Part 48 (1/2)

”And how to tack?”

”Yes.”

”Then let's do it, and tack and get s.h.i.+pwrecked, and live here. If we only had Jack's rifle.”

”But we must sail properly first,” said Bevis. ”I shan't do anything till we can sail properly: now this is it. Look.”

He showed Mark the two sketches, and how their mainsail did not reach back far enough towards the stern.

”Frances must make it larger,” said Mark. ”Of course that's it--it's as different as possible. And the mast ought to be higher--it would crack better, and go overboard--whop!”

”I don't know,” said Bevis; ”about the mast; yes, I think I will. We will make one a foot or eighteen inches higher--”

”Bigger sails will go faster, and smash the s.h.i.+p splendidly against the rocks,” said Mark. ”There'll be a crash and a grinding, and the decks will blow up, and there'll be an awful yell as everybody is gulped up but you and me.”

”While we're doing it, we'll make another bowsprit, too--longer,” said Bevis.

”Why didn't we think of it before,” said Mark. ”How stupid! Now you look at it, you can see it in a minute. And we had to sail half round the world to find it.”

”That's just it,” said Bevis. ”You sail forty thousand miles to find a thing, and when you get there you can see you left it at home.”

”We have been stupes,” said Mark. ”Let's do it directly. I'll shave the new mast, and you take the sails to Frances. And now come and see the place for the cave.”

Bevis went with him, and Mark took him to the bank or bluff inside the island which Bevis had pa.s.sed when he explored it the evening of the battle. The sandy bank rose steeply for some ten or fifteen feet, and then it was covered with brambles and fern. There was a s.p.a.ce at the foot clear of bushes and trees, and only overgrown with rough gra.s.ses.

Beyond this there were great bramble thickets, and the trees began again about fifty yards away, encircling the open s.p.a.ce. The spot was almost in the centre of the island, but rather nearer the side where there was a channel through the weeds than the other.

”The sand's soft and hard,” said Mark. ”I tried it with my knife; you can cut it, but it won't crumble.”

”We should not have to prop the roof,” said Bevis.

”No, and it's as dry as chips; it's the most splendid place for a cave that ever was.”

”So it is,” said Bevis. ”n.o.body could see us.”

He looked round. The high bank shut them in behind, the trees in front and each side. ”Besides, there's n.o.body to look. It's capital.”

”Will you do it,” said Mark.

”Of course I will--directly we can sail properly.”

”Hurrah!” shouted Mark, hitting up his heels, having caught that trick from Bevis. ”Let's go home and begin the sails. Come on.”

”But I know one thing,” said Bevis, as they returned to the boat; ”if we're going to have a cave, we must have a gun.”

”That's just what I say. Can't we borrow one? I know, you put up Frances to make Jack lend us his rifle. She's fond of you--she hates me.”

”I'll try,” said Bevis. ”How ought you to get a girl to do anything?”

”Stare at her,” said Mark. ”That's what Jack does, like a donk at a thistle when he can't eat any more.”