleep I remembered that I needed a new supply of arrows. This -would necessitate delaying another day, and in the morning I set to -work, and before sunset I had several dozen of much better made arrows -than the first ones. - -With my quiver and provision bag slung across my back and with Puff on -one shoulder and the bow-gun on the other, I set out just as the sun was -rising above the palm trees. I kept to the left bank of the stream, and -soon passed "Bamboo Pool" where I had first discovered these useful -plants. - -I walked along rapidly, stopping only to refresh myself and Puff. The -way was easy, for there were very few shrubs or thorn bushes along the -bank. But I had to occasionally turn aside to avoid inhospitable cactus -plants, and the sharp, dagger-like plant which grew plentifully almost -everywhere. - -Just as I was thinking about seeking a good place to camp in order that -I might make myself and Puff comfortable before dark, I was brought to -an abrupt stop, where I stood transfixed with surprise; for I had -reached the source of the stream, less than a day's journey from my -house. - -Before me there was a little pool, only a few feet across, and its -centre was bubbling and boiling. The water which supplied the stream -flowed from the bowels of the earth. While the pool was violently -agitated, no sound was made by the up-rushing water. My brook was -simply the outlet of a subterranean river. - -I at once made camp for the night, determining to spend a day around the -pool before returning. I kindled a fire for the sake of its cheering -effect, and made my supper from the provision bag. Puff was satisfied -with a banana. - -After a frugal breakfast in the morning--for I had only some plantain -and a part of one of the fish left--I set out to explore the forest in -the near vicinity of the pool. Almost immediately I came across some -banana trees, and near by a few plantains were also growing. Further -around I found a couple of orange trees. This seemed quite a natural -garden, and it was not so far away but that I could make frequent trips -from home for bananas and plantains. - -Penetrating a little further into the forest, I came to a little clear -spot, in the centre of which grew two large, handsome trees, each with -straight, rather smooth trunks, with symmetrical tops. - -At first I thought both the trees were of the same kind, but I soon -noticed that the leaves of one were larger than those of the other, and -more pinnate. I discovered that both trees bore curious-looking fruit. -The fruit, too, looked something alike. It was large, round, and green -in color, with a pebbly rind. Several were lying under each tree; but -that under one of the trees was decayed, and when I tried to move it -with my foot it yielded to the pressure, and as the mass parted it -looked like uncooked bread. The fruit under the other tree was firm and -hard. I was at a loss to solve the mystery. Cutting one of the latter, -I found that it had a very hard shell. Procuring a long pole from the -bush, I succeeded in knocking off some fresh fruit from the other tree. -On cutting this I found that the skin was thin, and that the inside had -something the appearance of a yam. - -I carried one of each to camp, when it occurred to me to roast the -latter, and see if it proved good to eat. While it was roasting in the -coals, I cut the other green globe in halves, and found that the hard -shell was very readily separated from the meat, leaving two nice bowls, -suitable for drinking vessels, and perhaps for cooking. When I thought -the other was thoroughly roasted, I took it from the ashes. The -transformation was marvelous. The fruit was now like light, white -bread. Very cautiously I tasted it, and found that, while it possessed -no decided flavor, it was very delicate. I tried some with a little -salt, and mentally pronounced it delicious. - -Before going into camp for the night, I procured half a dozen of each -fruit, and, early in the morning, after adding a supply of bananas and -plantains to my burden, started to return to the house, which was -reached early in the evening. - -I became very fond of the new fruit, which answered for bread; and I -made dishes from the shell of the other which served for drinking -vessels, and I even boiled some fish in one of them. - -My time was now occupied by various tasks. Frequent trips were made to -the pool. I planted more yams, and made frequent excursions hunting -pigeons. I also made a complete suit of clothes from the cocoanut -cloth, including a hat and a pair of very substantial moccasins, for my -shoes were all but useless. These things were varied by giving Puff -lessons in conversation, in which he proved to be an apt scholar. - -I had seen no turtles on this part of the coast, and I contemplated a -journey to the cove where I had seen them months before, as soon as, -from my calendar, I judged it to be their breeding season. I had long -craved more of their delicious eggs. - -As the days and weeks passed, frequent showers came up; and after a -time, the showers of warm, tepid rain became more frequent. Some were -very violent, with high wind, and occasionally thunder and lightning. -They rose quickly and as quickly passed over, when the sun would burst -out, making the drops falling from the trees glisten like silver. But -there came a day of almost steady rain, and, after consulting my -calendar, I found that it was about time for the rainy season to set in. - -I had hardly thought of the rainy season since my return from the -mountains. Indeed, I had intended to set to work and attempt to -construct a craft with which to try to reach the distant land to the -east. But now I must wait for another rainy season to pass before -attempting it, for the sea would be too rough to risk a voyage in a rude -and frail craft. - -I allowed gloomy thoughts to take possession of me, which I did not even -confide to Puff, who was my only comforter. - - - - - *CHAPTER XV.* - - _*A Hurricane and a Shipwreck*_*.* - - -I strove to occupy my mind by digging a large store of yams, and -gathering hundreds of cocoanuts, and storing them inside the house for -use when the rain should prevent my going far from the shore. I also -gathered an immense quantity of dead branches for firewood, which I -piled in the rear of the house, covering it thickly with grass and then -broad leaves and bark stripped from the trees, to shed the water. - -The rain became almost constant, and after a day of hard work making -some repairs that I thought necessary on my house, I lay on my couch, -secure from the rain and wind, thinking of the past, present and future. -The wind had risen rapidly until it had become a gale. I listened to -the rustle and flapping of the leaves of the palm trees, and to the roar -of the waves on the shore. At length, through the crevices around the -door I could see that the night was frequently lighted up by vivid -flashes of lightning. Heavy thunder began to rumble away back over the -forest. The wind increased, and then came a roar which seemed to shake -the earth, and shrieks sounded above the dashing of the surf as the wind -came with terrible force. - -I could hear the stockade creak, and see the walls of the house tremble. -The rain came in torrents, and swept against the enclosure. Another -blinding flash and roar, and, above the rattle of the palm leaves I -could hear the crack and crash of breaking and falling branches and tree -trunks. A hurricane had broken over the island. I lay appalled, and -listened to the terrible havoc of the tempest. I could not close my -eyes. - -It seemed as though the night would never pass; but after long, weary -hours, a faint gray light stole into the house, denoting the approach of -day and the end of that awful night. - -The storm abated a little, but the crashing sounds continued to come -from the forest. As soon as it was light enough to see plainly I -ventured to go outside the stockade. The structure had withstood the -force of the wind; but what a pitiful sight greeted me as I looked -about. Many of the tall cocoanut palms that had been my friends and -companions from the first lay prostrate, twisted and broken. The ground -was covered with nuts, leaves and broken branches. The little stream -was full to the very top of the banks. - -The waves roared and thundered on the narrow beach. I turned toward the -sea and thought about the night of the wreck. - -But had I gone mad? Had the horrors of the night so affected my mind? -I covered my eyes, and in a moment looked again. - -Yes, out toward the bluff, only a few rods from the shore, was a vessel. -It lay as though at anchor. I saw that it was a barkentine. The vessel -had not anchored; she was stranded. Then I ran to the shore and waved my -arms wildly. I could not go to the bluff on account of the swollen -stream. I saw several men walking around the windlass. Then they ran -excitedly along the deck; and then I saw but two men on the deck. I -gazed out at the rocking vessel and saw a boat slowly swing around the -bow. It was filled with men rowing. I saw the boat pointed toward the -shore. I watched it eagerly. The boat seemed to make no headway. But, -yes, it was slowly making headway. Then again my heart sank, as through -the flying spume I saw a mountain of water, a great billow many times -higher than the stranded ship, come rolling into the bay. I stood -transfixed with horror, spellbound, as I watched the water, coming with -the speed of the wind, with a roar which every instant became more -terrific. Powerless to aid the poor souls in the boat, struggling -against a forlorn hope, in this moment of peril--of instant death, I -stood, sick and faint, in contemplation of their fate. - -The great wave now overhung the vessel. Its foam-fringed crest curled -over and, with a fearful snarl of anger, like some dread monster with -jaws agape, it rushed over the vessel and obscured it from sight. - -I sank to the ground and covered my face, as I wept in anguish. I was -overcome at the awful thought of the catastrophe and by the instant, but -full realization of my great disappointment,--almost at the moment when -rescue from my long, lonely exile seemed near, every hope vanished; and -in a few moments I should see the bodies of those whom I hoped would -succor me tossed ashore, bruised and mangled. These thoughts flashed -rapidly through my mind as I sank to the earth. - -Yet there was a faint hope, and the flitting thought caused my courage -to revive for an instant. - -If the boat, perchance, escaped being swamped and should be borne far -enough toward the beach to ground firmly and thus escape being carried -back by the receding water, her passengers might be saved; but if not, -her fate was certain, for she would be hurled back upon upon the reef -and not a soul would escape. - -I started to my feet and strained my eyes in the direction of the vessel -as the huge wave thundered upon the beach, the water rolling far up -toward my house. - -Oh, the awful anguish of that moment! At first I could see no sign of -the vessel, but as the succeeding wave subsided I caught a glimpse of -the vessel and saw that her masts, spars and rigging were hanging about -her in a tangled mass of wreck. The hull seemed to remain in about the -same position, it only having careened shoreward. The boat was nowhere -to be seen, though I carefully scanned every inch of the swirling water. -Perhaps it had been dashed ashore unseen by me, obscured in the cloud of -foam. - -I dashed to the beach and ran eagerly along the shore, hoping to find -the boat and to rescue her passengers who, if discovered, would be in a -state of insensibility. But my search was fruitless, and I stood again -a hopeless castaway, no nearer rescue than when, on that bright morning -after the storm which sent the _Ethelyn Hope_ to the bottom, I regained -consciousness to find myself alone at this very spot. - -I returned to my house and tried to reconcile myself to my -disappointment, and to adjust my mind to the rapid succession of events -in which were mingled joy and sorrow, hope and despair, all within -little more than a half-hour. - -Fortunately my house, thanks to the thoroughness with which the builder, -assisted by nature, had done his work, had withstood the fury of the -hurricane and had proved to be impervious to the rain, so I had no -difficulty in making a fire, by which I prepared breakfast, drying my -costume in the meantime. - -The wind had by this time nearly all died away, though the incessant -roar of the surf continued on the beach. Hoping still that some one -from the ill-fated vessel might escape to keep me company, I went again -to the beach, walking along toward the creek. Seeing neither a body nor -a sign of the boat, I started to follow along the bank of the creek with -the intention of crossing it and searching along the shore in front of -the bluff; but I had taken a few steps only when I stopped in -astonishment, for almost at my feet, her shoulders upon a tangle of -reeds, lay the body of a young woman. I thought she must be dead, for -she was very white and her eyes, while open, were fixed, turned upward -toward the palm leaves. As gently as I could I lifted her and with some -difficulty bore her to a mound at the foot of a palm tree, where I laid -her carefully down, resting her drooping head in a natural position. - -Poor girl--for she was but a girl--cast up by the sea, dead; and that -was all I could ever know, about her. How tenderly I would lay her -beneath the tropical flowers on the bluff, in a grave lined with soft -grass!--alas, all I could do. - -Sadly I gazed at the still form, and was about to turn away again toward -the beach when, to my great surprise, I thought I noticed a faint tremor -on her face and a movement of her hands. I must be mistaken; but no, -again there was a movement--no mistaking it this time--then her eyes -closed. I knelt beside her and held her wrist. It was cold, but I -thought I could detect a tiny flicker of the pulse. Certain now that -life remained, I lifted her as tenderly as possible. She was very -slight and I could easily bear her weight; but her body was so limp that -I found it difficult to carry her, supporting her head at the same time. - -However, I reached the house, bore her within and laid her upon the -couch. Then I took a piece of the cocoanut cloth, hastily twisting it -to make it as soft as possible, and went to work vigorously chafing her -wrists and hands, and I was presently rewarded by seeing her open her -eyes. Her head was turned slightly away, but with a faint sigh she -moved it toward me. With a wondering gaze she looked full into my face -for a moment, and then her eyes closed again. She had lost -consciousness, and I again chafed her hands and loosened her wet -garments about her throat. In what must have been a few moments only, -but what seemed to me to be hours, she again opened her eyes and I saw -her lips move. I bent close to her and made out to catch her words, -faintly whispered. - -"Where am I? Is papa here?" - -That was all, for then she swooned away again. - -Her father. How strange it all was, and now for the first time, I -remembered that I had not noticed a woman on the deck of the ship before -the boat was launched. Satisfied now that her life was safe, I left -her, hurried to the beach and renewed my search, when, directly in front -of my door, with the water washing partly over it, I saw the body of a -man resting upon the sand. From his appearance I judged him to be a -sailor. I dragged the body out of the water. The limbs were rigid and -there was a deep gash on the left temple. - -Feeling certain that life was extinct, I turned and continued my search. -I soon picked up an oar, and as I came to the mouth of the creek I saw -something which caused me to start back, involuntarily. It was a hand -protruding from a pile of broken reeds. Hastily I tore away the reeds, -revealing the body of a man, which, I noticed, was not dressed like a -sailor. While I was moving the body away from the edge of the creek I -observed that the man was rather past middle life, well built and rather -stout, of medium complexion, with thick hair and moustache, both being -sprinkled with gray. His limbs were not rigid, which caused me to hope -that a spark of life remained. I therefore began to treat him as I knew -drowning persons should be dealt with, and shortly, to my great joy, he -began to revive and was, ere long, able to sit up and look about him. -He gazed at me in seeming wonder as though thinking me to be a being of -a different species from himself, which was not to be wondered at in -view of my picturesque costume. - -"Oh Marjorie, my poor girl:" were his first words. - -"If you mean your daughter, sir," I said, "she is safe and sound in my -house yonder." He extended his hand to me, which I took and held while -he recovered his vitality sufficiently to go to the house. - -"I fear we shall intrude greatly upon the hospitality of your -household;" he said, with a little effort. - -"No fear of that, sir," I made reply; "for the company of yourself and -daughter is certainly a great pleasure to me and I am the sole member of -my household." - -"Are you alone, then?" he asked. - -"Yes, sir, alone on this island," I answered. - -He was going to say more but I begged him to desist until he was -stronger, and until he was able to proceed to the house. - -He expressed himself as being fully able to do so, and as he seemed -anxious about his daughter I assisted him to rise; and, placing an arm -about him I supported him as he walked slowly to the house. - -The meeting of father and daughter was a joyous one. The girl was able -to sit up and the color was returning to her cheeks. I could not help -noticing at a glance that she was very pretty, tall with a slender well -moulded figure, with brown hair and blue eyes and a clear complexion. -She was, I judged, anywhere from seventeen to nineteen years old. With -usual feminine thoughtfulness of her appearance she had already coiled -her hair neatly and rearranged her damp garments as well as she was -able. While I stirred up the fire so that my visitors might dry their -clothes, the father related, briefly, the story of their experiences. - -His name was Richard Harborough, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, from which -port the wrecked barkentine, _Three Sisters_, of which he was the owner, -hailed. His family consisted of his wife, and three daughters for whom -his vessel was named. He had determined to make a voyage in his vessel -for health and recreation and his daughter Marjorie, a student at -Dalhousie College, whose health had been impaired by overstudy, had -accompanied him, the family physician strongly recommending a voyage in -the southern seas as a restorative. - -The _Three Sisters_ had taken out a cargo of general merchandise to -Demerara, British Guiana, and after discharging she had proceeded to -Greytown, British Honduras, where she had taken in a partial cargo of -mahogany for Boston, proceeding from the Central American coast to San -Domingo where she took on board sufficient logwood to complete her -cargo. During heavy weather the seas that came aboard had polluted her -fresh-water casks and seeing the island just at dusk they had put in -toward it intending to anchor until morning and then to come ashore and -refill her casks. But the storm broke upon her, the rain obscured the -island, and she would have gone ashore had she not struck one of the -hidden coral reefs. What prevented her masts from going overboard the -men could not explain; but it must have been a miracle, they said. As -soon as the barkentine struck, the anchor was let go, by which it was -hoped she would be prevented from drifting, until daylight. When first -I saw the men on the deck they were hauling up the anchor, finding that -the barkentine had not drifted, with the intention of taking it to -windward and trying to work her off the reef by heaving at the windlass. -But realizing that the vessel was hopelessly aground, and fearing that -she might break up, it was decided to try to reach the shore, the result -of which attempt I had witnessed. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVI* - - _*Pleasant Companions; Enlarging the House*_*.* - - -I told them, as briefly as possible, the story of my exile on the -island, to which they listened, seemingly with the greatest interest, -refraining, on account of delicacy, I supposed, from asking about my -strange garb. - -"And now," I said at the conclusion of my narrative, "you must make -yourselves at home and as comfortable as possible, while I see about -dinner"--for it was just mid-day--"and then we will attend to the poor -fellow who lies outside on the beach." - -So saying I took my bow-gun, my guests watching me in wonder, and -started for the thicket behind the house. - -I hoped to secure a pigeon, for my companions must be in need of -nourishing food. I had the good fortune to spy a pigeon almost -immediately and to secure it with a single arrow. My companions were -greatly surprised to see me return so quickly, and after placing some -yams and bread fruit to roast in the ashes, I set about plucking the -pigeon. It was a plump bird, of the ring-tail variety. Half of it I -fixed over the coals to roast, and with the remainder I proceeded to -make some broth, which I succeeded very well in doing, thickening it -with crumbs of cold roasted bread fruit, and seasoning it with salt of -my own manufacture, as I explained to my guests, while I prepared it. - -After the repast, which greatly revived Mr. Harborough and his daughter, -we all went to the beach, I leading the way, to where the dead sailor -lay. - -"Poor fellow," said Mr. Harborough, "it is the third mate. The -barkentine carried seven men beside the captain and three mates. We -must see if any more have come ashore." But although we searched -carefully all along the shore up the bay, we found no other bodies. So -the dead sailor was carried tenderly to the palm grove, where he was -laid in a grave, dug after much hard labor, and lined with grass; I -promising to carve a head-piece for it, in the near future. - -Then I took Mr. Harborough and his daughter around the neighborhood of -my hut, showing them where I had been cast ashore, where I had gathered -the reeds and cut the bamboos for my house, where I had discovered the -yam vines; indeed, I gave them a careful history of my doings -thereabout, which used up all the afternoon. The sea, meantime, had -subsided and the sun had dried the bush and the grass; and after a -frugal meal from the remnants of the noonday repast, we sat long in -front of the house beneath the tropical sky, watching the moon rising -above the feathery palm tops, while we speculated regarding the future. - -The situation presented few complications, for we must simply make the -best of everything until rescued, be it days, months, or years. Mr. -Harborough had most important information to communicate, namely, that -the _Three Sisters_ had a bountiful store of food supplies and cooking -utensils, as well as a rifle, shot-gun and ammunition for each. The -rifle had belonged to the captain and the shot-gun to the mate, who, -when opportunity offered, were accustomed to go ashore for a little -sport, shooting. To get these treasures ashore would greatly add to our -comfort, and, although we had no boat, we resolved, very early in the -morning, to set about discussing means for saving as much as possible -from the vessel. - -Mr. Harborough, I was glad to see, took a cheerful view of the -situation, and was resolved not to despair; and Miss Harborough, also, -showed her bravery by taking the greatest interest in our plans. With -some large pieces of cocoanut cloth I screened off a corner of the room, -including my couch, which was to serve as Miss Harborough's sleeping -apartment, while Mr. Harborough and I stretched ourselves on the floor -near the door. Before we slept I communicated to him my intention to -build an addition to the house before attempting to do much in getting -things from the vessel, in order to afford Miss Harborough privacy, by -having a room to herself. He thanked me for all my kindness, and we -knew no more until awakened by Puff, who, while everything was damp, had -not been heard from. Indeed, I had, I regretted to admit, forgotten -him. But now, his feathers dry, and the morning bright and fair, he -made himself heard, indicating by all the words in his vocabulary, -interspersed with shrill screeches, that he was hungry, and would brook -no delay in having his wants supplied. - -The morning repast finished, we adjourned to the beach to lay out a plan -of work for the immediate future. We had two matters to discuss: one, -the most important, of devising ways and means of transporting the -supplies from the stranded barkentine to the shore, and the other, the -construction of an addition to the house for the accommodation of Miss -Harborough. - -"It seems to me," observed Mr. Harborough, "that we should solve the -problem of getting out to the vessel as quickly as possible; for, if -there arises another great storm, she might break up." - -"That is very true," I replied, "and your suggestion is a wise one; so, -as the building of the addition to the house will not be a long task if -we work together, let us set to work upon it at once. We will construct -it in the same manner as I built this house." - -It was decided that Mr. Harborough should cut the bamboos and the canes, -while I would build the house, having acquired some skill from my -previous work. - -"I fear you will find it laborious work, for I have only this knife," I -observed, taking out my much-used knife. - -"Ah," he replied, "I have a good knife, larger and stronger than yours;" -so saying he produced a large pocket-knife, having a broad, strong -blade. - -"Capital," said I; "now we shall get on famously." - -I conducted him to the thicket of bamboos a a little way up the stream, -leaving him, while I went a little further down, to cut reeds. - -"Oh, but I want to do something to help," exclaimed Miss Harborough. -"What can I do?" - -"You can be of the greatest assistance by carrying reeds to the house. -They are very light, and, besides, you can take small armfulls." - -She was overjoyed at the idea, and she at once set to work with much -enthusiasm. I cut a quantity of reeds and then went back to bring some -bamboos, after which I set to work cutting a door-way through the side -of the house to connect it with the extension. I pursued the same -methods as in making the main house, Mr. Harborough cutting bamboos and -reeds, his daughter bringing all the filling material from the stream, -while I set up the frame and wove the reeds into the walls. This -finished, grass was cut for thatching the roof. We worked steadily, -only stopping for a bit to eat at noon, so that, by sunset, the addition -was completed. It was six by eight feet in dimensions, and it was very -thoroughly made. After consulting Miss Harborough, it was decided not -to have a door between the two apartments, but to hang up a curtain -instead. I suggested that the curtain be made of cocoanut cloth, and I -promised Miss Harborough to gather the cloth in the morning, and show -her how to sew it together with fine roots. - -We all sat for a time in front of the house, enjoying the breeze which -blew toward the land after the sun-down, retiring early in anticipation -of the work of the morrow. Before I slept I had formed a plan to reach -the barkentine on the reef, which I believed would prove successful. -The morning dawned bright and cloudless, and the household was awakened -by Puff, screaming for his breakfast. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVII.* - - _*Building a Raft; Visits to the Wreck*_*.* - - -We first visited the young cocoanut palms from which I cut a supply of -cloth for the curtain, to be hung between the two apartments in the -house; and while I dug some small roots for thread, to use in sewing the -pieces together, Mr. Harborough, under my direction, with his knife -shaped from a piece of hard wood, a bodkin, to be used in lieu of a -needle in sewing. - -Leaving Miss Harborough comfortably ensconced in front of the house, -with the materials around her, Mr. Harborough and myself set about the -task of reaching the vessel. - -"There is but one way to reach her, sir," I said, "and that is by means -of a raft. It is the only sort of a craft that we can construct with no -tools, and, besides, I believe we can make a raft which will carry the -cargo." - -"Your experience fits you to take the initiative," he replied. "I am -under your direction. You shall lead, and I will follow and obey your -instructions." - -"I am sure our combined ideas only will produce the best results," I -made answer. "But first let us proceed to the bamboo thicket." - -As we started to go up stream, Mr. Harborough turned and cast an anxious -look toward his daughter. - -Noticing this, I hastened to reassure him concerning her safety. - -"And are there no wild animals on the island?" he asked. - -"I have seen none hereabout," I assured him. I remembered the wild pigs -that I had met on my march around the coast, but I thought best not to -unduly alarm him by alluding to them. - -"And do you believe the island entirely uninhabited?" he asked. - -"At the present time I believe it is absolutely uninhabited," I replied. -As we walked along I told him about the old wall on the mountain, adding -that it was evidently constructed by civilized people, long ago. An -idea occurred to me at that moment concerning the ruined wall, but I -resolved not to communicate it at present. - -As for the wild pigs, I did not believe they would put in an appearance -in this part of the island. Reaching the bamboo thicket, we set to work -cutting a great quantity of them, selecting those from two to four -inches in diameter, I, meanwhile, explaining to Mr. Harborough how I -proposed to construct the raft. We labored incessantly the entire day, -only stopping, when the sun stood directly overhead, to allay the -cravings of our appetites; and reaching the house, we were delighted to -find that Miss Harborough had dinner all ready for us, she having -roasted some yams and the only remaining bread fruit. I resolved to -make a trip to the pool and procure another supply at once. - -Miss Harborough had finished the curtain, and before we returned to our -bamboo cutting we hung it in place, fastening it with wooden skewers. - -While we continued to cut bamboos Miss Harborough wandered about -admiring and wondering at the many tropical sights and sounds. I -continued to keep the records of the days on my cocoanut-shell calendar. -In two days we had cut what I believed was a sufficient number of -bamboos. The following day was Sunday; and while we resolved to abstain -from working on the raft, we agreed that the time was too precious to -remain entirely idle; so we resolved to devote the day to replenishing -our larder. - -We were early astir and prepared for a trip to the pool. Before setting -out I got out the fish net, which I set in the stream, explaining that -we would remove it on our return, and hoping that it would yield a good -number of fish. I took my bow-gun, intending to keep a sharp lookout -for pigeons, and Miss Harborough carried Puff, I having taken care to -secure him to her arm by a thong so he could not impede our progress by -flying away into the thicket. - -We followed the bank of the stream and in due time reached the pool -where we set about, in the best of spirits, gathering water-cocoanuts, -bread fruit, oranges, bananas and plantains. Refreshing ourselves upon -some ripe bananas that we found scattered through the bunches, while we -sat beneath the shade of the broad leaves, we gathered up our spoils and -set out to return. - -I decided to keep along the edge of the forest going back, hoping to bag -a pigeon or two; and I was so fortunate as to secure four, to the great -wonder of my companions who marvelled at my markmanship and the accuracy -of the rude bow-gun. - -Arriving home the net was removed from the stream, being nearly half -filled with fish. The question of food was settled for several days, -and we could work on the raft uninterrupted. - -Miss Harborough allotted to herself the duty of preparing the food, and -well did she perform her task. She not only had our meals ready with -unfailing regularity, but her womanly instinct enabled her to devise -dinners, dainty and appetising innovations in the simple cookery, that -were most acceptable. - -The foundation of the raft was laid by placing bamboos on the beach just -out of reach of the surf, there being no discernable tide, about one -foot apart. The poles, forming a layer, were about eighteen feet long, -and there were fourteen of them. This fixed the dimensions of the raft, -eighteen by fourteen feet. These were firmly lashed together with -lianas from the thicket near by, which were passed over and under each -alternate pole, across to the opposite side and back again, six times -across, with double weaving at the ends. Next we cut a great quantity -of reeds and laid them evenly over the frame-work, to the thickness of -about two feet. Another frame was then made the same size as the first, -which was placed over the reeds and bound firmly to the bottom frame, to -which it was firmly fastened with lianas around the edges, forming a -sort of mattress. This process was repeated until the raft was fully six -feet thick. This work, as is to be supposed, occupied several days; but -when it was completed we had reason to feel proud of the result. -Indeed, it was the outcome of no little skill. - -We expected that the buoyancy of the materials of which it was -constructed, together with its great thickness, would enable the raft to -float with its top high out of the water, which would allow it it to -support a considerable load. And, besides, it was so light that our -combined efforts sufficed to move it quite readily. On the morning of -the day following its completion, we launched the raft, and to our great -satisfaction saw that it floated like a cork. We decided that a long -bamboo to be used as a scull-oar would be the best means of propelling -it. One half of the thickness of the larger end of this bamboo was -split away the length of the first joint, which gave a flat surface to -offer resistance to the water in sculling. Another bamboo was provided -to be used in poling. We were now ready to set out for the wreck. Miss -Harborough expressed a desire to accompany us, but I demurred, until we -had proved the seaworthiness and stability of the raft, in which her -father joined. So she seated herself near the beach and watched us as -we pushed off. - -Beneath our combined weight the raft did not appear to sink perceptibly, -and it promised to float a good amount of cargo. This was most pleasing -to us for it would enable us to remove what we wanted from the vessel -rapidly. We joined in poling the raft until the water became too deep, -after which I used the scull from the end, being somewhat of an expert -by reason of my boyish practice with a punt on the pond near the home of -my childhood. The sea was placid, and it required only a few minutes to -reach the wreck. I propelled the raft under the bow-sprit and held it -steady by grasping the martingale, while Mr. Harborough climbed aboard, -from whence he threw a line with which I quickly made the raft fast, and -joined him on the deck. - -The scene around us was one of confusion. The deck was strewn with a -tangled mass of rigging, rendering it not a little difficult to move -about. - -"I think," said Mr. Harborough, "that we should proceed systematically -through the vessel, and I suggest that we first proceed to the cabin." - -So we descended the companionway which led to the roomy cabin. It was -comfortably, though not luxuriously fitted up, after the usual style of -vessels going on long voyages. Mr. Harborough proceeded to collect all -his clothing, while I, at his suggestion, gathered into a bundle all of -the wearing apparel that had belonged to the captain, to be appropriated -to my own use; and indeed, I was sadly in need of it. We did not disturb -Miss Harborough's cabin, having decided to let her accompany us on the -next trip, when she could gather up her own belongings. - -"There seems to be nothing else that can be of use to us," said Mr. -Harborough, glancing around the cabin. - -"Oh, but why not take the chairs? They are fastened to the floor of the -cabin, but there must be tools on board in the carpenter's kit, with -which we can easily remove them. And, then, the charts, the chronometer -and the compass. Who knows but that they may be of great use to us? I -am sure the compass would, at least." - -"That is true," he replied; "I fear that I am not very used to being a -castaway." - -"A few months will accustom you to such an existence," I replied. - -So we went forward and found the carpenter's chest, from which we took -all the tools necessary to remove the cabin chairs, and the compass. -These, with the chronometer and the clothing, we deposited together in -the cabin. Next we set about collecting all the small sized rope and all -the cooking utensils in the galley, which we placed with the cabin -crockery. We debated whether it would be advisable to attempt to remove -the galley stove to the shore; but, because of its weight and the -consequent great difficulty in removing it, we abandoned the idea. As -we moved about the deck we could see Miss Harborough by the beach, and -we frequently signalled to her, fearing that she might be lonesome -alone, amid such strange surroundings. - -As I stood gazing at the beautiful island, densely covered with tropical -vegetation, radiant with golden light, I made out the mountain on which -I had erected the beacon, which I could dimly see. I called Mr. -Scarborough's attention to it, and expressed my disappointment that it -was so dimly visible; but when I reflected that the mountain was much -nearer the east coast, I took a brighter view of it, for I believed that -the island must be one of the Virgin Islands; and, if so, it must be one -of the most easterly. Still I could not make up my mind what the land I -had sighted far to the eastward from the mountain top might be. If it -was one of the northern Leeward Islands, then we could not be far out of -the track of vessels. In this case the beacon must, sooner or later, be -seen from some passing ship. - -Overhauling the stores we found quantities of provisions, canned and -dried fruits, salt, half a barrel of salted beef, nearly two barrels of -flour, a great quantity of sweet potatoes and several gross of matches. -Indeed, nothing seemed to be lacking. - -We now set about loading the raft, lowering the different articles over -the side by means of a rope, distributing the weight over the raft. We -loaded it until it settled to within a foot of the top, and a great -quantity of freight it took. At this rate it would require but few trips -to complete the work. Taking the clothing aboard we started ashore, -which we reached without accident, though it required considerably more -time to scull the heavily loaded raft. Being so deeply laden, it -grounded several feet from the beach, so that in unloading it, we had to -wade back and forth through the water. - -Everything was stored snugly in the house before sundown. - -On the morning following we made another early start for the wreck, Miss -Harborough with us this time. As before, the raft was made fast to the -bow-sprit, and Miss Harborough was hoisted aboard in a bo'sn's chair. -We proceeded to load the raft, intending to make two trips during the -day. This was soon accomplished, and taking the compass and the -chronometer, as well as Miss Harborough's trunk, we were about to cast -off, when, with an exclamation, Mr. Harborough grasped the chains and -disappeared on deck, presently returning with face aglow, carrying in -each hand a gun. Such good fortune was almost overpowering, for with -guns we could not only defend ourselves effectively, if necessary, but -easily secure plenty of game. He explained that there was a quantity of -cartridges for the rifle as well as considerable ammunition for the -shot-gun, in the cabin. Each day we continued to make one or two trips -to the vessel, the weather fortunately continuing calm, with the result -that we stripped her of everything that we could move, and that could -possibly be of use to us. We soon discovered that we could store in the -house only such articles as there would constantly be use for, so we -proceeded to build another addition from the other side, opposite Miss -Harborough's apartment, to serve exclusively as a store-room. Thus our -abode extended to quite a pretentious establishment. The raft, no -longer in use, we hauled up among the cocoanut palms. We had been so -busy since the barkentine came ashore that we had not been able to -extend the stockade around the two additions to the house. This we -proceeded to do, following the same plan of construction as I had -previously done, joining it to the main structure at the four corners, -thus making an enclosure of quite twice the area of the original -compound. We planted yam vines all around the new stockade, varying our -labors by making trips to the pool for provisions, going on excursions -into the forest, but never far away, securing pigeons with the aid of -the shot-gun, but seeing no animals, and fishing in the stream. We -lived sumptuously, with the fruit and the plentiful supplies from the -vessel. At my suggestion, we planted a quantity of sweet potatoes, -selecting a sunny spot near the stream, breaking up the ground with -poles sharpened with the aid of a good axe, which we found in the -carpenter's kit. Indeed, we found several tools, such as a bit, auger, -two saws; and a hammer that were of great use to us; and fortunately a -few nails. I had some doubt as to the success of our sweet potato -experiment, believing that the tropical climate would prove too warm for -them, remembering that they flourish to the greatest perfection in the -eastern-central part of our own country. However, the experiment was -worth trying in the interest of future food supplies. We had, from the -first, kept a close watch along the shore all along the bay, in case -bodies of other members of the barkentine's crew came ashore. But none -did, and, with the axe, we hewed a rude head-board from a hard-wood -plank which we had brought from the vessel, for the grave of the man -whom we had buried, carving thereon the name "William Clayton," together -with the day and year of his death. - -We discussed the advisability of setting fire to the wreck, but after -mature consideration we decided that so long as it remained intact, it -might serve to attract attention should a vessel be passing, and thus -lead to our rescue. - -We had much leisure, and I took occasion to make known a project which I -had in mind from the first, that of making a trip to the mountain. For -one thing I wished to see if the beacon had withstood the hurricane; -and, more than all, an idea had taken possession of me, growing stronger -every day, that a careful investigation around the ruined wall might -lead to interesting, and, perhaps, important revelations. My companions -were delighted with the prospect, and we at once set about making -preparations for the journey; and here a new idea suggested itself. We -must carry with us as large a quantity of provisions as possible, and -how could this be accomplished? We would make knapsacks from -sail-cloth. Why had we not thought to bring the sails of the barkentine -ashore? The raft was again launched, and we removed the smaller sails -from the vessel; and, by searching among the seamen's dunnage in the -forecastle, we found several sailors' needles and twine. All working -together, we soon fashioned two square bags, with straps of several -thicknesses of cloth, with which to sling them upon our backs. The next -most important thing was the selection of the articles to be carried -with us. Provisions must form the bulk of the packs, and we made the -selection with the greatest care. We also proposed to take along the -axe, a coil of rope, the ship's compass, which was removed from the -gimbals, and, of course, the two guns, Mr. Harborough carrying the -rifle, while I took the shot-gun. We made belts from the sail-cloth for -carrying ammunition. The axe formed part of my equipment. A light -bundle of clothing was made up for Miss Harborough who also took charge -of Puff, who was made fast to her arm by a piece of twine. Everything -was made snug in the house, and the remaining sail-cloth was carefully -spread over the stores to be left behind. The door was securely closed, -and one bright morning we were ready to start, first taking, by means of -the compass, the bearings of the mountain. It was my intention to -proceed by a different route from those I had followed in going to and -returning from the mountain, for two reasons. One was that I wished to -further explore the island, which a new route would enable me to do, and -the other was that a direct route through the forest would be much -shorter, requiring us to encamp but one night. My companions fully -agreed with this idea. The stream was followed as far as the pool, -where we entered the forest. It consisted of many varieties of trees, -one kind being of large size, with a smooth, straight trunk, towering to -a great height, without branches. This, Mr. Harborough said, was the -mahogany tree. - -Great lianas entwined the trees and many creepers, some bearing -exquisite blossoms that called forth exclamations of delight from Miss -Harborough, depended from the branches; and in some places the -vegetation was so dense that we were compelled to cut a way with the -axe. At Mr. Harborough's suggestion and at her request I ceased to -address his daughter as Miss Harborough, and thereafter called her -Marjorie, as did her father; for, as they both said, we were exiles -together, and formality was superfluous. We were in excellent spirits -and made rapid progress. When the sun was in the zenith, as we could -see by an occasional glimpse through an opening in the dense canopy -above us, we paused by a tiny stream of clear water for refreshments and -a short rest. Our repast finished, while Mr. Harborough and I conversed -concerning the present and the future, Marjorie wandered away a short -distance, searching for new and beautiful flowers. Just as we rose to -resume the march, and were about to call her, we heard an agonizing -scream coming from the forest at no great distance away. It was clear -that something had befallen Marjorie. Grasping the guns, we dashed in -the direction indicated by her cries, and presently we saw her dress -through the undergrowth. As we hastened forward a sight met our eyes -which caused us to come to a sudden halt and to gaze in horror at the -spectacle before us; for there was Marjorie, crying out no longer, her -limp body in the grasp of what looked like a dark, shrivelled-up old -man. - -It seemed to be four or five feet tall, with a face almost black, its -body covered with short hair. The limbs were long, small, and the legs -were bent. We both shouted, at which the monster released Marjorie, -allowing her to fall to the ground, while it stood motionless, looking -at us, but making no sound. Almost at the same instant it stooped and -grasped a huge club which lay at its feet. We waited no longer, and -both raised our guns and fired. Evidently our excitement disconcerted -our aim, for the monster, without giving forth a sound, sprang to the -great tree near which it stood and began to climb it rapidly, keeping to -the side opposite to us. We hastened around, and Mr. Harborough fired -another shot from his rifle, but without apparent effect, for the -creature quickly reached the branches and disappeared. - -We hastened to Marjorie who had recovered from her swoon, and was able -to give us an account of her adventure. There was little for her to -tell. She was walking leisurely along, stopping to admire a flower or a -brilliant butterfly, when, without warning, she felt herself in the -grasp of the horrible creature. She screamed and then fainted. We were -unable to conjecture what sort of a creature it might be, for we were -not aware that the tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere contained -large apes. - -While we were discussing the matter, I remembered a story which I had -read years before about a creature found in the depths of the South -American forest, which was called a "Burghree." As I recollected the -story, the description of the "Burghree" corresponded very nearly to the -monster we had just encountered. Marjorie, having now recovered, -although she was still somewhat weak, we again went to the tree and -peered sharply among the branches. - -"It seems to me," said Mr. Harborough at length, "that I see something -which looks like a great nest, far up in the tree-top." - -I looked more closely and also saw it. - -Clearly this was the home of the strange creature, and then I -recollected that the story of the "Burghree" corresponded almost exactly -to the present realization, for it retired to a great platform of -branches and grass, far up in the tree-top, whence it hurled defiance -and clubs at the men below, while this one uttered no sound. Another -shot from the rifle was without result, and we decided that it would be -not only useless but folly to waste more ammunition. Resuming our march, -few words passed between us for a long time. As for myself, I was -absorbed with my own thoughts, and Mr. Harborough seemed to be occupied -in like manner. - -Suddenly I stopped and rested my gun upon the ground. - -"Mr. Harborough," said I, "did you notice that the face of the creature -looked more like a human face than that of an ape, and that the feet and -hands seemed to be unlike an ape's feet and hands?" - -"I noticed the face," he answered. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVIII.* - - _*The March Continued; Arrival on the Mountain*_*.* - - -As we went on our cheerfulness returned. - -We saw occasional pigeons and many beautiful plumaged birds, among which -were parrots and paroquets that kept up a noisy clatter. We also -encountered a species of brown and yellow ground-snake about two feet -long, which did not appear to be harmful, as it always seemed anxious to -get away. Frogs, small lizards and crabs were plentiful, and I presume -some of the latter were edible. Coming to a thicket of thorn-bush just -as the dusk began to settle across our path, we prepared to camp for the -night. A square space was cleared in the thicket, some leafy branches -were laid across the top to serve as a roof, wood was gathered, and a -fire was built in front; and we proceeded to roast a few yams and two -fat pigeons that I had shot late in the afternoon; and opening a can of -peaches, we made a bountiful repast. We soon sought repose, and, as no -sound save the murmuring of the breeze through the trees came from the -forest, sleep came quickly to all of us. We were aroused the next -morning at daybreak by Puff who was screaming at the top of his voice at -a flock of wild parrots in the trees above, and in an incredibly short -time we were again on the march. We had proceeded only a short distance -when we came to a small open place covered with grass, and we were about -to skirt its edge when close in front of us came an angry "woof." - -"Wild pigs," I cried, greatly alarmed, for, from my previous encounter, -I understood their savage nature. - -At the moment an ugly looking boar showed his head directly in front of -us. Mr. Harborough was about to fire, but I restrained him, knowing -that the least disturbance might bring a drove of these savage beasts -upon us. - -"Let us quietly withdraw as quickly as possible," I said, "and make a -detour of the forest." - -This plan was carried out, and, to my great relief, successfully, for -the boar disappeared in the grass, and we saw no more of it. - -Having the compass, we were able to keep the right direction, pushing -forward rapidly, only stopping a short time at mid-day for dinner, and -the sun was yet high in the heavens when we came to the first rising -ground, and I knew that we had reached the foot of the mountain. - -Presently I saw familiar land-marks, and I was able to lead the way to -the top. The beacon was standing exactly as I had left it. We -proceeded to my cave-dwelling, where everything was found pretty much as -I had left it, except that the barricade before the door showed some -decay. There was still some time before nightfall, during which, after -depositing our sacks within, we cut a quantity of grass for beds and -gathered a quantity of fire-wood. We also partitioned off one corner of -the room for Marjorie, fixing a bamboo across, to which hung cocoanut -cloth which we found in abundance a short distance away, fastening it -together with pegs, and thus we were comfortably settled soon after our -arrival; and, as we enjoyed the evening meal, we talked over future -plans. I promised to show my companions the ruined wall in the morning, -as we retired to rest. - -The orange trees and banana plants near the ruin were still thrifty and -bore abundant fruit, and we regaled ourselves as I showed my companions -the old wall. Mr. Harborough took the greatest interest in it, and we -speculated as to its origin. Other matters, however, engaged our -attention from day to day. The compass was taken to the foot of the -beacon, and the bearings of the land which I had discovered in the -distance accurately determined. - -It lay exactly southeast, half east, from where we stood. - -"In my opinion," said Mr. Harborough, "this small island where we now -are is one of the most northeasterly of the Virgin Islands, and that -land in the distance is one of the same group." - -"But," I said, "if that is the case should we not be able to see some of -the other islands to the westward?" I was aware that there were several -islands in the Virgin Group. - -"Not necessarily," he answered, "for they lie very low on the ocean." - -We spent much time about the beacon, improving our habitation, in -gathering fruit and shooting pigeons for our larder; and we took twelve -days in making a trip to the low south-east coast, marching along the -shore and returning from the northeast. We found animal life even -scarcer than on the west side. Birds were not so plentiful, though we -found some pigeons, and saw plenty of little green lizards and crabs. -We made no discoveries that promised to be of use to us. On our return -I took my companions to the mouth of the guano cave, but Marjorie -declined to enter and Mr. Harborough did not appear anxious to do so. -We made frequent trips to the ruined wall, and searched the enclosure -carefully. The more we studied it the more we were convinced that the -wall had served as a foundation for some structure. - -One day as we were returning with fruit, Mr. Harborough had fallen -behind to examine a spot which had escaped attention, when we were -arrested by a sudden exclamation from him. He had dropped upon his knees -and was eagerly clearing away the plants and grass with his hands. - -We hastened to him, inquiring what he had discovered. He pointed to a -square, flat stone. It was about four feet square and seemed to open -like a hatchway. He had stepped upon it and felt it rock, very -slightly, beneath his weight, but enough to attract his attention. Did -the stone conceal an opening, the entrance to an ancient dungeon, or a -treasure vault? We were nearly overcome with excitement, not unmixed -with awe, and I confess to a feeling of dread as I contemplated what -might be below if the stone really covered an opening to a subterranean -chamber. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIX.* - - _*An Ancient Ruin; A Wonderful Discovery*_*.* - - -The edges of the opening, around the stone, were crumbled and cracked, -and after scraping away the accumulation of moss and mold we found that -we were able to remove a large piece of rock which left a space of -sufficient depth to receive a lever. We hastened to the edge of the -forest, where we selected a small tree of hard wood, which we felled; -and from it we made a lever about fifteen feet in length. The larger -end was flattened a little with the axe, in order that it should fit -closely against the stone in prying it up. - -We next moved a large stone from the wall, which we placed about three -feet from the aperture which was to receive the lever, to act as a -fulcrum. Then we lifted the great lever, placed the flattened end into -the aperture, let it rest against the stone fulcrum, and reaching up as -near the elevated end of the lever as possible, brought our combined -weight to bear upon it. - -The flat stone moved slowly upward, and Marjorie, who stood near, in her -eagerness, bent over the opening. Almost at the same moment she started -violently back, gasping for breath. The foul air, which rushed from the -opening, had nearly suffocated her. - -Working together nearer the upper end of the lever, the stone was lifted -a little higher and Mr. Harborough was able to hold it while I placed a -rock under the stone, which prevented it from falling back when the -lever was released. - -We now gathered around the opening which was not yet wide enough to -enable us to see far below; but to our great astonishment we saw that a -flight of stone steps led downward. Below all was dark. Foul air still -came from the opening. - -"We must wait for the air to purify before entering," I said; "and, -meanwhile, we will procure lights." - -"Why in the world did we not remove the cabin lamps from the vessel?" -exclaimed Mr. Harborough, "If we only had them now." - -"Come to the house," I said, "and I will show you how we will procure a -light." - -Hastening to the house I opened my knapsack and held up the two binnacle -lamps for the inspection of my companions, much to their amazement. - -Both were filled with oil, very little of which had escaped, as I had -wrapped strips of sailcloth tightly around them. - -In answer to their inquiring looks, I reminded them that I had, for a -long time, believed that some such discovery as the present one might be -made, and that I had, unknown to them, packed the binnacle lamps which -had proved to be a fortunate act on my part. - -Taking them, with plenty of matches, we returned to the ruin. Lighting -a wisp of dry grass, I threw it into the opening. It fell to the -bottom, where it continued to burn brightly, showing that the air was -now pure. In the momentary glare of the burning grass, we saw that the -opening was about eight feet deep. - -We now procured another stone from the wall, which we placed under the -lever, increasing the height of the fulcrum so that we were able to lift -the stone still further; and by pushing the lever around toward one side -we quickly swung the stone from the opening until it rested at one side. - -Lighting the lamps, we cautiously descended the stone stairs. They were -covered with what seemed to be finely pulverized mould which had worked -down from above; but the dampness, incident to an underground chamber -rendered the steps somewhat slippery, so we had to descend carefully. -There were ten steps. Reaching the bottom, Mr. Harborough and myself -leading and Marjorie bringing up the rear, we found ourselves standing -upon a solid floor, deeply covered with fine mould, but quite dry. The -floor of the chamber was evidently composed of stone, laid very closely, -without mortar. The roof was made of great flat stones, supported by two -rows of pillars made of square blocks of stone, extending the length of -the chamber. The walls, roof, pillars and floor were all thickly -covered with dust. Searching along the walls, we discovered, at the -further end, four niches sunk into the wall about five feet, and into -the rear wall of each niche, there was fixed a massive iron staple, to -which was fastened an iron chain of crude workmanship. At the end of -each chain there was a rough iron collar which was evidently designed to -be fastened with a rivet. Stepping into one of the niches, we -discovered that the floor of it was thickly studded with sharp iron -spikes which we found, on clearing away the dust, to be about two inches -in height. The purpose of the niches was apparent; they were -unquestionably designed as places of torture. Well must they have -served their purpose; for the wretched victim who, on account of the -short chain fastened to his neck, could not lie down, was compelled to -stand constantly upon the sharp pointed spikes which would pierce and -cruelly lacerate the feet. - -To what period of the New World's history this dungeon belonged we could -not even conjecture; but, judging from the style of architecture and the -cunningly devised method of torture, Mr. Harborough, who had seen the -ruined forts along the Spanish Main, had no doubt that this chamber was -connected, in some way, with the old Castilian days in this part of the -world. - -The west wall seemed to be perfectly smooth and unbroken; but on the -east side of the chamber we found a square stone, measuring something -like two feet each way, being almost a perfect cube, protruding half way -from the wall. This was easily removed, and thrusting in one of the -lamps, we saw what appeared to be a square chest. Brushing away the -dust which covered the end of the chest next to us, we saw that it was -of wood, bound with bands of iron, the whole being thickly studded with -nails. - -"A treasure chest," exclaimed Marjorie; "oh, it seems like the stories -of the buccaneers." - -An iron ring was fastened to the chest, but when we took hold of it and -tried to draw the chest toward us, we found it to be so heavy that we -were unable to stir it. So I went to procure a lever which I cut from a -small tree near the wall, and returned with it to the chamber. One end -of the lever was inserted, upward through the ring of the chest and we -lifted with our combined strength. - -The chest was raised slightly, and then the iron bands, eaten by years -of rust, broke, and the chest, rotten with age, fell apart. - -Marjorie was holding one of the lamps so as to illuminate the chest, -and, as it broke open, she almost dropped it, while Mr. Harborough and I -dropped the lever and gazed at the broken chest and at each other in -speechless astonishment; for the aperture seemed to be full of gold -coins. - -We had discovered a treasure chest, indeed. The coins were of several -sizes, and all were covered with a brownish dust. But gold they were, -and there were thousands and thousands of them. - -We examined many of the coins, on which the legends were plainly -legible. Each one bore a male head on one side, with dates ranging from -1517 to 1540; and on the reverse, this superscription:--"Carlos I., -Espana: Rex"--Charles I., King of Spain. We concluded that we had -discovered a favorite trysting place of sea-rovers who sailed these -waters carrying death and desolation afloat and ashore under the -protection of royal authority, with the understanding that the Spanish -treasury should be enriched thereby. - -Here, before us, with no one else to claim it, was wealth beyond our -power to estimate. - -"It is utterly useless to us here," said Mr. Harborough, as we discussed -the importance of our discovery. - -"True," I replied, "but as we have no intention of always remaining on -this island, it may prove to be of great service to us. To this end we -must consider what immediate disposal we will make of all this wealth." - -"And," I continued, as we replaced the stone in the aperture and -withdrew from the chamber, "it seems to me that the first step toward -ensuring to ourselves the future enjoyment of all this wealth, should be -to transport it to the cove and store it in our house." - -This proposition of mine was the beginning of much discussion and -consideration for several days thereafter, during which it was -definitely decided that the gold must be transported to our house at the -cove; and we began to consider how this task, not a trifling one, could -be accomplished. - -Clearly there was but one sure and safe way, and that, to carry it there -ourselves. - - - - - *CHAPTER XX.* - - *"*_*The Golden Treasure;*_*" *_*Its Removal*_*.* - - -It was finally settled that we would transport the golden treasure to -Sargent, at the cove, in the knapsacks on our backs. To do this would -require several journeys through the forest; but as time was no object -to us, what more could we ask than to be able, during our exile, to so -easily acquire wealth which would render us independent for life; for -rescued we must surely be, sooner or later. - -We decided that no part of the walls should remain uninspected. Every -square foot of it was carefully examined, but we found no indications of -other openings. One day, however, while looking at the east wall, I -noticed one of the stones which seemed to be more loosely set into the -wall than any of the others; and on examining it more closely, the upper -edge appeared to be chipped as though some pointed instrument had been -inserted. It at once occurred to me that this may have been caused by -prying the stone out--in other words, I mistrusted that the stone might -conceal the entrance to another chamber. - -We examined it closely and came to the conclusion that it would be worth -while to remove the stone. We worked at it for several days without -making any perceptible impression. - -It was too heavy and we could devise no appliance to assist us -materially. Finally it occurred to me that we might remove a flag-stone -of the floor, dig under the stone and compel it to drop from its place. -We soon discovered, however, that it rested upon the flag-stone next to -it. Not to abandon the project, we at last succeeded in removing the -second flag-stone from the wall, which enabled us to excavate the earth -from beneath the flag-stone next to the wall. This we accomplished -after a great deal of hard work, for our only excavating tools consisted -of sharpened and flattened pieces of wood. At last, however, the -flag-stone settled into the the excavation and the stone in this way -fell outward. To our great astonishment this was followed by a rush of -air from the aperture. We did not, at first, know what to make of this, -but we shortly agreed that we had found the entrance to an underground -passage leading to the open air. - -Indeed this idea seemed quite reasonable, for we had often read of such -passages in connection with the strongholds of the early days; either as -a means of offence or defence, or of escape. - -Taking the two lamps I preceded Mr. Harborough into the passage, -Marjorie bringing up the rear. From the first it was evident that the -passage was not artificial, but a natural cavern. Indeed as we proceeded -it proved to be a simple guano cave, the stalactites being grimy and the -stalagmites buried beneath long years accumulations of guano. In its -general character it did not differ materially from the cave which I had -discovered on the east side of the mountain during my former sojourn. -The ceiling of this one, however, was higher so that we were able to -walk upright; and it had no windings. Proceeding a few rods we came to a -second chamber, leading off at right angles; but the opening was so -small that we would have had to crawl through it and we did not consider -it worth while to enter it, at present, at least. The thought occurred -to me that the passage connected this cavern with the one which I had -previously discovered; for, as I thought the matter over, I believed -that the two must run nearly parallel. Myriads of bats flitted about, -almost flying against our faces, and several times nearly extinguishing -our lamps. In a few minutes we came to a fair-sized chamber, nearly -circular and perhaps a dozen feet in diameter; and as we entered it we -were astonished to find that it was partially illumined by daylight. -Stranger still, mounted on two huge wooden blocks were two brass cannon, -pointing away from us. - -"An ingenious fortification," remarked Mr. Harborough. - -"A masked battery," said Marjorie. - -We now examined the guns closely. They were covered with a greenish -corrosion, and were, as I have said, brass. They were of exactly the -same size, about four-inch, and on the breech of each was stamped the -following, together with the arms of Spain: "Espana: 1512." We saw that -we had reached the mouth of the cave, which was thickly filled with a -mass of bushes and creepers. We resolved to clear away the obstruction -at once, and I returned to the chamber for the axe. With it and our -knives we soon cleared away the vegetable growths, and behold, we stood -on the side of the mountain a few yards from the mouth of cave, -overlooking the ocean to the eastward. The purpose of the guns was quite -apparent. They commanded the approach to the mountain, and to an -advancing enemy were utterly invisible, as a shelf of rock hid the -entrance from below. This latter discovery did not promise to be of any -special importance to us, it was most interesting. Our whole effort, -now, was put forth toward transporting the gold to the cove on the west -coast; and placing as many of the coins in each knapsack as we could -each carry comfortably, we packed enough provisions to last at least two -days, and set out. As we had done on the journey to the mountains, we -followed the edge of the forest making a short detour, when about half -way, to avoid a possible encounter with the wild pigs. Mr. Harborough -and myself would have liked very much to risk an encounter with them, -but the safety of Marjorie was our first consideration, and these -animals were very fierce. So as we had grave doubts as to their -desirability for food we decided to give them a wide berth. Nothing -occurred to give excitement to the march and toward the end of the -second day we reached the house in the cove, where we found everything -entirely undisturbed. We immediately set to work to make several strong -bags of sail-cloth, each being about two feet long and half as wide, in -which to store the gold. This occupied us one full day, and after -storing the gold we had brought, in a corner of the hut, burying it -beneath the kitchen utensils, we took sufficient provisions to last us -during the return march and set out. Numerous trips were made to and -from the mountain which consumed several weeks. Meanwhile we had made -an additional discovery, almost as important as the first. As we -gradually removed the gold contained in the chest we saw that there was -another chest beyond it. Like the first it fell to pieces on being -moved. Beyond it was a solid wall of stone. But the second chest was -not so heavy as the first, and it proved to be only about half filled -with gold. The rest was occupied with rolls of manuscript, all of which -fell to powder when exposed to the air, leaving not one scrap on which -the faded writing was legible. - -At last only what gold we could carry away on one more trip remained. -During our march to and fro from the coast we had kept a sharp watch for -the "wild man," as we called him, and Marjorie always kept very close to -us while passing through that part of the forest. - -But we saw no signs of him. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXI.* - - _*Preparing for Departure; Death of the Monster*_*.* - - -On the morning of the day on which we were to set out with the last -packs of gold, the sky was partly overcast, and far down in the eastern -horizon the sky line was blended into a leaden haze, which gradually -disappeared as the sun ascended toward the zenith. This I knew, was a -premonition of the approaching rainy season, which I knew was always -preceded for several weeks by a thin veil of clouds and the murky -atmosphere of the horizon in the morning. - -This decided us to make this our last journey, and to remain at the cove -after our next arrival there; for there we were sheltered, to a great -degree, from the rain and our house was much more comfortable than the -abode beneath the rock on the mountain, which was dreary during the long -rain, as I knew from experience. At the cove we had a substantial -house, and, with the stores and utensils from the wreck we should be -very comfortably situated. And, beside, we had gradually, as we marched -back and forth, evolved a scheme to remove some of the deck planks of -the vessel and such lumber as we found available, and to try, during the -rainy season, to construct a substantial boat in which we might venture -to leave the island. We planned to construct a great shed, closed in on -three sides and left open at the end facing the beach. Beneath this we -would lay the keel of our craft and test our skill as ship-builders. - -So, with our guns, clothing, such other articles as we wished to take -back with us, and of course, Puff, after closing the cliff-house we -proceeded to the chamber beneath the ruin to pack the remaining gold. -Our knapsacks were speedily filled, and we prepared to leave the -chamber. - -Marjorie preceded us to the stairs, but scarcely had she reached the -first step when she darted back to us shrieking and trembling, her face -ashy pale. - -She crouched between us, unable to speak, her eyes staring wildly toward -the stone steps. I sprang forward and looked up toward the opening. -There I saw, standing between us and the sky, silent as a statue, with -eyes glaring down at us--the wild man of the forest. - -There was no mistaking it; but this time it looked less like an ape and -more like a human being. - -Without looking around I beckoned to Mr. Harborough. He stepped to my -side, and catching sight of the horrible thing above us, he raised his -rifle and fired. The report roared around the chamber and the stairway -was filled with smoke. Simultaneously a heavy body rolled down the -slippery stairs and lay outstretched at our feet. It was the wild -man--lifeless; its limbs outstretched and its wide-open eyes staring up -at us. - -Never again do I wish to look upon such a horrible object. We shrank -back in the doorway, feeling weak and faint; Marjorie clung to her -father, her eyes gleaming with terror, a look of horror upon her face. - -After we had recovered our courage and the first shock had partly passed -away, we approached closely and examined the strange being. It was -human in every detail, the hair, arms, legs, feet, eyes and face. It -had once been a man, but what a marvelous transformation had taken -place! The body was entirely covered with short brownish hair which -grew several inches long on the breast. The hair of the head was dark -brown in color, long, tangled and matted. The nose and mouth were -regular, and the teeth were in fair condition. The eyes were either -blue or gray, we could not tell exactly which. The finger-nails were -long, which made the hands look like claws. - -The skin was tanned by exposure to sun and rain until it was a dark -bronze hue. We pondered long concerning the history of this strange -being; for a human being it surely was; once like ourselves. - -In death it was less repugnant than in life. Now that we had become -accustomed to look at it, it impressed us only as a poor dead outcast, -of whom we knew nothing. - -There could be but one solution to the mystery. Either the wretched -person had been marooned, or, like ourselves had been cast away on the -island, and, driven mad by solitude, exposure and the contemplation of -his position had probably for several years roamed the forest as a wild -man--a wild beast in every sense, except his origin. We moved the body -to a corner of the chamber, composed the limbs and went out into the -sunlight. - -The long lever remained under the stone which had covered the opening, -and we worked it back into place--closing the treasure chamber, now a -tomb. We covered the stone thickly with earth and turned toward the -forest. - -Without further incident we reached the house at the cove and proceeded -to put everything in order in anticipation of the coming rainy season -which, we promised ourselves should be a busy one with us, between boat -building and general occupations; and we viewed the future not without -pleasant anticipations. We were comfortable, with every want supplied, a -happy family sharing a common lot. - -Never was there a complaint made by any of us. We indulged in -conversation about home, our individual lives, and discussed matters of -present and future moment. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXII.* - - _*Boat Building; a Startling Sound*_*.* - - -Out first work of magnitude was the construction of a great shed in -which to build the boat, sheltered from the weather. This occupied us -many days; for it was of considerable size, twenty-five feet long and -about two thirds as wide. The method of construction was exactly the -same as in the other structures and need not be described again. It was -closed all around except the end next to the beach. This was left open -to afford both air and light. - -House-building was varied by several trips to the stranded vessel which -remained on the reef precisely as we had left it. Our raft, too, was in -a perfect state of repair. - -Many of the deck planks we removed, as well as all the boarding of the -deck-house and the sheathing in the cabin. We were careful to save -every nail, and we found a further supply in the fore-castle. These, -though common "cut" nails, could readily be transformed into "clinch" -nails by heating, in which form they would be available for fastening -the boat together. - -The heavy deck planking we proposed to use for the keel and frame of the -craft, as well as for oars and thole-pins. All the lumber and such -small rope as we believed would be of use to us, also quantities of -sail-cloth, were transported to the shore and piled inside the shed. - -These duties were varied by occasional trips to the forest to hunt wild -pigeons, fishing in the stream or jaunts to the pool for fruit. These -were holidays to us, during which work was forgotten and we all entered -into the spirit of the occasion. - -Day by day the clouds of the morning lingered longer and longer and were -less quickly dispelled by the sun's rays. They became more sombre as -the days went by, and sunset was preceded by fitful gusts of wind, -indicating that the rainy season was coming on apace. So we abandoned -further work on the boat and began to lay in a supply of cocoanuts and -yams. - -While returning from the pool one day, as we passed the bamboo thicket -an idea occurred to me which I lost no time in communicating to Mr. -Harborough. - -It was this; to fasten bamboos, of good size, around our boat, outside, -immediately below the gunwales, reaching from stem to stern. This would -render it more buoyant, for the bamboo, consisting as it does of hollow -joints, would have the same effect as air bags, or water-tight -compartments. Such a device would, I believed, make it impossible to -capsize the boat, thus making it doubly seaworthy and rendering our -escape from exile more certain. - -"It is a capital idea," exclaimed Mr. Harborough. "And while we are -about it," I continued, "we may as well select a bamboo for a mast." - -My companions fully approved of my ideas and we at once set to work to -cut the bamboos and carry them to the boat-house. - -This work occupied us a good many days, for it was slow and laborious, -even with the aid of the axe; for the outer part of the bamboo is -extremely hard. - -We now proceeded to strengthen the outer part of the wall of the house, -and to renew the thatch of the roofs, all of which required several days -of labor, cutting the grass and fastening it into place. - -A large supply of wood was gathered and stored in the farther end of the -boat-shed; in short we made every preparation for a comfortable rainy -season, protected from the wind and the rain. Hurricanes could not be -guarded against, so we only hoped that they would give us a wide berth. - -The first showers had set in ere we resumed work on the boat. From one -of the best planks we fashioned the keel, which was laid with some -ceremony, Marjorie constituting the audience; after which we set about -getting out the stern-post and the frame-pieces. While we were thus -occupied Marjorie performed the house-hold duties, and, at odd times, -busied herself heating the nails white-hot, and dropping them into -water, which process transformed them into "clinch" nails. - -She also made several bags from sail-cloth strongly sewed, for the -reception of the gold. The bags were filled with the coins, securely -sewed up and stored away in Marjorie's trunk, nearly filling it. We -decided that this would be the safest way to dispose of it for the -present. - -Work on the boat went on apace, each day being much like its -predecessor. The daily showers became more frequent and copious and we -saw the sun less often. - -At times we felt depressed and our isolation grew irksome. - -One morning, having had breakfast, we started for the boat-house, when -we were brought to a sudden stand-still. - -A long-drawn sound like a trumpet blown at a distance echoed and -reverberated through the trees. It continued several seconds, during -which we remained in a listening attitude. - -Neither of us spoke. - -It was repeated again; what could it mean, what could it be? - -Surely it could not come from any wild animal for we had seen none -larger than a pig. - -Had we been believers in the existence of demons, we must have at once -decided that a demon lurked in the forest behind us. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXIII.* - - _*Rescue at Hand; Leaving the Island*_*.* - - -Marjorie had heard the sound, also, and came toward us. - -Suddenly she pointed out toward the sea, uttering the exclamation, -"look." - -We both turned and looked in the direction indicated. - -A boat was rounding the point; a real boat. - -There were men in it, four men. The boat shot around the point and -began skirting the shore toward us. - -We saw that they were black men, dressed in rough but civilized -garments. - -They were conversing among themselves, speaking in a tongue which we did -not understand. - -Were they friends or foes? Stepping quickly into the house we took our -guns and waited behind the stockade, standing so we could watch the -boat. It had the appearance of a canoe, made of wood. Evidently the -black men had seen our house as the canoe was turned toward the shore. - -She grounded in a few seconds, and the men sprang ashore. They -cautiously approached the boat-shed peered into it, and then came slowly -toward the house. Beckoning Marjorie to remain out of sight we grasped -our guns and stepped boldly out, resolved to meet the emergency -unhesitatingly, whatever it might be. - -To our surprise the black men stopped with a shout of joy. - -One a tall, fine looking negro, stepped toward us and extended his hand -to us. - -"Fo' de Lard, Marsa; Who is yo', how long yo' ben heah?" - -I told him that I had been here many months, and that my two companions, -pointing to Mr. Harborough and to Marjorie, who now came forward, had -been here half as long. - -Then he told us a strange story, one which gave us great joy. - -He said that they were coming from their island to this one to hunt -turtles, at the great breeding place which I had discovered on my first -march to the mountain, and that, while nearing the east coast of our -island a steamer came along, slowed down and then stopped. - -Men on the steamer seemed to be looking at the island with glasses, and -then the whistle of the steamer was blown. This was in the late evening -before. Presently the steamer started and when it came up with the -canoe the "cap'n" asked them if there were any people living on the -island. - -The black men answered in the negative, adding that none of the turtle -hunters dared go far from shore, for a terrible savage monster half man -and half demon, lurked in the forest. The "cap'n" told them he had seen -a beacon on the top of the mountain, and that he believed some one was -signalling for assistance. So he bargained with them to follow close -along the shore, searching carefully in every cove, while the steamer -followed slowly. - -The steamer anchored during the night and the black men were taken on -board. - -At daylight that morning the black men continued along the shore in the -canoe, the steamer following. As the canoe came in sight of the cove -they saw the wreck and signalled back to the steamer, which had answered -by a blast on her whistle. - -It was the sound of the steamer's whistle which we heard just before the -boat appeared. In a few minutes a large steamer came in sight from -behind the point and anchored off the cove. A boat was immediately -lowered and rowed swiftly ashore. A man in uniform sprang ashore and -came hurriedly to us, extending both his hands which we eagerly grasped. - -He was the second officer of the Royal Mail steamship _Dunmore Castle_, -from England for West Indian and Colombian ports. When off the east -side of the island somewhat out of her course by reason of a heavy -squall into which she had run a few hours before sighting the island, -the first officer had seen my beacon and called the Captain's attention -to it. The rest had been related by the black men. - -My story is nearly told. We were transported on board the steamer, with -such of our belonging as we wished to take with us. The great weight of -Marjorie's trunk called forth some remarks from the men who handled it, -but we made some casual allusion to rare sea-shells and other curios and -felt relieved when the trunk was on board. - -The _Dunmore Castle_ proceeded to make her ports of call, during which -we had to give a detailed account of our life and strange adventures on -the island, to the wondering passengers. - -We were landed at Kingston, Jamaica, from whence we proceeded by stage -over-land to Port Antonio on the north-east coast, where we embarked on -the steamship _Sama_, for Boston, with fruit. - -I have nothing more of interest to relate, unless the reader may like to -know that I see Marjorie every day still, and that her father visits us -at least once each year, when we talk over and over again, the incidents -that I have, in my humble way, tried to relate. - - - - - FINIS. - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOY CRUSOE *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45397 - -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. 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