Part 92 (1/2)

”And keep the fire burning. There ought to be a fence along the top of the cliff.”

”Yes--that's very awkward: you can't put stakes in hard sand like that.”

”We must drive in some--and cut them sharp at the top.”

”What a pity the stockade is not sharp at the top!--Nails, that's it: we must drive in long nails and file the tops off!”

”And put some stakes with nails along the cliff--the thing could not get in quite so quick.”

”The gate is not very strong: we must barricade it.”

”Wish we could lock the door!”

”I should think so!”

Now they realised what is forgotten in the routine of civilised life-- the security of doors and bolts. Their curtain was no defence.

”Barricade the door.”

”Yes, but not too close, else we can't shoot--we should be trapped.”

”I see! Put the barricade round a little way in front. Why not have two fires, one each side!”

”Capital. We will fortify the place! Loop-holes. The weak spot will be the edge of the cliff up there. If we put a fire there people may see it--savages--and find us.”

”That won't do.”

”No: we must fortify the edge somehow, stakes with nails for one thing.

Perhaps a train of gunpowder!”

”Ah, yes. Lucky we've got plenty to eat. It won't be nice not to have the gun loaded. I mean while loading the thing might come.”

”We've got plenty to eat.”

”And I wanted a lot of shooting to-day,” said Mark.

”All that's spoiled.”

”Quite spoiled.”

Yesterday they had become intoxicated with the savage joy of killing, the savage's cruel but wild and abandoned and unutterable joy: they had planned slaughter for to-day. To-day they were themselves environed with deadly peril. This is the opposite side of wild life: the forest takes its revenge by filling the mind with ceaseless anxiety.

”The sun!” said Bevis with pleasure as the rays fell aslant into the open shed. The sun had been above the horizon some little while but had been concealed by the clouds and thick vapour. Now that the full bright light of day was come there seemed no need of such intense watchfulness.

It was hardly likely that they would be attacked in their stockade in broad daylight; the boldest beasts of prey would not do that unless driven very hard by hunger.

But when they began to prepare the breakfast, there was no water to fill the kettle: Mark generally went down to the sh.o.r.e for water every morning. Although they had no formal arrangement, in practice it had gradually come about that one did one thing and one another: Mark got the water, Bevis cut up wood for the fire. Mark had usually gone with the zinc bucket, whistling down to the strand merry enough. Now he took up the bucket, but hesitated.

”I'll come,” said Bevis. ”One can't go alone anywhere now.”

”The other must always have the matchlock ready.”