Part 22 (1/2)

”If we are going to live on the s.h.i.+p, we'll have to bring fresh water over from the other island in a cask,” said d.i.c.k. ”That will not be very handy.”

”Can't we move the wreck over?” came from Tom.

”No, lad,” answered Captain Blossom. ”She is here to stay until her timbers rot. But if we wish, we can move some of the provisions ash.o.r.e. There are the parts of a rowboat below, and I reckon I am carpenter enough to put the parts together in a day or two.”

”We have a boat on the north beach,” said old Jerry; ”we can bring it around.”

”To do that, we'll have to swim the channel again,” came from d.i.c.k.

”And I must say I don't like that.”

”Let us make a raft,” cried Tom. ”There must be plenty of material on board of the schooner for that.”

”There certainly is,” answered Captain Blossom. ”Come, we can make a raft in less than an hour.”

All set to work, and in a short s.p.a.ce of time they had the material together. Ropes and spikes were there a-plenty, and as Captain Blossom laid out one stick and another, the boys and old Jerry either nailed or tied them together. A board flooring was placed on top of the spars and then the whole affair was dumped into the bay with a loud splash. It floated very well, with the flooring a good ten inches above the surface of the water, and as the raft was nearly twenty feet long by ten wide, it was capable of carrying considerable weight.

”That's better than a boat,” said d.i.c.k. ”We can pile a good deal more stuff on it.”

”Let us get on and paddle to where we left the others,” said Tom.

”They will be anxious to learn the news.”

Captain Blossom was willing, and they took with them a variety of provisions and also some extra clothing and some firearms. Then the raft was moved to where the boys had left part of their own clothing when they had started to swim the channel.

The coming of the big raft and its pa.s.sengers to the sh.o.r.e where the cabin was located was greeted with shouts of joy from Sam and the three girls.

”Hurrah for the captain of the _Golden Wave_!” cried Sam, swinging his cap in the air. ”We are very glad to see you safe and sound.”

”And I am glad to see you,” answered Captain Blossom, as he leaped ash.o.r.e and grasped one and another by the hand. ”Last night I was thinking I would be a lonely castaway; now I find I shall have plenty of company.”

”We have brought along some provisions,” put in Tom. ”And in honor of this reunion, and also in honor of the fact that the Golden 'Wave has not been sunk, I move we invite the girls to get us up a regular feast. I think all bands deserve it.”

”Second the motion!” cried Sam.

”All right, we'll cook you anything you want,” said Nellie. ”That is, if you will supply the things.”

”I will,” answered Tom. Then he scratched his head. ”Well, by gracious!”

”What's the trouble, Tom?” asked Grace. ”Did you forget to bring along some sugar?”

”Worse than that. I brought along all sorts of good things to eat, and not a single knife, fork, spoon, or dish outside of some cooking utensils.”

”Oh, dear!” burst out Dora. ”It will be a sorry feast if we haven't anything to eat from!”

”I'll go back for the dishes,” replied Tom promptly. ”Sam, do you want to visit the wreck? We can go and come by the time the things are cooked.”

”To be sure I'll go,” said Sam; and in a few minutes more the two boys were off on the clumsy raft.

CHAPTER XVI