*CHAPTER XVI*
_*Pleasant Companions; Enlarging the House*_*.*
I told them, as briefly as possible, the story of my exile on theisland, to which they listened, seemingly with the greatest interest,refraining, on account of delicacy, I supposed, from asking about mystrange garb.
"And now," I said at the conclusion of my narrative, "you must makeyourselves at home and as comfortable as possible, while I see aboutdinner"--for it was just mid-day--"and then we will attend to the poorfellow who lies outside on the beach."
So saying I took my bow-gun, my guests watching me in wonder, andstarted for the thicket behind the house.
I hoped to secure a pigeon, for my companions must be in need ofnourishing food. I had the good fortune to spy a pigeon almostimmediately and to secure it with a single arrow. My companions weregreatly surprised to see me return so quickly, and after placing someyams and bread fruit to roast in the ashes, I set about plucking thepigeon. It was a plump bird, of the ring-tail variety. Half of it Ifixed over the coals to roast, and with the remainder I proceeded tomake some broth, which I succeeded very well in doing, thickening itwith crumbs of cold roasted bread fruit, and seasoning it with salt ofmy own manufacture, as I explained to my guests, while I prepared it.
After the repast, which greatly revived Mr. Harborough and his daughter,we all went to the beach, I leading the way, to where the dead sailorlay.
"Poor fellow," said Mr. Harborough, "it is the third mate. Thebarkentine carried seven men beside the captain and three mates. Wemust see if any more have come ashore." But although we searchedcarefully all along the shore up the bay, we found no other bodies. Sothe dead sailor was carried tenderly to the palm grove, where he waslaid in a grave, dug after much hard labor, and lined with grass; Ipromising to carve a head-piece for it, in the near future.
Then I took Mr. Harborough and his daughter around the neighborhood ofmy hut, showing them where I had been cast ashore, where I had gatheredthe reeds and cut the bamboos for my house, where I had discovered theyam vines; indeed, I gave them a careful history of my doingsthereabout, which used up all the afternoon. The sea, meantime, hadsubsided and the sun had dried the bush and the grass; and after afrugal meal from the remnants of the noonday repast, we sat long infront of the house beneath the tropical sky, watching the moon risingabove the feathery palm tops, while we speculated regarding the future.
The situation presented few complications, for we must simply make thebest of everything until rescued, be it days, months, or years. Mr.Harborough had most important information to communicate, namely, thatthe _Three Sisters_ had a bountiful store of food supplies and cookingutensils, as well as a rifle, shot-gun and ammunition for each. Therifle had belonged to the captain and the shot-gun to the mate, who,when opportunity offered, were accustomed to go ashore for a littlesport, shooting. To get these treasures ashore would greatly add to ourcomfort, and, although we had no boat, we resolved, very early in themorning, to set about discussing means for saving as much as possiblefrom the vessel.
Mr. Harborough, I was glad to see, took a cheerful view of thesituation, and was resolved not to despair; and Miss Harborough, also,showed her bravery by taking the greatest interest in our plans. Withsome large pieces of cocoanut cloth I screened off a corner of the room,including my couch, which was to serve as Miss Harborough's sleepingapartment, while Mr. Harborough and I stretched ourselves on the floornear the door. Before we slept I communicated to him my intention tobuild an addition to the house before attempting to do much in gettingthings from the vessel, in order to afford Miss Harborough privacy, byhaving a room to herself. He thanked me for all my kindness, and weknew no more until awakened by Puff, who, while everything was damp, hadnot been heard from. Indeed, I had, I regretted to admit, forgottenhim. But now, his feathers dry, and the morning bright and fair, hemade himself heard, indicating by all the words in his vocabulary,interspersed with shrill screeches, that he was hungry, and would brookno delay in having his wants supplied.
The morning repast finished, we adjourned to the beach to lay out a planof work for the immediate future. We had two matters to discuss: one,the most important, of devising ways and means of transporting thesupplies from the stranded barkentine to the shore, and the other, theconstruction of an addition to the house for the accommodation of MissHarborough.
"It seems to me," observed Mr. Harborough, "that we should solve theproblem of getting out to the vessel as quickly as possible; for, ifthere arises another great storm, she might break up."
"That is very true," I replied, "and your suggestion is a wise one; so,as the building of the addition to the house will not be a long task ifwe work together, let us set to work upon it at once. We will constructit in the same manner as I built this house."
It was decided that Mr. Harborough should cut the bamboos and the canes,while I would build the house, having acquired some skill from myprevious work.
"I fear you will find it laborious work, for I have only this knife," Iobserved, taking out my much-used knife.
"Ah," he replied, "I have a good knife, larger and stronger than yours;"so saying he produced a large pocket-knife, having a broad, strongblade.
"Capital," said I; "now we shall get on famously."
I conducted him to the thicket of bamboos a a little way up the stream,leaving him, while I went a little further down, to cut reeds.
"Oh, but I want to do something to help," exclaimed Miss Harborough."What can I do?"
"You can be of the greatest assistance by carrying reeds to the house.They are very light, and, besides, you can take small armfulls."
She was overjoyed at the idea, and she at once set to work with muchenthusiasm. I cut a quantity of reeds and then went back to bring somebamboos, after which I set to work cutting a door-way through the sideof the house to connect it with the extension. I pursued the samemethods as in making the main house, Mr. Harborough cutting bamboos andreeds, his daughter bringing all the filling material from the stream,while I set up the frame and wove the reeds into the walls. Thisfinished, grass was cut for thatching the roof. We worked steadily,only stopping for a bit to eat at noon, so that, by sunset, the additionwas completed. It was six by eight feet in dimensions, and it was verythoroughly made. After consulting Miss Harborough, it was decided notto have a door between the two apartments, but to hang up a curtaininstead. I suggested that the curtain be made of cocoanut cloth, and Ipromised Miss Harborough to gather the cloth in the morning, and showher how to sew it together with fine roots.
We all sat for a time in front of the house, enjoying the breeze whichblew toward the land after the sun-down, retiring early in anticipationof the work of the morrow. Before I slept I had formed a plan to reachthe barkentine on the reef, which I believed would prove successful.The morning dawned bright and cloudless, and the household was awakenedby Puff, screaming for his breakfast.
A Boy Crusoe; or, The Golden Treasure of the Virgin Islands Page 16