He was disappointed. Nothing of the nature of land was in view. The horizon, clear and well defined, surrounded him in an unbroken circle.
He was considerably2 troubled in his mind over the situation. Desert islands were all very well in their way, provided there was a chance of getting away from them. Evidently this island was well out of the regular steamer track, while sailing vessels3, running between The Cape4 and India and the Federated Malay States, would pass well to the eastward5 in order to take full advantage of the monsoons6.
The boat was practically useless as a means of leaving the island. Had there been a supply of nails in the locker7, Peter would not have hesitated to fasten a sheet of painted canvas over the holes in the garboards, and then risked a dash for Madagascar. But without suitable material that was out of the question.
Naturally of an inventive turn of mind, Peter thought out half a dozen plans to make the boat seaworthy; but, as fast as he worked out a solution of the difficulty, objections apparently8 insurmountable caused him to reject the scheme and start afresh on another tack9.
His previous error in navigation rather damped his enthusiasm, but with Preston on the road to recovery he was no longer dependent on himself. The Acting10 Chief had had years of experience of the Indian Ocean, and, knowing the set of the chief currents and the direction of the prevailing11 winds, would be of material assistance in navigating12 the boat—provided she could be made seaworthy.
Still pondering, Mostyn descended13 from the bluff14 and walked towards the camp. A more urgent problem demanded his attention: that of catering15 for the needs of his companions and himself.
The biscuits would not last out much longer, coconuts17 were unsatisfying fare, and apt to have injurious effect if used as a staple18 form of food. Whether the island possessed19 other resources, either animal or vegetable, had yet to be seen. Preliminary investigations20 had drawn21 blank in that direction.
Returning to camp, Mostyn found the others busily engaged in getting breakfast. Mahmed had found some oysters22, many of them a foot in diameter, while the lascars had surprised and killed a small turtle.
It was rather a curious fact that Mrs. Shallop, childishly ignorant on most matters, was an authority on cooking. She just "took on" the turtle as a matter of course, and by the time Peter returned the choicest parts of the animal were stewing24 over a wood fire. In the absence of a suitable pot, for the baler was far too small, the self-constituted cook had employed the shell of the turtle as a receptacle for the stew23. The oysters were eaten raw, flavoured with the vinegary milk of a young coco-nut.
But the success of the meal was the result of Mahmed's investigations. He had wandered towards the main coco-nut grove25 on the southern point of the island and had discovered a number of "jack-fruits", a species of bread-fruit. These had been sliced and roasted, forming a good substitute for bread. The lascars, however, disdained26 the fruit, and were content with the seeds, which they bruised27 and cooked in coconut16 shells.
For the moment the grim spectre of starvation had been driven away.
"I've been thinking, Peter," remarked Olive during the rest-interval. "Couldn't we make a canvas boat? We have plenty of sail-cloth, and we could use timbers and planking out of the damaged boat."
"Might," admitted Mostyn. "It would take some doing, and after all it would be a frail28 craft to carry seven people. We might try it."
He thought over the matter, and the more he did so the greater became the difficulties. Even in calm water a canvas boat, unless properly constructed of suitable materials, is a sorry craft. In the high-crested waves of the Indian Ocean she would not stand a dog's chance.
Yet Olive's suggestion was not without good result. Based upon the idea, Peter's thoughts returned to the damaged boat. Could that not be patched with canvas and strengthened by woodwork so that it would be once more seaworthy?
"By Jove, Olive!" he exclaimed. "I believe you've put me on the right tack. Come on down to the boat. We'll take the lascars with us and see what's to be done. The sooner we get away from this place the better."
Olive did not agree with the latter remark, although she made no audible comment. She was rather enjoying the novelty of the situation. Peter, on the other hand, had got over the glamour29 of desert islands. An exciting time upon a coral island in the North Pacific had cured him of that. It wasn't to be regretted from a retrospective point of view, but he did not hanker after a repetition.
By the aid of a tackle composed of the halliards and main-sheet blocks the boat was canted over and finally lowered keel uppermost. The full extent of the damage was then apparent. There was a jagged hole about nine inches in diameter through the garboard strake and the strake next to it on the port side about five feet from the stem. On the starboard hand was a smaller hole close to the bilge keel, while there was a slight fracture on the same side eighteen inches from the stern-post.
"Rather a lash-up, what?" exclaimed Peter, as he noted30 the damage. "Guess we'll be able to tackle that."
He first directed one of the lascars to trim the jagged holes with the axe31. The next step was to smooth down the planking adjacent to the gaps by means of canvas and wet sand. This done, the boat was lifted on to her side and the bottom boards removed. A corner of the axe was then employed to remove the brass32 screws from the stern-sheet benches, while the gratings were sacrificed for the sake of the brass brads that secured them.
This task occupied the whole morning.
After lunch, work was resumed. Strips of painted canvas, smeared33 with a sticky substance smelling of turpentine, were laid over the holes and tacked34 down with the brads. Over this canvas the dismembered bottom-boards were firmly screwed. In less than an hour and a half this part of the work was completed.
The boat was then turned over on her keel, and the holes levelled flush with the inside planking by means of clay found in the bed of the little stream. Over this additional canvas was tacked and pressed into position by strips of wood from the bottom boards, struts35 being fixed36 between them and the under side of the thwarts37 to counteract38 the pressure of the water.
Well before sunset the task of making the boat water-tight was completed, and Peter surveyed the result with intense satisfaction.
"To-morrow," he declared to Olive, who had been working as steadily39 as anyone, "to-morrow we'll test her. I don't think she ought to leak very much."
"Aren't we going to explore the island, Peter?" asked the girl wistfully.
Mostyn capitulated.
"Yes, certainly, if you wish," he replied. "We can do that easily in a few hours. I don't suppose you'll find it particularly interesting. You see, the weather looks as if it will be fine for some days, and I naturally want to take advantage of it. What do you say to a jaunt40 before breakfast? We could take something to eat with us, of course. That will leave the forenoon clear for testing the boat."
This suggestion was acted upon, and soon after dawn on the following day Peter and Olive set out on their tour of exploration.
It was a very enjoyable walk for both: to Mostyn because of the companionship of a jolly, unaffected girl; to Olive, because of the novelty of it all. But there was nothing of an adventure about it. The island was devoid41 of anything of a romantic nature. There were no caves, no traces of former inhabitants. It would have taken a high-flown imagination to weave a thrilling story round that isolated42 chunk43 of earth rising out of the Indian Ocean.
They saw no signs of animal life, beyond a few turtles basking44 on the coral sands, and an occasional lizard45 scooting for shelter under the trees. There was not a bird to be seen or heard.
Nor did the vegetation give much variety, although Olive discovered a grove of orange trees on the northern extremity46 of the island. To her disappointment the fruit was intensely bitter and quite unfit to eat.
They returned in time for breakfast, and were greeted warmly by Preston. Mrs. Shallop eyed them with marked disapproval47. Although she refrained from making any remark, there was a specially48 sour look upon her face. Perhaps she regretted having given her companion her dismissal, since by so doing she no longer had control over the girl's freedom.
Directly the meal was over, Peter took one of the lascars down to the beach. It was a perfect day for testing the boat, as the water was as smooth as a millpond, and the tide being full there was little difficulty in launching the repaired craft.
To Mostyn's delight and satisfaction the boat answered admirably. The canvas stood well, and beyond a few drops of water leaking through the seams owing to the action of the sun's rays, the boat was practically watertight.
Quickly the good news was conveyed to the others at the camp, and preparations were begun for the voyage.
Mrs. Shallop had baked quite a quantity of jack-fruit, and had prepared about thirty pounds of turtle-flesh, treating it with brine in order to preserve it for future use. The water-beaker was filled at the stream, and additional water carried in the shells of fully-matured coco-nuts. By two o'clock in the afternoon, just as the north-east breeze sprang up, the camp was struck and the gear stowed away on board the boat.
"Now, old man," said Peter to the Acting Chief; "no mistake this time. You set the course and I'll see that it's kept."
"Right-o!" agreed Preston.
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1
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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4
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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6
monsoons
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| n.（南亚、尤指印度洋的）季风( monsoon的名词复数 )；（与季风相伴的）雨季；（南亚地区的）雨季 | |
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7
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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8
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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9
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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10
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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12
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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13
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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15
catering
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| n. 给养 | |
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coconut
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| n.椰子 | |
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coconuts
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| n.椰子( coconut的名词复数 )；椰肉，椰果 | |
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staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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19
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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21
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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23
stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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24
stewing
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| 炖 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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disdained
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| 鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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27
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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31
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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33
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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35
struts
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| （框架的）支杆( strut的名词复数 )； 支柱； 趾高气扬的步态； （尤指跳舞或表演时）卖弄 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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38
counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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39
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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40
jaunt
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| v.短程旅游；n.游览 | |
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41
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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42
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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43
chunk
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| n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量） | |
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44
basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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45
lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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46
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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47
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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48
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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