Part 21 (1/2)

”We will have to do what we can. We will hope for the best, madam.”

The professor went on deck. His first opinion of the accident was confirmed. The _Porpoise_, in emerging from the waves, had slid well up on a sandy sh.o.r.e, where she was held fast because the tide was rapidly falling. It would be twelve hours before there would be a chance of her floating again.

The mishap had occurred because the s.h.i.+p had gotten off her course when Was.h.i.+ngton's accident occurred, and had not been set right in time.

However, as Mr. Henderson had said, there was no particular danger, unless it was found that some of the plates had been strained, which might cause a leak.

The night was pa.s.sed with the nose of the _Porpoise_ well up on sh.o.r.e, and before morning, as the tide continued to fall, more and more of the craft became exposed until the whole steel body rested on the sloping beach.

Jack was the first to awaken. He was up with the sun, and went out on the deck to take a view of the country he had often heard about. A stretch of wild landscape met his eyes, and to the left and right of the s.h.i.+p the waves were breaking on jagged rocks.

”It's a good thing we didn't hit the rocks,” thought the youth.

Mark came up on deck, and the two boys looked over the scene. It was a strange one. Beyond the beach was a low level country, green in places, with now and then a patch of what looked like trees.

”And what are those brown spots moving about?” asked Mark.

”I guess they are herds of cattle,” replied Jack. ”You know South America is a great place for them.”

For half an hour the two lads gazed about. Except for the stern of the _Porpoise_ all of the craft was now out of water, and one could have jumped from the low deck down to a mound of white sand of the beach.

”Let's go ash.o.r.e and take a run,” suggested Mark. ”I've almost forgotten how to walk on dry land.”

”Go ahead,” answered Jack. ”I'm with you.”

”All right.”

The boys lost no time in getting down to the beach. They found it hard and firm, and made their way to the strip of gra.s.s-covered land lying beyond. Up and down they wandered, finding many curious and beautifully marked sh.e.l.ls where the waves had washed them.

Suddenly Jack gave a big jump and let out a yell.

”What's the matter?” asked Mark.

”I thought I saw one of those cocoanuts move,” answered Jack, pointing to where several of the big s.h.a.ggy fruits lay under a tree from which they had fallen.

”I guess you're right,” spoke Mark. ”I certainly saw one of them take a little side step. I wonder what does it.”

As the boys watched they were surprised, to see one of the cocoanuts come toward them, apparently advancing without any visible means of locomotion.

”This is a queer country,” remarked Jack, getting ready to run in case the strangely moving cocoanut might be a warning of danger.

”Look! There's a whole lot of them moving,” cried Mark.

Sure enough a dozen or more of the nuts began to advance toward the lads. The boys were not so much afraid as they were surprised. But a few seconds later the reason for the strange sight was made plain.

As they looked they saw one of the nuts roll down a little mound of sand. Then they noticed that a big land crab was on the tiny hill and it was evident that the nut had fallen from his claws.

”It's the crabs!” exclaimed Mark. ”I remember reading about them now.

They come ash.o.r.e from the water where they live part of the time and get the cocoanuts. Then they smash the sh.e.l.ls by pounding the nuts on a stone and eat the white meat inside. They are called cocoanut crabs.”