Enid Blyton - Adv. Four 1 - The Adventurous Four

EnidBlyton:TheAdventurousFour(AdvFour#1)

CHAPTER1 TheBeginningoftheAdventures THREEchildrenrandownarockypathtotheseashore.Tomwentfirst,a THREEchildrenrandownarockypathtothese ashore.Tomwentfirst,asmall,w small,w iryboyoftwelve,hisredhairgleaminginth iryboyoftwelve,his redhairgleaminginthesun.Helookedroundat esun.Helookedroundatthetwo thetwo girlsfollowing,andhisgreeneyestwinkled. "Wantanyhelp,youtwo?" MaryandJilllaughedinscorn. "Don'tbesosilly,Tom,"saidMary."We'reas "Don'tbesosilly,To m,"saidMary."We'reasgoodasyouanydaywhen goodasyouanydaywhenwe'reru we'reru nningovertherocks." Thegirlsweretwins,andverylikeeachother Thegirlsweretwins, andverylikeeachother,withtheirheadsofthi ,withtheirheadsofthickgolden ckgolden hair,tiedinplaits,andtheirdeepblueeye hair,tiedinplaits, andtheirdeepblueeyes.Theyoftenlaughedat s.Theyoftenlaughedattheirbro theirbro therTom,andsaidheshouldhavebeencalled therTom,andsaidhe shouldhavebeencalledCarrotsorGingerorMarm CarrotsorGingerorMarmalade,be alade,be causeofhisredhair. Theywereallonholiday,stayinginalittle Theywereallonholid ay,stayinginalittlefishing-villageontheno fishing-villageonthenorth-east rth-east coastofScotland.TheirfatherwasintheAir coastofScotland.The irfatherwasintheAirForce,andtheirmother Force,andtheirmotherwaswith waswith them,knittinghardalldaylonginthegarden them,knittinghardal ldaylonginthegardenofthelittlewhitehous ofthelittlewhitehousewheret ewheret heywerestaying. Thethreeofthemhadrunwild,andwereallb Thethreeofthemhad runwild,andwereallburntasbrownasmonkeys. urntasbrownasmonkeys.Usually Usually theyworenothingbutbathingcostumesandrub theyworenothingbut bathingcostumesandrubbershoes,andspentasm bershoes,andspentasmuchofth uchofth eirtimeintheseaasoutofit. Atfirsttheirmotherhadbeenafraidoftheb Atfirsttheirmother hadbeenafraidofthebigwavesthatcrashedon igwavesthatcrashedontheshore theshore ,forshehadthoughtthethreechildrenwould ,forshehadthought thethreechildrenwouldsurelybethrownontot surelybethrownontothesanda hesanda ndhurt,iftheytriedtobatheinsucharoug ndhurt,iftheytried tobatheinsucharoughsea.Buttheyhadsoon hsea.Buttheyhadsoonlearntto learntto swimrightthroughtheheartofthebigbreak swimrightthroughth eheartofthebigbreakingwaves,andreachthe ingwaves,andreachthecalmerwa calmerwa terbeyondtheshore. Theyhadonegreatfriend--Andy,thefisher-bo Theyhadonegreatfri end--Andy,thefisher-boy.Hewasabig,strongl y.Hewasabig,strongladoffou adoffou rteen,whohadjustleftschoolandwashelpin rteen,whohadjustle ftschoolandwashelpinghisfatherwithhisfis ghisfatherwithhisfishing.And hing.And ywasdark-hairedandblue-eyed,andwasburnt ywasdark-hairedand blue-eyed,andwasburntdarkbrownbythesun.H darkbrownbythesun.Heknewev eknewev erythingaboutthesea,boats,andfishing.He erythingaboutthesea ,boats,andfishing.Hecouldmimicanysea-bird couldmimicanysea-bird,andcou ,andcou ldcall'thewildgullstohimbycryingtothem. "Andy'smarvellous,"saidMaryandJill,adoz "Andy'smarvellous,"s aidMaryandJill,adozentimesaday--andToma entimesaday--andTomagreed.Ea greed.Ea chdaythechildrenwenttotalktotheirfrie chdaythechildrenwe nttotalktotheirfriend,andto'watchhimbrin nd,andto'watchhimbringinthe ginthe catchoffish,cleanit,andpackittobesentaway. Andywastallandbrown.Hewasdressedinold Andywastallandbrow n.Hewasdressedinoldbluetrousers,andadar bluetrousers,andadark-blueje k-blueje rsey.Helikedthethreechildrenverymuch,a rsey.Helikedthethr eechildrenverymuch,andoftentookthemoutin ndoftentookthemoutinhislitt hislitt leboat.Hehadtaughtthemalltoswimlikef leboat.Hehadtaught themalltoswimlikefishes,torowstrongly,a ishes,torowstrongly,andtocli ndtocli mbtherockyclifflikecats.Itwouldreally mbtherockyclifflik ecats.Itwouldreallyhaveturnedtheirmother' haveturnedtheirmother'shairqu shairqu itewhiteifshehadseenthethingsthatthe itewhiteifshehads eenthethingsthatthethreechildrensometimes threechildrensometimestriedto triedto do! Andysatonthesideofhislittleboatandgr Andysatonthesideo fhislittleboatandgrinnedatthethreechildr innedatthethreechildrenrunnin enrunnin gdowntherockypath.Hiswhiteteethgleamed gdowntherockypath. Hiswhiteteethgleamedinhisbrownface,andh inhisbrownface,andhiseyess iseyess honeasblueasthesea.Hewasmendinganet. "Letmehelpyou,Andy,"saidMary,andsheto "Letmehelpyou,Andy ,"saidMary,andshetookupthetornnet.Herf okupthetornnet.Herfingerswe ingerswe renimbleandsheworkedwithAndywhilstthe renimbleandshework edwithAndywhilsttheotherslayontheirbacks otherslayontheirbacksontheh ontheh otsand. "Andy,didyouaskyourfatherwhatwewanted "Andy,didyouaskyou rfatherwhatwewantedyoutodo?"saidTom. youtodo?"saidTom. "Aye,Idid,"saidAndy."Hesays,yes--ifIw "Aye,Idid,"saidAnd y."Hesays,yes--ifIworkhardalltheweek." orkhardalltheweek." "Andy!Howlovely!"saidJillinexcitement." "Andy!Howlovely!"sa idJillinexcitement."Ineverthoughthe'dlet Ineverthoughthe'dletyou!" you!" "Doyoumeantosayyourfatherwillreallyle "Doyoumeantosayyo urfatherwillreallylendyouhissailing-shipt ndyouhissailing-shiptotakeus otakeus foratriptoLittleIsland?"askedMary,har foratriptoLittle Island?"askedMary,hardlybelievingherears." dlybelievingherears."Inevert Inevert houghthe'dsayyes." "Iwasrathersurprised,too,"saidAndy."But "Iwasrathersurprise d,too,"saidAndy."ButheknowsIcanhandleth heknowsIcanhandletheboatju eboatju staswellashecan.We'lltakeplentyoffoo staswellashecan. We'lltakeplentyoffoodwithus,andwe'llsail dwithus,andwe'llsailouttoL outtoL ittleIslandonFriday.Wecanspendtwodays ittleIslandonFriday .Wecanspendtwodaysandanightthere,myfat andanightthere,myfathersayshersays-andI'llshowyouwheresomequeerbirdsnest -andI'llshowyouwhe resomequeerbirdsnest--andthecovewithyello --andthecovewithyellowstoneswstones-andthecliffwhereaboutamillionbirdssitandcall."

"Oh,won'titbegorgeous!"saidTom,sittingupandhugginghisknees. "Oh,won'titbegorgeous!"saidTom,sitting upandhugginghisknees."Allby "Allby ourselves.Nogrown-ups.Alittleisland,far ourselves.Nogrown-up s.Alittleisland,farawayovertheretotheea awayovertheretotheeast--andn st--andn ooneonitbutourselves!Toogoodtobetrue." Ingreatexcitementthechildrenmadetheirpl Ingreatexcitementth echildrenmadetheirplans."Let'stakeplentyo ans."Let'stakeplentyoffood," ffood," saidTom,whowasalwayshungry."Idon'tknow saidTom,whowasalwa yshungry."Idon'tknowwhy,butwhenI'mouton why,butwhenI'moutonthesea thesea IfeelIcouldeatallthetime." "SodoI,"saidMary."It'sawful.I'venever "SodoI,"saidMary. "It'sawful.I'veneverfeltsohungryinmylife feltsohungryinmylifeasIhav asIhav esincewecamehere." "Well,we'llgetheapsoffood,"saidTom."An "Well,we'llgetheaps offood,"saidTom."AndI'llbringmyfield-gla dI'llbringmyfield-glasses,so sses,so thatwecanseethebirdswell." "Andyou'llbringwarmclothesandrugswithyou,"saidAndy. "Oh,Andy!Weshan'tneedthose,surely!"said "Oh,Andy!Weshan'tn eedthose,surely!"saidJill."ThisSeptemberis Jill."ThisSeptemberisjustabo justabo utthehottestI'veeverknown." "Itwillbreaksoon,"saidAndy."Andifitha "Itwillbreaksoon," saidAndy."Andifithappenstoturncoldwhilst ppenstoturncoldwhilstwe'rein we'rein theboat,you'llnotlikeit." "Allright,"saidTom."We'llbringanything, "Allright,"saidTom. "We'llbringanything,solongaswecango.Is solongaswecango.Isay--what ay--what aboutthegramophone?Musicsoundslovelyonthewater." Andywasfondofmusic,sohenodded.Theboat Andywasfondofmusic ,sohenodded.Theboatwasquiteabigone,and wasquiteabigone,andevenhad evenhad alittlecabintositin,withatinytablea alittlecabintosit in,withatinytableandstool,abenchandbun ndstool,abenchandbunk.Nobody k.Nobody couldstandinit,butthatdidn'tmatter.Th couldstandinit,bu tthatdidn'tmatter.Thethreechildrenhadofte ethreechildrenhadoftencrowded ncrowded intoittogether,whilstAndysailedtheshiparoundthebay. Theyhadalwayslongedtovisittheislandtha Theyhadalwayslonged tovisittheislandthatAndyhadtoldthemabou tAndyhadtoldthemabout--anisl t--anisl andofbirds,aqueerrockyplacewithastran andofbirds,aqueer rockyplacewithastrangecovewheremostofthe gecovewheremostofthestonesw stonesw ereyellow.ButitwassofarfromtheCoastt ereyellow.Butitwas sofarfromtheCoastthatithadnotbeenpossi hatithadnotbeenpossibletovi bletovi sititinaday. Andnowtheyhadpermissiontogooffinthes Andnowtheyhadpermi ssiontogooffinthesailing-boatbelongingto ailing-boatbelongingtoAndy'sfa Andy'sfa ther,andspendthenightontheisland!Itwo ther,andspendtheni ghtontheisland!Itwouldbethegreatestadven uldbethegreatestadventureoft tureoft heirlives. OnThursday,thethreechildrentiredthemselv OnThursday,thethree childrentiredthemselvesouttakingfood,rugs, esouttakingfood,rugs,andothe andothe rthingsdowntotheboat.Andystaredinasto rthingsdowntotheb oat.Andystaredinastonishmentattheamountof nishmentattheamountoffood. food. "Areyouwantingtofeedanarmy?"heasked." "Areyouwantingtofe edanarmy?"heasked."Sixtinsofsoup--sixtin Sixtinsofsoup--sixtinsoffrui soffrui t--tinsoftongue--chocolate--Nestle'smilk--b t--tinsoftongue--cho colate--Nestle'smilk--biscuits--cocoa--sugar--an iscuits--cocoa--sugar--andwhateve dwhateve r'sthis?" "Oh--that'stinnedsausages,"saidTom,going "Oh--that'stinnedsau sages,"saidTom,goingratherred."OldMrs.Mac ratherred."OldMrs.MacPhersona Phersona tthevillageshopsaidtheywereawfullygood tthevillageshopsai dtheywereawfullygood--soIbroughtsome.Thin --soIbroughtsome.Thinkofcook kofcook ingsausagesinatinontheLittleIsland,Andy." "Tom'smadonsausages,"saidJill."He'dlike "Tom'smadonsausages ,"saidJill."He'dlikethemforbreakfast,dinn themforbreakfast,dinner,andt er,andt ea.Look--willtheserugsbeenough,Andy?" "Yes,"saidAndy,lookingattheoddcollectio "Yes,"saidAndy,look ingattheoddcollectionofoldrugsthatJillh nofoldrugsthatJillhadmanage admanage dtogettogether."Nowmindyouallwearwarm dtogettogether."No wmindyouallwearwarmclothes,too--skirtsand clothes,too--skirtsandjerseys, jerseys, yougirls--andshortsandjerseyforyou,Tom yougirls--andshorts andjerseyforyou,Tom.Youhaven'tgottrouser .Youhaven'tgottrousers,havey s,havey ou?" "No,"saidTomsadly."Idon'tsupposeyourfa "No,"saidTomsadly. "Idon'tsupposeyourfatherwouldlendmeapair therwouldlendmeapair,wouldh ,wouldh e,Andy?" "He'sonlygottheonepair,andhisSundayon "He'sonlygottheone pair,andhisSundayones,"saidAndy."AndI've es,"saidAndy."AndI'veonlygot onlygot theonesI'mwearing.Nowareyougoingtobr theonesI'mwearing. Nowareyougoingtobringthegramophone?Weca ingthegramophone?Wecanputit nputit safelyinthecabin,ifyoulike." Tomwentbacktogetit,andsoonbroughtitd Tomwentbacktogeti t,andsoonbroughtitdowntotheboat,withap owntotheboat,withapacketof acketof records.Healsobroughtatinoftoffeeandacamera. "I'dliketotakesomepicturesofthebirds," "I'dliketotakesome picturesofthebirds,"hesaid."We'vegotabi hesaid."We'vegotabird-cluba rd-cluba tourschool,andIguessIcouldtakebackso tourschool,andIgu essIcouldtakebacksomephotographsthatwould mephotographsthatwouldbeateve beateve ryoneelse's.GollyIAren'twegoingtohaveafinetime!" "Whattimedowestart,Andy?"askedJill,loo "Whattimedowestart ,Andy?"askedJill,lookingwithprideatthest kingwithprideatthesturdylitt urdylitt lefishing-boatthatwasgoingtotakethemon lefishing-boatthatw asgoingtotakethemontheiradventure.Itsbro theiradventure.Itsbrownsailw wnsailw asnowfurled--butto-morrowitwouldflyint asnowfurled--buttomorrowitwouldflyinthebreeze,anddrivethe hebreeze,anddrivetheboatover boatover theblue-greenseaformiles. "Bedownhereathalf-pastsix,"saidAndy."I "Bedownhereathalfpastsix,"saidAndy."Ireckonwe'llbeatthei reckonwe'llbeattheislandby slandby aboutthreeintheafternoonthen." Thethreechildrencouldhardlysleepthatnig Thethreechildrencou ldhardlysleepthatnight.MaryandJillkeptca ht.MaryandJillkeptcallingout llingout toTom,andatlasttheirmothercameuptothem,veryangry.

"Oh,won'titbegorgeous!"saidTom,sittingupandhugginghisknees. "Oh,won'titbegorgeous!"saidTom,sitting upandhugginghisknees."Allby "Allby ourselves.Nogrown-ups.Alittleisland,far ourselves.Nogrown-up s.Alittleisland,farawayovertheretotheea awayovertheretotheeast--andn st--andn ooneonitbutourselves!Toogoodtobetrue." Ingreatexcitementthechildrenmadetheirpl Ingreatexcitementth echildrenmadetheirplans."Let'stakeplentyo ans."Let'stakeplentyoffood," ffood," saidTom,whowasalwayshungry."Idon'tknow saidTom,whowasalwa yshungry."Idon'tknowwhy,butwhenI'mouton why,butwhenI'moutonthesea thesea IfeelIcouldeatallthetime." "SodoI,"saidMary."It'sawful.I'venever "SodoI,"saidMary. "It'sawful.I'veneverfeltsohungryinmylife feltsohungryinmylifeasIhav asIhav esincewecamehere." "Well,we'llgetheapsoffood,"saidTom."An "Well,we'llgetheaps offood,"saidTom."AndI'llbringmyfield-gla dI'llbringmyfield-glasses,so sses,so thatwecanseethebirdswell." "Andyou'llbringwarmclothesandrugswithyou,"saidAndy. "Oh,Andy!Weshan'tneedthose,surely!"said "Oh,Andy!Weshan'tn eedthose,surely!"saidJill."ThisSeptemberis Jill."ThisSeptemberisjustabo justabo utthehottestI'veeverknown." "Itwillbreaksoon,"saidAndy."Andifitha "Itwillbreaksoon," saidAndy."Andifithappenstoturncoldwhilst ppenstoturncoldwhilstwe'rein we'rein theboat,you'llnotlikeit." "Allright,"saidTom."We'llbringanything, "Allright,"saidTom. "We'llbringanything,solongaswecango.Is solongaswecango.Isay--what ay--what aboutthegramophone?Musicsoundslovelyonthewater." Andywasfondofmusic,sohenodded.Theboat Andywasfondofmusic ,sohenodded.Theboatwasquiteabigone,and wasquiteabigone,andevenhad evenhad alittlecabintositin,withatinytablea alittlecabintosit in,withatinytableandstool,abenchandbun ndstool,abenchandbunk.Nobody k.Nobody couldstandinit,butthatdidn'tmatter.Th couldstandinit,bu tthatdidn'tmatter.Thethreechildrenhadofte ethreechildrenhadoftencrowded ncrowded intoittogether,whilstAndysailedtheshiparoundthebay. Theyhadalwayslongedtovisittheislandtha Theyhadalwayslonged tovisittheislandthatAndyhadtoldthemabou tAndyhadtoldthemabout--anisl t--anisl andofbirds,aqueerrockyplacewithastran andofbirds,aqueer rockyplacewithastrangecovewheremostofthe gecovewheremostofthestonesw stonesw ereyellow.ButitwassofarfromtheCoastt ereyellow.Butitwas sofarfromtheCoastthatithadnotbeenpossi hatithadnotbeenpossibletovi bletovi sititinaday. Andnowtheyhadpermissiontogooffinthes Andnowtheyhadpermi ssiontogooffinthesailing-boatbelongingto ailing-boatbelongingtoAndy'sfa Andy'sfa ther,andspendthenightontheisland!Itwo ther,andspendtheni ghtontheisland!Itwouldbethegreatestadven uldbethegreatestadventureoft tureoft heirlives. OnThursday,thethreechildrentiredthemselv OnThursday,thethree childrentiredthemselvesouttakingfood,rugs, esouttakingfood,rugs,andothe andothe rthingsdowntotheboat.Andystaredinasto rthingsdowntotheb oat.Andystaredinastonishmentattheamountof nishmentattheamountoffood. food. "Areyouwantingtofeedanarmy?"heasked." "Areyouwantingtofe edanarmy?"heasked."Sixtinsofsoup--sixtin Sixtinsofsoup--sixtinsoffrui soffrui t--tinsoftongue--chocolate--Nestle'smilk--b t--tinsoftongue--cho colate--Nestle'smilk--biscuits--cocoa--sugar--an iscuits--cocoa--sugar--andwhateve dwhateve r'sthis?" "Oh--that'stinnedsausages,"saidTom,going "Oh--that'stinnedsau sages,"saidTom,goingratherred."OldMrs.Mac ratherred."OldMrs.MacPhersona Phersona tthevillageshopsaidtheywereawfullygood tthevillageshopsai dtheywereawfullygood--soIbroughtsome.Thin --soIbroughtsome.Thinkofcook kofcook ingsausagesinatinontheLittleIsland,Andy." "Tom'smadonsausages,"saidJill."He'dlike "Tom'smadonsausages ,"saidJill."He'dlikethemforbreakfast,dinn themforbreakfast,dinner,andt er,andt ea.Look--willtheserugsbeenough,Andy?" "Yes,"saidAndy,lookingattheoddcollectio "Yes,"saidAndy,look ingattheoddcollectionofoldrugsthatJillh nofoldrugsthatJillhadmanage admanage dtogettogether."Nowmindyouallwearwarm dtogettogether."No wmindyouallwearwarmclothes,too--skirtsand clothes,too--skirtsandjerseys, jerseys, yougirls--andshortsandjerseyforyou,Tom yougirls--andshorts andjerseyforyou,Tom.Youhaven'tgottrouser .Youhaven'tgottrousers,havey s,havey ou?" "No,"saidTomsadly."Idon'tsupposeyourfa "No,"saidTomsadly. "Idon'tsupposeyourfatherwouldlendmeapair therwouldlendmeapair,wouldh ,wouldh e,Andy?" "He'sonlygottheonepair,andhisSundayon "He'sonlygottheone pair,andhisSundayones,"saidAndy."AndI've es,"saidAndy."AndI'veonlygot onlygot theonesI'mwearing.Nowareyougoingtobr theonesI'mwearing. Nowareyougoingtobringthegramophone?Weca ingthegramophone?Wecanputit nputit safelyinthecabin,ifyoulike." Tomwentbacktogetit,andsoonbroughtitd Tomwentbacktogeti t,andsoonbroughtitdowntotheboat,withap owntotheboat,withapacketof acketof records.Healsobroughtatinoftoffeeandacamera. "I'dliketotakesomepicturesofthebirds," "I'dliketotakesome picturesofthebirds,"hesaid."We'vegotabi hesaid."We'vegotabird-cluba rd-cluba tourschool,andIguessIcouldtakebackso tourschool,andIgu essIcouldtakebacksomephotographsthatwould mephotographsthatwouldbeateve beateve ryoneelse's.GollyIAren'twegoingtohaveafinetime!" "Whattimedowestart,Andy?"askedJill,loo "Whattimedowestart ,Andy?"askedJill,lookingwithprideatthest kingwithprideatthesturdylitt urdylitt lefishing-boatthatwasgoingtotakethemon lefishing-boatthatw asgoingtotakethemontheiradventure.Itsbro theiradventure.Itsbrownsailw wnsailw asnowfurled--butto-morrowitwouldflyint asnowfurled--buttomorrowitwouldflyinthebreeze,anddrivethe hebreeze,anddrivetheboatover boatover theblue-greenseaformiles. "Bedownhereathalf-pastsix,"saidAndy."I "Bedownhereathalfpastsix,"saidAndy."Ireckonwe'llbeatthei reckonwe'llbeattheislandby slandby aboutthreeintheafternoonthen." Thethreechildrencouldhardlysleepthatnig Thethreechildrencou ldhardlysleepthatnight.MaryandJillkeptca ht.MaryandJillkeptcallingout llingout toTom,andatlasttheirmothercameuptothem,veryangry.

"Now,ifIhearonemore,shout,Ishallforbidyoutogoto-morrow,"s "Now,ifIhearonemore,shout,Ishallforbi dyoutogoto-morrow,"shesaid. hesaid. "Youwillhavetobeupatsixo'clock--andit "Youwillhavetobeu patsixo'clock--andit'snearlyhalf-pasttenn 'snearlyhalf-pasttennow.Goto ow.Goto sleep." Thechildrenweresoafraidthattheirmother Thechildrenweresoa fraidthattheirmotherreallywouldforbidthem reallywouldforbidthemtogotha togotha ttheysaidnotawordmore.Theyturnedonth ttheysaidnotaword more.Theyturnedontheirsidesandfellasleep eirsidesandfellasleep. . Atsixo'clockallthree-weredressinghurrie Atsixo'clockallthr ee-weredressinghurriedly.Itwasamagnificent dly.Itwasamagnificentday.The day.The easternskywasglowingredatdawn,andwas easternskywasglowi ngredatdawn,andwasnowpinkandgold.Thesu nowpinkandgold.Thesunwasalr nwasalr eadywarmontheirfacesastheylookedoutof eadywarmontheirfac esastheylookedoutofthelittlecottagewindo thelittlecottagewindow. w. Theirmotherwasawake.Thechildrenkissedhe Theirmotherwasawake .Thechildrenkissedhergood-byeandrandownt rgood-byeandrandowntherocky herocky pathtothebeach.Andywasalreadythere--but pathtothebeach.And ywasalreadythere--buttothechildren'ssurpri tothechildren'ssurpriseheloo seheloo kedrathergrave. "I'mthinkingweshouldn'tgo,"hesaid,asso "I'mthinkingweshoul dn'tgo,"hesaid,assoonashesawthechildren onashesawthechildren. . "Andy!Whateverdoyoumean?"theycried. "Maybeyoudidn'tseetheskythismorning?"s "Maybeyoudidn'tsee theskythismorning?"saidAndy."Itwasasred aidAndy."Itwasasredasthege asthege raniuminourwindow.Itwasarightqueersky raniuminourwindow. Itwasarightqueersky--andI'mthinkingastor --andI'mthinkingastormwillbl mwillbl owupto-dayorto-morrow." "Oh,don'tbesuchaspoil-sport,Andy,"said "Oh,don'tbesuchas poil-sport,Andy,"saidTom.climbingintothebo Tom.climbingintotheboat."What at."What doesastormmatter?We'llbeontheislandb doesastormmatter? We'llbeontheislandbeforeitcomes--andifon eforeitcomes--andifonecomest ecomest o-morrowwecanwaitanotherdayontheisland o-morrowwecanwaita notherdayontheisland.We'veplentyoffood." .We'veplentyoffood." "Ifmyfatherhadn'tgoneoutinmyuncle'ssh "Ifmyfatherhadn'tg oneoutinmyuncle'sshiptofish,Ithinkhe'd iptofish,Ithinkhe'dbestoppi bestoppi ngusfromgoing,"saidAndydoubtfully,"But ngusfromgoing,"sai dAndydoubtfully,"Butmaybethestormwillblow maybethestormwillblowofftot offtot heeast.Getin,then.I'mgladtoseeyou've heeast.Getin,then. I'mgladtoseeyou'vegotyourjerseyson.Ift gotyourjerseyson.Ifthewindb hewindb lowsup,we'llbecoldtonight." "I'vegotmybathing-suitonunderneath,"said "I'vegotmybathing-s uitonunderneath,"saidJill."Sohavetheother Jill."Sohavetheothers.Comeo s.Comeo n,Andy--pushoff.I'msimplylongingtogo!" Andypushedoff.Theboatgratedovertheston Andypushedoff.Theb oatgratedoverthestones,andthenrodeintoth es,andthenrodeintothewaves. ewaves. Andyjumpedinlightly.HeandTomtooktheoa Andyjumpedinlightly .HeandTomtooktheoars.Theydidnotmeanto rs.Theydidnotmeantoputupth putupth esailtilltheycameoutofthebayintothefullsea. Itwasamarvellousmorning.Theseawasfull Itwasamarvellousmo rning.Theseawasfullofsparklesandtwinklesofsparklesandtwinkles--itwasb -itwasb lueandpurpleatadistance,cleargreenbyt lueandpurpleatadi stance,cleargreenbytheboat.Maryletherhan heboat.Maryletherhanddragin ddragin thecoolwater.Shewasveryhappy.Jillwas thecoolwater.Shew asveryhappy.Jillwashappytoo.Shelayonher happytoo.Shelayonherbackin backin theboat,lookingupatthecornflower-bluesk theboat,lookingupa tthecornflower-bluesky,feelingtheboatbobbi y,feelingtheboatbobbingupand ngupand downonthewaves. Tomwashappytoo.Helovedtopullattheoar Tomwashappytoo.He lovedtopullattheoars.Heenjoyedthinkingof s.Heenjoyedthinkingofhisbrea hisbrea kfast,andplannedwhathewouldhave. OnlyAndywasnothappy.Hefeltinhisbones OnlyAndywasnothapp y.Hefeltinhisbonesthatheshouldnothavet thatheshouldnothavetakenthe akenthe childrenoutthatmorning,Hefeltsurethisw childrenoutthatmorn ing,Hefeltsurethiswasnotgoingtobethewo asnotgoingtobethewonderfuld nderfuld aytheyhadplanned.Hewishedhisfatherhad aytheyhadplanned.H ewishedhisfatherhadbeentheretoadvisehim beentheretoadvisehimandhean andhean xiouslywatchedtheskyforcloudsButtherew xiouslywatchedthesk yforcloudsButtherewasnotonetobeseen. asnotonetobeseen. "Nowwe'rereallyoffonouradventure,"said "Nowwe'rereallyoff onouradventure,"saidJill."Reallyoff!" Jill."Reallyoff!" Butshedidn'tknowwhatanextraordinaryadve Butshedidn'tknowwh atanextraordinaryadventureitwasgoingtobe! ntureitwasgoingtobe!

CHAPTER2 LostintheStorm ASsoonastheboatwasclearofthebayAndyputupthesail.Itwasa ASsoonastheboatwasclearofthebayAndy putupthesail.Itwasaprettyb prettyb rownone,likethesailsofalltheotherfish rownone,likethesai lsofalltheotherfishing-boatsofthevillage. ing-boatsofthevillage.Itbillo Itbillo wedoutinthebreeze,andtheboatspedalong wedoutinthebreeze, andtheboatspedalong.Theboysshippedtheoa .Theboysshippedtheoars. rs. "I'llsteer,"saidTom,andhetookthetiller "I'llsteer,"saidTom ,andhetookthetiller.Thesailflapped,ands .Thesailflapped,andsprayflew prayflew upfromunderthebowsoftheboat.Itwaslovely. "Wegonorth-east,"saidAndy."Canyousteer "Wegonorth-east,"sa idAndy."Canyousteerbythesun,Tom?" bythesun,Tom?" "Ofcourse,"saidTom,whohadlearnttotell "Ofcourse,"saidTom, whohadlearnttotellti?etimealmosttotheh ti?etimealmosttothehalf-hour alf-hour bylookingtoseeexactlywherethesunwas." bylookingtoseeexac tlywherethesunwas."I'mgoingright,aren'tI I'mgoingright,aren'tI,Andy?A ,Andy?A ndImakeitabouthalf-pastsevenbythesun." "It'stwenty-pastseven,"saidJill,lookinga "It'stwenty-pastseve n,"saidJill,lookingatherwatch.Shewhispere therwatch.Shewhisperedsomethi dsomethi ngtoMary,whogiggled. "Whatareyougigglingat?"askedTom. "Tellyouinaminute,"saidJill.Theboatfl "Tellyouinaminute, "saidJill.Theboatflewonoverthegreenwate ewonoverthegreenwater,andth r,andth espraywhippedoffthesea,andfellcooland espraywhippedoffth esea,andfellcoolandsilveryonthechildren. silveryonthechildren.

"Golly!"saidTom,inhalfaminute."Iamhungry.Whattimearewegoingtohav ebreakfast?" Thetwinsburstintosquealsoflaughter."That'swhatwewhisperedaboutjustn ow!"saidJill."IsaidtoMary'IguessthenextthingTomsayswillbethathe 'shungryandwhataboutbreakfast.'Andsureenoughyoudid." Tomlaughed."Well,Iguessyoufeelthesame,"hesaid."Goondownintotheli ttlecabinandseewhatyoucangetforourbreakfast.AndyandIarebusy." Thegirlswentintothetinycabin,whichwascrammedfullofthen-foodandoth erbelongings."Whatshallwehaveforbreakfast?"saidJill."Whataboutpine-a pplechunks--andthesehard-boiledeggsMrs.Andrewsdidforusyesterdayevenin g--andsomeNestle'smilk--andchocolate?" Itwasamostpeculiarbreakfast,butthefourchildrenthoughtitwaslovely.T heyhadthreeloavesofbreadwiththem,andsomebutter,andtheydabbedthebu tterontochunksofbread,tooktheeggsinthen-handandbitfirstattheegg andthenatthebread.Jillputapaperofsaltdownonthedeckforthemtodip theeggsinto. "Fathead!"saidTom,asthewindpromptlyblewawaypaper,salt,andall."Asif theseaisn'tsaltenoughalreadywithoutaddingmoresalttoit!Isthereany more?" Therewassomeinatin,andasthisdidn'tblowawaythechildrenhadplenty.T herewasfreshwaterinabarrel,andeveryoriedippedinacupandhadadrink . "Thatwasafinebreakfast,"saidTom."Icoulddowithitalloveragain." "I'mgoingtotakeoffmyjerseyandskirt,"saidJill.Tinsimplycooking!" "SoamI,"saidMary.Theboysfelthottoo,forthesunwasnowpouringdownfi ercely.Tomtookoffhisjersey,butAndydidn'tremovehis.HealwayskeptEis on,whatevertheweatherwas. "Thisissimplygorgeous,"saidJill,lyingonarugonthedeck,feelingthesp raysplashonherhotfaceandarmseverynowandagain."HowIdolovetofeel theboatbobbingupanddown,upanddownallthetime!CanIhaveaturnatthe tillersoon,Tom?" "Everybodycan,"saidTom."It'sagrandfeelingtoSithereandguidetheflyin gboat.Howthewindisgettingup!Thesailisbillowingoutlikethewingsof abird." Thesailing-boatsimplyflewoverthewater."WeshallbeatLittleIslandbefor ethreeo'clockifwegoonlikethis,"saidAndy. "I'msohotinthesun,"saidJill.Shewasshelteredwhereshelay,andfeltha rdlyanywind."IwishIcouldbedraggedbehindtheboatonarope,inthecool water." Themorningslidon.Thesunrosehigherandhigherandatnoonitwassohotth ateveryoneputonsun-hats.Thewindwasstillstrongandwhippedthetopsfro mthewavesastheboatflewalong. "It'spastnoon,"saidTom."Whatabout..." "Aspotoflunch!"chantedeveryone,knowingexactlywhatTomwasgoingtosay. "I'mmorethirstythanhungry,"saidJill."Whatareyoulookingworriedabout, Andy?" "Queercolourtheskyisgettingoveryonder,"saidAndy,noddinghisheadtoth ewest. Theyalllooked."It'ssortofcoppery,"saidTom. "There'sastormblowingup,"saidAndy,sniffingtheairlikeadog."Icansme llit." Andyalwayssaidhecouldsmellastorm,andhewasalwaysright.Thechildrenl ookedanxiouslytowardsthewest."Shallwegettotheislandbeforeitcomes?" askedJill."Astormisallverywelltoreadaboutinabook--butIdon'treall ywanttobeinoneoutontheopensea." "We'lldoourbest,"saidAndy."Thelittleboatcan'tgofasterthanshe'sgoin gnow.Asitisthesailisalmostsplittingwiththewind!" Theseaturnedastrangecolour,akindofblue-brown."It'scausedbytherefle ctionofthatfunnysky,"saidJill,halfnervous."Isay!It'squeerbeingout hereonthesea,milesawayfromland,withtheseaandtheskydoingoddthings

likethis." Thenanevenstrangerthinghappened.Thewind,whichhadbeenblowingverystro nglyindeed,droppedcompletely.Onemomentitwasblowingthechildren'shairs traightback,astheyfacedthewest--thenexttherewasnotabreathofair.Th eseafellcalmandoily.Thelittlefishing-boatstoppedrunninginfrontofth ewind,androdesilentlyoverthewaves,asifshewereatanchor. "Isay!That'sfunny,"saidTom."Notabitofbreezenow!Andy,we'llneverget totheislandifwedon'tgetsomewind.Shallwerow?" "No,"saidAndy,hisfaceratherpaleunderitsdarkbrown."No,Tom.You'llget plentyofwindinaminute--morethanwewant.Wemusttakeinsomeofthesail .Theshipwillheelrightoverifweletherhaveallthissailwhennextthew indgetsup.There'sgoingtobeagale.Icanhearitcoming." Therewasaqueerhummingnoiseintheairthatseemedtocomefromnowhereata ll.Thenanenormouspurplecloudblewupfromthewestandcompletelycoveredt hesun.Theworldwentdark,andgreatspotsofrainfell. "It'scomingnow,"saidAndy."Helpmewiththesail,Tom.Takethetiller,Jill .Keepherheadingthewaywe'vebeengoing.Pull,Tom,pull." Theypulledatthebigbrownsail--butbeforetheyhaddonewhattheywantedto thestormbroke.Agreatcrashofthundercamefromtheblackcloud,andaflash oflightningsplittheskyinhalf. Andthenthegalecame.Tomandthegirlshadnever,neverimaginedtherecould besuchawind.Theycouldnothearthemselvesspeakunlesstheyshouted.Andyy elledtothegirls: "Getdownintothecabin,quick,andshutthedoorandstaythere." "Oh,let'sbehere,"criedJill.ButAndylookedsosternandcommandingthatth eydidnotdaretodisobey.TheyalmostfellintothecabinandshutthedoorOu tsidethewindseemedtogetavoice--avoicethathowledandwailedandlashed theseaintoenormouswavesthatsentthelittleboathalf-overeverytime.Tins andeverythingelsebegantofallabout.Thegirlspickedthemupandputthem wheretheycouldnotfall. Therewasacrashasthepacketofrecordsfelldown."Blow!"criedJill."They' llallbebroken!" Sotheywere--allbutone.ItwasverysadThegirlscarefullyputtheonewhole recordintoasafeplaceandwonderedwhattheboyswouldsaywhentheyknew.B utitcouldn'tbehelped. Upabove,onthedeck,thetwoboysstruggledwiththewindandthesea.Tomhad hadnotimetogetintohisjersey,soallhehadonwasabathing-suitandsho rts.Heshiveredaswaveafterwavesplashedonhim.andthewindwhippedby. Thedeckwaswetandslippery.Thedark-greenwavesracedby,andtheboatclimb eduponesteepwaveafteranother,andsliddowntheotherside,onlytoclimb upanotherenormouswaveagain.Upanddown,upanddownshewent,whilstAndys truggledwiththesail. "Whatareyoutryingtodo?"yelledTom,whowasatthetiller. "Takeinallthesail,"shoutedbackAndy."Wecan'tgoonlikethis.We'llbeo ver." Buthedidn'tneedtobother--forsuddenlythesailrippeditselfoffthemast, flappedwildlyforasecondandthenspedawayintothesky.Itwasgone!Onlya littleragwasleft,wrigglingmadlyinthewind.Theboatsloweddownatonce, foritnolongerhadthesailtotakeitalong.Buteventhelittleragofsail thatwasleftwasenoughtotakeitatagoodspeedoverthewaves.Andysaidn othing.HetookthetillerwithTom,andtogethertheboysfaced"thestorm.Thu nderrolledaroundandcrashedintheskies.Lightningflickeredandlightedup thevastheavingwasteofgrey-blacksea.Stingingrainfelleverynowandagain ,andtheboysbenttheirheadstoitandshuttheireyes.Thewindlashedthem andthespraywhippedthem.Ifthiswasanadventure,therewasagreatdealtoo muchofit! "Doyouthinkwe'reallright,Andy?"shoutedTom."Areweneartheisland?" "Ireckonwe'vepassedit!"yelledbackAndy."Attheratewe'vebeengoingwe'd havebeentherebynow.Goodnessknowswhereweare!" TomstaredatAndyinsilence.Passedtheisland!Astormbehindthem!Nosail!

Whateverweretheygoingtodo?

CHAPTER3 Shipwreck! FORalongtimetheboatwentonandon,itslittleragofsailstillflapping. Tomthoughtthatthesailitselfmusthavereachedthegreatdarkcloudthatsti llcoveredthesky,thewindwassostrong. "Ishouldthinkthiswind'salmostahurricane,isn'tit?"yelledTom. "Prettynear,"shoutedAndy."Butit'sblowingitselfoutnow." Sureenough,itwas.Everynowandagaintherewasalullwhenthewinddropped toastiffbreeze.Thenitwouldblowagainfuriously.Thethunderwasnolonger overhead,butfarofftotheeast.Thelightningshimmerednowandagain,butd idnotlightuptheseawiththefiercebrillianceithadtwoorthreehoursbac k. Then,justassuddenlyasithadcome,thestormflewoffItwasmostastonishin g.Asheetofbrightblueskyappearedinthewest,andswiftlygrewbiggerast hegreatcloudflewtotheeastThewdrldgrewlightagain.Therainstopped.Th ewinddieddowntoabreeze,andtheboatnolongerseemedtoclimbupanddown steephills. Thecabindooropened,andtwogreenfaceslookedoutsadly."We'vebeenawfully sea-sickdownhere,"saidJill."Itwasdreadful." "Whatafrightfulstorm!"saidMary."Arewenearlyattheisland?" "We'vepassedit,Andysays,"saidTomgloomily."Wedon'tknowwhereweare." "Goodness!Look,thesail'sgone!"saidMary,shocked."Whatarewetodofora sail?" "There'sanoldonedowninthecabin,"saidAndy."Fetchit,willyou--andI'll seeifIcandosomethingwithit." Thesunshonedownagain.Itwasgloriouslyhot.PoorTom,whohadbeenchilled tothebone,lovedit.Hestrippedoffhiswetbathing-suit,andputonhisjers ey.Ah,thatwasbetter! Andydidnotseemtofeeleithercoldorwet.Hetooktheoldsailandhadagoo dlookatit.Hethoughthecouldrigit,withTom'shelp.Theymusthaveasail ofsomesorttogetanywhere. "I'veheardmyfathersaytherearesomedesolate,rockyislandsupawaytothe northofLittleIsland,"saidAndy,hiswetjerseysteaminginthehotsunshine. "We'llmakeforthose.Maybetheremightbesomeonethere--orwecouldsignala shipforhelp.Idon'treckonwe'regoingtogethomeanytooeasilynow." Atlasttheoldsailwasflyinginthebreeze.Andyheadedduenorth.Itwasabo utfiveo'clocknow,andallthechildrenwereveryhungry. JillandMaryhadforgottentheirsea-sicknessandwentbelowtogetsomefood. Soontheywere,alleatingheartily,andfeltmuchbetter.Theydrankallthewa terbeforeAndyknewtherewasnoneleft. "Weshouldn'thavedonethat,"hesaid."Ifwedon'tstriketheseislandsI'mth inkingof,we'llhavenowaterto-morrow.Leavethoseapples,Mary.Wemightbe gladofthejuiceinthemorning." Maryhadbeenabouttobiteintoajuicyapple,butshehastilyputitdown.In silencesheandJillpackedtheapplesawaycarefullyinthecabin.Boththegir lsfeltworried.Whateverwouldtheirmotherbethinking,whenthatterriblesto rmblewup?Theywishedtheyweresafelybackathome. Theboatsailedontothenorth.Thesunslippedlowintothewest,andtheboat 'sshadowlaypurpleonthesea.Itwasabeautifulevening. "Look!Gulls!"saidAndy,atlast."Maybewearenearingland.Can'tseeany,th ough.We'dbetteranchorforthenight,Ishouldthink." Andthenthechildrengotagreatshock.Therewasnoanchor!Andystaredinhor ror.Howcouldhepossiblyhaveforgottenthathisfatherhadwarnedhimtotake theoldanchorbecausehewaslendingAndy%unclehisown?Howcouldhehavefo rgotten?Nowtheycouldn'tanchortheirship.Nowtheywouldhavetorideonthe seauntiltheycametoland--andinthenighttheymightstrikearock!

Andystaredovertherestlessseaindismay.Well--therewasnothingforitbut tohopeforthebest.Oneofthemmustbeatthehelmallnightlong.Ttwouldb eamoonlightnightifonlytheskywasnotclouded.Perhapstheywouldbelucky andsightland. JillandMaryweretiredout.Andyorderedthemtogobelowandrest."You'dbet tergotoo,Tom,"hesaid."You'llhavetocomeupandtakeyourturnondeckto -night,andyou'dbettergetanapwhilstyoucan." "ButIdon'twantto,"saidTom."Ishallbeabletokeepawakeallright." "Gobelow,Tom,"saidAndy,jnthekindofvoicethathadtobeobeyed.Tomweitt lntothelittlecabinwiththegirls.Theyleftthedooropen,foritwaswarm. ThegirlslayonthebunkandTomcurleduponthepileofrugsonthefloor.In ,twominuteshewasasleep.Hedidnotknowhowtiredhewas.Thewind,rainan dseahadtakenallhisstrengthoutofhimforatime. Andystayedaloneondeck.Thesunhadgonedowninablazeofgold.Thesky'had turnedpinkandtheseahadturnedpinktoo.Nowitwaseveningandthefirsts tarswerewinkinginthedarkeningsky. Thelittleboatdroveonandon.Andyhopeddesperatelythatlandwouldsooncom einsight.Herememberedsoclearlywhathisfatherhadsaid.RightpasttheLi ttleIsland,fartothenorth,layotherislands,desolatenow,butonceownedb yafewfarmers,whotriedtogetahardlivingfromtherockysoil.Ifonlythe ycouldgethelpthere! Nightfelldarklyonthewaters.Themoonsailedintothesky,butcloudskepth idingherlight.Firsttheseawasgleamingsilver,thenftwasblack,thenitw assilveragain.Andywishedhecouldseesomethingbesidesthesea.Buttherew asnothing. Theboystayedondeckuntilmidnight.Hefeltthenightwindandwrappedarug roundhisshoulders,thoughhedidnotfeelreallycold.Afterawhilehewhistl edtoTom. Tomawoke."Coming,"hesaidsleepily,andwentupondeck.HeshiveredandAndy threwtherugroundliim."Keepherheadingstraight,"hesaid."Givemeacall ifyouseeanything." Itwasqueerupondeckallalone.Theoldsailflappedandcreakedalittle.Th ewaterwentplash-lash-lashagainstthesidesoftheboat.Themoonsailedina ndoutofthecloudsasifshewereasilverboatinthesky. Thencameathickmassofcloudsandthemoondisappearedaltogether.Tomcouldn 'tseeanythingatall.Hestrainedhiseyestotryandpiercethroughthedarkn essbutexceptforthegleamingwhitetopofanearbywavenowandthen,hecou ldseenothing. Buthecouldhearsomething,quitesuddenly.Itsoundedlikecrashingwaves.Tom longedforthemoontocomeout--andashewishedforit,itcameslidingoutf romacloudforasecondbeforeitdisappearedagain, AndinthattinyspaceoftimeTomsawsomethingthatgavehimashock.Thesea wasbreakingoverbigrocksjustahead! "Andy!Andy!"yelledTom,wrenchingthetillerround."Rocksahead!" Andycametumblingupthesteps,wideawakeatonce.Heheardthesoundofbreak ingwavesandknewatoncetherewererocksahead.Hetookthetiller. Andthentherecameagratingnoiseandalonggroanfromtheship.Shewasont herecks!Shehadrunstraightontothem--andthereshelay,groaning,halfove r,slantingsomuchthatthegirlsinthelittlecabinwerethrownoutofthebu nk. "Holdon,Tom,"shoutedAndy,clutchingatTom,whoseemedabouttoslideoverbo ard."Holdon!She'ssettling!" Theshipdidsettle.Sheseemedtobewedgedbetweentworocksthatwereholding hertightly,allontheslant.Wavessplashedoveronesideofherdeck. Forafewminutesthechildrenhardlydaredtobreathe--andthenAndyspoke. "She'sfast,"hesaid."Shemayhaveaholeinherbottom,butshewon'tsinkwh ileshe'sheldlikethis.Wemustwaittilldawn" Sotheywaited,clinginguncomfortablytotheslantingsidesoftheship.Dawnw asnotfaroffItsilveredtheeasternskyastheywaitedThelightgrewstronge r,andthenagoldedgeappearedonthehorizon.Thesunwasabouttorise.

Andinthegoldenlightoftheearlysuntheysawsomethingnotfaroff Andinthegoldenlightoftheearlysunthey sawsomethingnotfaroffthatmad thatmad ethemshoutforjoy. "Landho!"theyyelled,andwouldhavedanced "Landho!"theyyelled ,andwouldhavedancedindelightifonlythede indelightifonlythedeckhadno ckhadno tbeensoslanting.Andlandhotherecertainlywas! AsandyshorestretchedtoarockycliffStunt Asandyshorestretche dtoarockycliffStuntedtreesgrewfurtherinl edtreesgrewfurtherinland,touc and,touc hedwithgoldbytherisingsun.Itwasanisl hedwithgoldbyther isingsun.Itwasanislandofsomesort,desolat andofsomesort,desolate,rocky e,rocky andlonely--butitwasatleastland!Somewher andlonely--butitwas atleastland!Somewherewheretheycouldlight ewheretheycouldlightafirean afirean dboilwatertomakethemselveswarm.Somewher dboilwatertomaket hemselveswarm.Somewherewhereotherpeoplemigh ewhereotherpeoplemightbetog tbetog ivethemahelpinghand. "We'llhavetoswimforit,"saidAndy."It's "We'llhavetoswimfo rit,"saidAndy."It'snotveryfar.Oncewe're notveryfar.Oncewe'reclearof clearof theserockswe'llbeallright.Infact,nowt theserockswe'llbea llright.Infact,nowthatthetidehasgonedow hatthetidehasgonedownabitw nabitw ecouldalmostwalkovertherocks,tothesha ecouldalmostwalkov ertherocks,totheshallowwaterthatrunsupt llowwaterthatrunsuptheshore. heshore. " AndyheldouthishandtoMary.TomhelpedJil Andyheldouthishand toMary.TomhelpedJill.Half-wading,half-swim l.Half-wading,half-swimming,the ming,the ymadetheirwayoverandbetweenthereefof ymadetheirwayover andbetweenthereefofrocks,andpaddledtosho rocks,andpaddledtoshore.Thes re.Thes unhadwarmthinitnowandwarmedtheircold unhadwarmthinitno wandwarmedtheircoldbodies.Howgladtheyall bodies.Howgladtheyallweretha weretha ttheyhadtakenAndy'sadviceandhadputonwarmclothes! "Well,"saidAndy,whentheyhadreachedthes "Well,"saidAndy,whe ntheyhadreachedtheshore,"we'llclimbupthe hore,"we'llclimbupthesecliffs secliffs andseeifwecanspotanyone'shouse." Theyclimbedtherockycliffs.Whentheygott Theyclimbedtherocky cliffs.Whentheygottothetoptheylookedaro othetoptheylookedaround.Asm und.Asm allstuntedwoodgrewalittlewayoff,onah allstuntedwoodgrew alittlewayoff,onahillside.Lowbushescrouc illside.Lowbushescrouchedhere hedhere andthereasiftohidefromthestrongwindt andthereasiftohid efromthestrongwindthatblewalwaysacrossth hatblewalwaysacrosstheisland. eisland. Grasscreptovertherockyearth,andafewd Grasscreptoverthe rockyearth,andafewdaisiesflowered.Butther aisiesflowered.Buttherewasno ewasno signofanyhouse,orofanyhumanbeing. Andymadeuphismindquickly. "Ifwe'vegottobestrandedhereforatimew "Ifwe'vegottobest randedhereforatimewemustgetoutofourshi emustgetoutofourshipeveryth peveryth ingthat'sinher,"hesaid."Thankgoodnessw ingthat'sinher,"he said."Thankgoodnesswe'vegotacertainamount e'vegotacertainamountoffood offood andsomerugs.Thetideisatitslowestnow-andsomerugs.Thetid eisatitslowestnow--whenitishighitwillc whenitishighitwillcompletely ompletely coverthedeckofourboat--sowemustwadeb coverthedeckofour boat--sowemustwadebacktoherandtakeoffe acktoherandtakeoffeverything verything ofvalueinher.Comeon,Tom.Yougirlscan ofvalueinher.Come on,Tom.Yougirlscanstandhalfwaytotheboat standhalfwaytotheboatinthat inthat shallowwater,andwe'llcanythingstoyouov shallowwater,andwe' llcanythingstoyouovertherocks.Thenyouca ertherocks.Thenyoucantaketh ntaketh embacktotheshore.Itwillbebetterthanu embacktotheshore. Itwillbebetterthanusallscramblingabouton sallscramblingaboutontherock therock sanddroppingeverything." Andsotheybegantoemptytheshipofallit Andsotheybegantoe mptytheshipofallitheld--"food,rugs,gramo held--"food,rugs,gramophone,ca phone,ca mera,field-glasses,stool,table,tools,croc mera,field-glasses,s tool,table,tools,crockery,kettle,matches,li kery,kettle,matches,littlestov ttlestov e,everything!Ittookalongtime--butbefore e,everything!Ittook alongtime--butbeforetheyhadfinishedtheti theyhadfinishedthetidehadri dehadri senandthedeckswereawash.ThecabinwasfullofwaterI "Wecan'tdoanythingmore,"saidAndy."Let's "Wecan'tdoanything more,"saidAndy."Let'sgoandhavearest--and goandhavearest--andsomething something toeat.I'msimplystarving."

CHAPTER4 OntheUnknownIsland ITwasarathersolemnsetofchildrenwhosatdownontheshoretoeat ITwasarathersolemnsetofchildrenwhosat downontheshoretoeatbreakfas breakfas t.Theyhadbeenbraveduringthestorm--butn t.Theyhadbeenbrave duringthestorm--butnowtheyallfeltverytir owtheyallfeltverytiredandra edandra therscared.Itwasstrangetothinktheymigh therscared.Itwasst rangetothinktheymighthavetostayforquite thavetostayforquitealongti alongti meontheunknownislanduntiltheywererescu meontheunknownisla nduntiltheywererescued--andsupposingtheywe ed--andsupposingtheywereright reright offtherouteoftheshipsandsteamersthatusedthoseseas? Andytookcharge.Hewastheoldestandwisest Andytookcharge.Hew astheoldestandwisest,andtheotherslookedu ,andtheotherslookeduptohim. ptohim. Hewasoldforhisfourteenyears.Hestared Hewasoldforhisfo urteenyears.Hestaredoutattheirwreckedship outattheirwreckedship,andwri ,andwri nkledhisforehead. "Well,we'reinanicefix,"hesaid."Butwe' "Well,we'reinanice fix,"hesaid."Butwe'llforgetitforaminute llforgetitforaminuteandenjo andenjo yourbreakfast.We'dbetterfinishupallthe yourbreakfast.We'd betterfinishupallthebread,foritwillsoon bread,foritwillsoonbestale. bestale. We'lleatallthefoodthatmightgobad--the We'lleatallthefoo dthatmightgobad--thereVthatopenjarofpott reVthatopenjarofpottedmeat, edmeat, Tom,thatwebeganlastnight--andtherestof Tom,thatwebeganlas tnight--andtherestofthebutter--andthosebu thebutter--andthosebunsthatM nsthatM rs.Andrewsgaveus.Andwhataboutsomething rs.Andrewsgaveus.A ndwhataboutsomethinghottodrink?Idon'tfee hottodrink?Idon'tfeelreally lreally cold,butitwoulddousgoodtogetsomething cold,butitwoulddo usgoodtogetsomethinghotinsideus.Look--Ib hotinsideus.Look--Ibroughtth roughtth ematcheswithme,wrappedinthisoilskinso ematcheswithme,wra ppedinthisoilskinsothattheywouldn'tgetwe thattheywouldn'tgetwet.Wecan t.Wecan 'tgetthestovegoingtillwegetthetinof 'tgetthestovegoing tillwegetthetinofoiloutofthelockerin oiloutofthelockerintheboattheboat-

-weforgotthat--sowe'dbettermakeafireonthebeach." TomandJillcollectedsticks,andsoonthere TomandJillcollected sticks,andsoontherewasafinefiregoing.An wasafinefiregoing.Andywento dywento ffuptheclifftoseeifhecouldfindastre ffuptheclifftosee ifhecouldfindastreamtofillthekettle,wh amtofillthekettle,whichthey ichthey hadtakenfromtheboat.Hehadtogoagoodw hadtakenfromtheboa t.Hehadtogoagoodwaybeforehefoundaspri aybeforehefoundaspringrunnin ngrunnin gdownthelittlehillinthedistance.Hefil gdownthelittlehill inthedistance.Hefilledthekettleandwentb ledthekettleandwentbacktoth acktoth ecove. "Good--thefire'sgoingwell,"hesaid."Ifou "Good--thefire'sgoin gwell,"hesaid."Ifoundaspring,soweneedn' ndaspring,soweneedn'tworrya tworrya boutwater.Where'sthetinofcocoa--andwem boutwater.Where'sth etinofcocoa--andwemustfinishupthatNestle ustfinishupthatNestle'smilkw 'smilkw eopened,oritwillgobad." Thekettlesoonboiled,andthechildrenmade Thekettlesoonboiled ,andthechildrenmadethickcocoa.Theyaddedt thickcocoa.Theyaddedthetinned hetinned milktoitanddrankwithenjoyment.Thecoco milktoitanddrank withenjoyment.Thecocoawasgood.Thetwins,wh awasgood.Thetwins,whowereco owereco ld,feltwarmedupatonce.Theirclotheswere ld,feltwarmedupat once.Theirclotheswerestillwet,andalthough stillwet,andalthoughthesunn thesunn owshonedownhotlytheyfeltchffly. Tomyawned.Hewasnotusedtokeepingawakeh Tomyawned.Hewasnot usedtokeepingawakehalfthenight.Thegirls alfthenight.Thegirlsweretire weretire dout,too,fortheyhadbeenverysea-sickinthestorm. Andyhadlaidouttherugsinthesun.Hefelt Andyhadlaidoutthe rugsinthesun.Hefeltthem.Theywerealmostd them.Theywerealmostdry. ry. "We'dbettergetoffourwetthingsandhangt "We'dbettergetoffo urwetthingsandhangthemonthebushestodry, hemonthebushestodry,"hesaid "hesaid ."We'llrollourselvesintheserugs,andlie ."We'llrollourselve sintheserugs,andliedowninthatshelteredc downinthatshelteredcornerove ornerove rtherebythecliff,inthesun,andsleepof rtherebythecliff, inthesun,andsleepoffourbadnight." fourbadnight." Sointhreeorfourminutesallthatcouldbe Sointhreeorfourmi nutesallthatcouldbeseenofthechildrenwere seenofthechildrenwerefourtig fourtig htly-rolledbundleslyingpeacefullyasleepin htly-rolledbundlesly ingpeacefullyasleepinthesunshine,wellouto thesunshine,welloutofthewin fthewin dinacosycornerofthebeach.Theirdampcl dinacosycornerof thebeach.Theirdampclotheswerespreadouton otheswerespreadoutonbushesto bushesto dry,andwerealreadysteaminginthesun. Andyawokefirst.Heknewatoncewherehewas Andyawokefirst.Hek newatoncewherehewas,andrememberedallthat ,andrememberedallthathadhapp hadhapp ened.Hesatuptolookattheirship.Thetid ened.Hesatuptoloo kattheirship.Thetidewasgoingdownagainno ewasgoingdownagainnow,andth w,andth eshiplookedqueer,slantingsideways,caught eshiplookedqueer,s lantingsideways,caughtfastbetweenthetwobig fastbetweenthetwobigrocks.A rocks.A ndywonderedwhathisfatherwouldsaywhenhe ndywonderedwhathis fatherwouldsaywhenheknewwhathadhappened. knewwhathadhappened.Itwasa Itwasa seriousthingtoloseafishing-boat. Thesunwashighinthesky.Andythrewoffhi Thesunwashighinth esky.Andythrewoffhisrugandwenttofeelhi srugandwenttofeelhisclothes sclothes onthebush.Theywereperfectlydry.Heput onthebush.Theywer eperfectlydry.Heputthemon,andthenwentto themon,andthenwenttothebig thebig pileofthingstheyhadtakenfromtheship.H pileofthingstheyha dtakenfromtheship.Helookedamongthemandf elookedamongthemandfoundafi oundafi shing-line. Hehuntedaboutforasand-worm,baitedhisho Hehuntedaboutfora sand-worm,baitedhishook,andclamberedouton ok,andclamberedoutontherocks therocks ,wheredeepwaterswirledaroundhim.Helowe ,wheredeepwaterswi rledaroundhim.Heloweredhislineintothewat redhislineintothewater.Inte er.Inte nminuteshehadcaughthisfirstfish,andwa nminuteshehadcaugh thisfirstfish,andwasbaitingthelineagain. sbaitingthelineagain. Tomawokenext.Hesatuponthesand,astonis Tomawokenext.Hesat uponthesand,astonishedtoheartheseasocl hedtoheartheseasoclose.Then ose.Then herememberedallthathadhappenedandleapt herememberedalltha thadhappenedandleapttohisfeet.Heawoketh tohisfeet.Heawokethegirlsa egirlsa ndtheyputontheirwarmclothes.TheysawAn ndtheyputontheirw armclothes.TheysawAndy,andwavedtohim. dy,andwavedtohim. "Andy'sgettingourdinner!"saidJill."Isup "Andy'sgettingourdi nner!"saidJill."Isupposeyou'refeelingashu poseyou'refeelingashungryasu ngryasu sual,Tom?" "Icouldeatawhale!"saidTom,andhereally "Icouldeatawhale!" saidTom,andhereallyfeltasifhecould. feltasifhecould. Itwasfuncookingthefishoverafire.Itsm Itwasfuncookingthe fishoverafire.Itsmeltdelicious.Therewas eltdelicious.Therewasnobread nobread leftsothechildrenhadtoeatthefishbyit leftsothechildrenh adtoeatthefishbyitself,buttheyweresohu self,buttheyweresohungrythat ngrythat theydidn'tmindatall. "It'sabouttwoo'clockintheafternoon,"sai "It'sabouttwoo'cloc kintheafternoon,"saidAndy,lookingatthesu dAndy,lookingatthesun."Nowt n."Nowt hefirstthingtodoistofindagoodplacet hefirstthingtodoi stofindagoodplacetosleepforthenight.The osleepforthenight.Thenwe'dbe nwe'dbe tterexploretheisland,ifwe'vetime.Thefo tterexploretheislan d,ifwe'vetime.Thefoodwe'vegotwithuswon' odwe'vegotwithuswon'tlasta tlasta greatwhile,butatanyratewecanalwaysget greatwhile,butatan yratewecanalwaysgetfish--andIexpectwe'll fish--andIexpectwe'llfindsom findsom eberrieswecaneat,too." "Look!"saidTom,suddenlypointingtothepil "Look!"saidTom,sudd enlypointingtothepileofthingsnotfaroff. eofthingsnotfaroff."There's "There's agullthere.Willhepeckourtinsopen--oreatourcocoa!" Andyclappedhishandsandthegullflewoff, Andyclappedhishands andthegullflewoff,cryingloudly."Wecertai cryingloudly."Wecertainlymustn nlymustn 'tleaveanyfoodout,"saidAndy."Thegulls 'tleaveanyfoodout, "saidAndy."Thegullswouldhaveitatonce.Lo wouldhaveitatonce.Look--there ok--there 'stwoorthreefishesleftwecanhaveforou 'stwoorthreefishes leftwecanhaveforoursupper.We'dbettermak rsupper.We'dbettermakeahole eahole inthesandandburythemundersomeheavysto inthesandandburyt hemundersomeheavystonestillwewantthem.Th nestillwewantthem.Thegullsw egullsw ouldsoonmakeamealofthemifweleftthemuncovered!" Theyburiedthefish.Andystoodupandlooked Theyburiedthefish. Andystoodupandlookedallroundthecliff."I allroundthecliff."Iwonderif wonderif there'sacaveoranythingwecouldsleepin there'sacaveorany thingwecouldsleepinatnight,"hesaid.Butt atnight,"hesaid.Buttheredidn heredidn tseemtobeanycaveatall,thoughthechild tseemtobeanycave atall,thoughthechildrenhuntedcarefullyall renhuntedcarefullyallalongthe alongthe cliff.

"Howwillanyoneknowwearehere?"askedJill."Weshallhavetoputu "Howwillanyoneknowwearehere?"askedJill ."Weshallhavetoputupsomeso psomeso rtofasign,shan'twe,toshowanypassings rtofasign,shan'tw e,toshowanypassingshipdrsteamerthatwear hipdrsteamerthatwearehere?" ehere?" "Yes,"saidAndy."I'vebeenthinkingaboutth "Yes,"saidAndy."I'v ebeenthinkingaboutthat.I'lltakedownthesh at.I'lltakedowntheship'ssail ip'ssail ,andwe'lltieittoatreeonthetopofthe ,andwe'lltieitto atreeonthetopofthecliff.Thatwillbeafi cliff.Thatwillbeafinesignal nesignal ." "Goodidea!"saidTom."Itwillflapinthewi "Goodidea!"saidTom. "Itwillflapinthewindandbeseenformiles. ndandbeseenformiles." " "We'llfindasleeping-placeforthenightbef "We'llfindasleeping -placeforthenightbeforewedothat,"saidAnd orewedothat,"saidAndy."Itlo y."Itlo okslikerainagainnow--seethatlowcloudov okslikerainagainno w--seethatlowcloudoverthere?Wedon'twantt erthere?Wedon'twanttobesoak obesoak edinoursleep.Comeon." Theyleftthesandycoveandclimbedupthest Theyleftthesandyco veandclimbedupthesteepcliff.Itwashardgo eepcliff.Itwashardgoing,but ing,but theygottothetopatlast,andoncemoreloo theygottothetopat last,andoncemorelookedacrosstheisland.Th kedacrosstheisland.Theycould eycould notseerightacrossitbecausethehillinth notseerightacrossi tbecausethehillinthemiddlestoppedtheirvi emiddlestoppedtheirview--soth ew--soth eydidnotknowhowbigorsmallitwas.Allt eydidnotknowhowbi gorsmallitwas.Alltheyknewwasthat,atpre heyknewwasthat,atpresent,the sent,the ycouldnotseeanysignofanyoneelsethere, ycouldnotseeanysi gnofanyoneelsethere,orofanyhouseorother orofanyhouseorotherbuilding building . "HowI'dlovetoseeacowortwo!"saidJill. "Whateverfor?"saidMaryinsurprise."Ididn "Whateverfor?"saidM aryinsurprise."Ididn'tknowyoulikedcowsso 'tknowyoulikedcowssomuch,Ji much,Ji ll." "Idon't,"saidJill."Butcowswouldmeanaf "Idon't,"saidJill. "Butcowswouldmeanafarmer,silly--andafarme armer,silly--andafarmermeansa rmeansa farmhouse--andafarmhousemeanslotsofpeop farmhouse--andafarm housemeanslotsofpeople,andhelp,ofcourse!" le,andhelp,ofcourse!" Theotherslaughed."Well,let'shopeweseeo Theotherslaughed."W ell,let'shopeweseeoneortwocowsforyou,J neortwocowsforyou,Jill,"sai ill,"sai dTom."Whichwayshallwego,Andy?" "We'llmakeourwaytothehuVsaidAndy."The "We'llmakeourwayto thehuVsaidAndy."There'sbrackenthere,andh re'sbrackenthere,andheather,a eather,a ndmaybewecanfindahill-cavetosnugglein ndmaybewecanfinda hill-cavetosnugglein.Brackenandheathermak .Brackenandheathermakeafine eafine bed,andwe'vegottherugsforcovers." Theyrantothehill.Ithadalittlewoodof Theyrantothehill. Ithadalittlewoodofwindblownpinesandbirch windblownpinesandbirches,butt es,butt herewasnocaveinthehillsidetheycouldsh herewasnocaveinth ehillsidetheycouldshelterin.Itwascovered elterin.Itwascoveredwiththic withthic k-growingbrackenandheather,withafewstun k-growingbrackenand heather,withafewstuntedgorse-bushes--butthe tedgorse-bushes--buttherewasno rewasno placethatwouldreallygivethemasafesheltertosleep. "Well,we'llhavetorigupatentofsomesort "Well,we'llhavetori gupatentofsomesort,"saidAndyatlast."I' ,"saidAndyatlast."I'mnotgoi mnotgoi ngtobesoakedthroughtonight.I'vehadenou ngtobesoakedthroug htonight.I'vehadenoughofthattolastmefor ghofthattolastmeforquitea quitea while." "Atent,Andy!"saidTom."Whereverwouldweg "Atent,Andy!"saidT om."Whereverwouldwegetatentfrom?Buyitfr etatentfrom?Buyitfromashop omashop ,Isuppose?" "I'mgoingtogettheoldsailoffthe!boat," "I'mgoingtogetthe oldsailoffthe!boat,"saidAndy."Wecanusei saidAndy."Wecanuseitforas tforas ignalbydayandatentbynight.It'sbigeno ignalbydayandaten tbynight.It'sbigenoughtocoverusallquite ughtocoverusallquitewell." well." "Andy,youhavegotgoodideas!"saidJill."I "Andy,youhavegotgo odideas!"saidJill."Ishouldneverhavethough shouldneverhavethoughtofthat tofthat .Well,shallwegobackthenandhelpyou?" "No,"saidAndy."YoustayherewithTomandh "No,"saidAndy."You stayherewithTomandhelphimtobuildakindo elphimtobuildakindoftent-ho ftent-ho usethatwecanjustdrapethesailover.You' usethatwecanjustd rapethesailover.You'llwantsomestoutbrunch llwantsomestoutbrunches,stuck es,stuck wellintotheground.I'llgoandgetthesail." Andywentoffdowntotheshoreagain,andcla Andywentoffdownto theshoreagain,andclamberedandwadedouttot mberedandwadedouttotheboat. heboat. Hewassoontakingdowntheoldsail. Theothershuntedforgoodbranches.Theones Theothershuntedfor goodbranches.Theoneslyingonthegroundwere lyingonthegroundweretoobritt toobritt leandold,theyfound. "They'llmakegoodfirewood,"saidTom."we'll "They'llmakegoodfir ewood,"saidTom."we'llhavetobreakafewgrowi havetobreakafewgrowingbranch ngbranch esoffthetrees." Itwasdifficulttodothis,buttheymanaged Itwasdifficulttodo this,buttheymanageditatlast.Thentheydro itatlast.Thentheydrovethest vethest outsticksintotheheatherygroundandmadea outsticksintothehe atherygroundandmadeakindofcirclewiththem kindofcirclewiththem,bigeno ,bigeno ughtoholdthemall. TheyhadjustfinishedwhenAndycameback,be Theyhadjustfinished whenAndycameback,bentdoubleovertheheavy ntdoubleovertheheavysail.He sail.He threwitdewnandpanted. "IthoughtI'dnevergetitupthecliff,"he "IthoughtI'dneverg etitupthecliff,"hesaid."Isay,you'vemade said."Isay,you'vemadeafines afines etofwalls.Thesailwillgooverthemnicely." Eightwillinghandshelpedto'arrangethebig Eightwillinghandshe lpedto'arrangethebigbrownsailoverthecircl brownsailoverthecircleofstic eofstic ksstuckfirmlyintotheground.Theweightof ksstuckfirmlyintot heground.Theweightofthesailkeptitdown,a thesailkeptitdown,andwhent ndwhent hechildrenbadfinished,theyhadmadeakind hechildrenbadfinish ed,theyhadmadeakindofround,browntent,wi ofround,browntent,withnodoo thnodoo rway.Butasthechildrencouldgetinanywher rway.Butasthechild rencouldgetinanywhereunderthetentsimplyb eunderthetentsimplybylifting ylifting upthesail,itdidn'tmatterhavingnodoorway. "We'llgatheranicepileofheatherandputi "We'llgatheranicep ileofheatherandputitinsidethetenttolie tinsidethetenttolieon,"said on,"said

Tom."Andwithourrugs,too,weshallbeascosyandwafmastoast!Infact,w emaybemuchtoohot!" "Well,ifweare,we'lljustLiftuponesideofthetent,andletthebreezeblo win,"saidJill."Oh,Idofeelexcited!Ireallyfeelasifwe'vegotasorto flittlehome,nowwe'vemadethistent!" "Thereisn'ttimetoexploretheislandnow,"saidAndy,lookinginsurpriseat thesinkingsun."We'vetakenagesoverthetent.We'llgoallovertheislandt o-morrow." "Thatwillbefun,"saidMary."Idowonderwhatwe'llfind!"

CHAPTER5 MakingtheBestofThings THEchildrenwereallhungryagain.Andythoughtitwouldbebettertobringeve rythingupfromtheshore,andputitneartheirtent. "Wemayhavetomakeourtentasortofhome,"hesaid."Wedon'twanttohavet okeepclimbingupanddownthatrockycliffeverytimewewantacuporakettl e!Besides,wearequitenearthespringhere,andwecaneasilygetwaterwhene verwewantto." Soforthenexthourorsothechildrenfetchedalltheirbelongings.Someofth emwereverydifficulttogetupthecliff.Thegramophonewasalmostimpossible tillAndythoughtoftheideaoftyingaroperounditandhaulingitgentlyup bythat. "Golly!Alltherecordsarebroken!"saidTomindismay,ashepickedupthecra ckedrecords. "Yes--theyfellandbrokewhenthatdreadfulstormwason,"saidJill."Leaveth embehind.They'renouse.There'sjustonethat'snotbroken--now,whereisit? " Theyfounditatlastandlookedatit. "Whatapity!Thisisasillyrecord--itwouldbetheonlyonethat'sleftunbro ken!"saidMary."Ononesideit'sagirlsingingaiindoflullaby,withouteve nanymusic--andontheotherit'snurseryrhymes.Thesilliestonewe'vegot!" "Ohwell--bringitalong,"saidTom."Andwhere'smycamera?Itdoesn'tlookas ifI'llfindanygoodpicturestotake--butImayaswellhaveit." Bythetimetheyhadgoteverythingtothetenttheywerereallyverytired.The ycookedtherestofthefishandopenedatinofpeaches.Theyateanappleeac h,brokeabarofchocolateintofourpieces,andthendranksomehotcocoa.It wasagoodmealandtheyenjoyedit.Thesunwasnowalmostgoneandthefirsts tarwasshiningbrightly. "Well,we'vehadanadventurousday,"saidJill,yawning."Isleptallthemorni ng--butIfeelawfullysleepyagainalready." "We'llturninearly,"saidAndy."I'mtiredtoo." "Wecan'tcleanourteeth,"saidJill,whowasalwaysveryparticularaboutnail sandteethandthingslikethat."IwishIhadatooth-brush." "Well,here'sabrushforyou,"saidTom,withagrin,handingJillthebrushth atwasusedtosweepbitsoffishoffthedeck."Brushyourteethwiththis." JilltookitandatoncebrushedTom'shairwithit.Tomwasdisgusted. "Don't,youcuckoo!"hesaid."Ishallsmelloffishallnightlong." "Comeon,"saidAndy."Wewantmoreheatherforourbeds.Tom,stampoutthefir e.Wedon'twanttosetthehillalight,andtheheatherisverydry." Tomstampedoutthefire.Thegirlsfilledthetentwithmore,heather.Andytoo kthelargestrugandspreaditalloverthespringypile. "Yougirlscansleeponthissideofthetent,andTomandIwilltaketheother ,"hesaid."Thereareplentyofrugs,luckily." Nobodyundressed.Foronethingtheyhadnonight-clothes,andforanotherthey didn'teventhinkofitLifeseemedquitedifferentonanunknownisland.Nobody eventhoughtofgoingtowash--thoughTom'shairsmeltsomuchofoldfishthat Andythreatenedtopourakettleofwateroverit. "I'llwashmyheadunderthespringto-morrowmorning,"saidTomsleepily."Ire

allycan'tgonow.I'msimplydroppingasleepwhilstItalk!" Theyrolledthemselvesupintheirrugsandlayflatontheheatherybed.Itwas beautifullysoftandspringy,andverycomfortableoncetheyhadpresseddowns everalsharpbitsthatstuckintothem. Tomwasasleepatonce.Thegirlslayawakeforaminuteortwo.Jillfeltvery hot,forthetentwasairless,andthefourofthemmadequiteacrowdinit.Th e-roofwasnotmorethanarm'slengthabovetheirheads. "Andy,"saidJill,inalowvoice."I'msohot.Couldwegetsomeairin,doyou think?" "Yes,"saidAndy.Heraisedonesideofthesailandletthebreezein.Itwasl ovely,fornowthegirlscouldseeout.Themoonlightlayonthehillsideandev erythingwascleartillthecloudssailedacrossthemoon.Maryfellasleepass hewatchedbrackenoutsidewaving,inthewind.ThenJillfellasleep.OnlyAndy layawake,leaningonhiselbow,lookingoutdownthehillside,andlisteningt othesoundofthewavesinthedistance,underthecliff. Hewasoldenoughtofeelthatthisadventuremightnotturnoutatallwell.He wonderedwhatwouldbethebestthingtodoforthemall. "Wemustcertainlyhangoutasignaleveryday,"hethought."Itmightbeseenb ysomepassingship.Wemustfindabetterplacetoliveiirtoo,foriftheweat hershouldbreakup,thistentwon'tbeanyuse.AndIwonderifit'spossiblet ogettheshipofftherocksandpatchherup.Ifwecoulddothat,maybewemig hthaveashotatsailinghome." Ashelayworryingaboutallthesethingshiseyesclosed.Hewassoondreaming thathehadgottheboatofftherocks,butitchangedintoalargesteamerthat seemedtohavehandsandwasfishingbusilyinapool.Therewassuchastrong smelloffishthatAndyopenedhissleepyeyesagain--onlytofindthatTom'sfi shy-smellingheadwasjustunderhisnose.Andyturnedover,grinning."Whatas illysortofdream!"hethought--andthen,inhalfasecond,hewasdreamingaga in. Allthechildrensleptsoundlythatnight,andevenwhenthecloudspiledupove rthemoonandasharpdownpourofraincametheydidn'twake.Theraindropspat teredoverthetent,butdidnotsoakthroughtothesleepingchildren.Somecam ethroughthesidewhereAndyhadraisedthesailtoletintheair,butthechi ldrenfeltnothing. Theyawokewhenthesunwasfairlyhigh--abouteighto'clockinthemorning.And yasusualawokefirstandrolledoutofthetentquietly.ButhehadwakedTom, andwhentheboyyawnedloudlythegirlsawoketoo. Itwasafinesunnymorningwithcloudsscuddingacrosstheskylikebigpieces ofcotton-wool.Thefirstthing,ofcourse,wasbreakfast--butithadtobecaug ht! SoAndyandTomwentfishingontherocksandthe'girlsmanagedtocatchabout twentylargeprawnsinapoolonthesandyshore.Theycookedtheircatchandat ehungrily. "Idofeeldirty,"saidJill."Ishallgoandwashatthespring.Coming,Mary?" "Yes,"saidMary."AndIvoteweallhaveabatheto-day.Thatwillcleanusup abittoo." Theyallfeltcleanerafterarinseandsplashinthespring.TomandAndymade thefixingofthesignaltheirnextjob.Theyfoundagoodtree--atleast,itwa sagoodonefortheirpurpose,forithadbeenstruckbylightningatonetime andnowstoodstraightandbareOBthetopofthecliff. Ittookthetwoboysaboutanhourtoclimbthetreeandfixthesail-signal.It flappedoutwellinthebreezeand.Andywassureitcouldbeseenfromagreat distance.Theyclimbeddownagainandwentbacktothegirls. "Whataboutexploringtheislandnow?"askedTom."Ifeeljustlikeagoodwalk! " "Well,theislandmaybetoosmallforagoodwalk!"saidAndy.'"We'lljustsee .Ready,yougirls?" Theywereallreadyfortheirwalk.Firsttheyclimbedthebillandstoodonthe top,lookingtoseewhattheycouldspy. Fromthetopofthehilltheycouldseeallaroundtheirisland--andcertainlyi

twasnotverybig--onlyaboutamileandahalflongandaboutamilewide.The ycouldseethebluewaterallaroundit. Butnotfaroffwereotherislands!Theylayinthesea,blueandmistyinthed istance.Butasfar,asthechildrencouldsee,therewerenohousesorbuilding sofanykindonthem.Theyseemedasdesolateandlonelyastheirownisland.T hecriesofsea-birdscameastheystoodonthehill,andbigwhitegullsswoope daroundthem--butexceptforthatsound,andthefar-offsplashofwaves,there wasnoothersoundtobeheard.Noshout--nohootofahorn--nodroneofanaer oplane.Theymightbelostintheverymiddleoftheoceanforalltheycouldse eorhear! "Idon'tbelieveasinglesoulliveshereontheseislands,"saidAndy,hisface rathergrave."Comeon--let'sgodowntothissideofthehill.Wemayaswell findoutallthereistoknow." Astheywentdownthehillandcametothelevelgroundagain,Tomstoppedinas tonishment"Look!"hesaid."Potatoplants!" Thechildrenlooked--andsureenough,growingcompletelywildaroundthemwerep lantsthatlookedexactlylikepotatoes!Andypulledoneup--andthere,clinging totheroots,wereadozenormoresmallwhitepotatoes! "That'squeer!"saidAndy,staringround."Atsometimeorothertheremusthave beenpeoplelivinghere--andtheygrewpotatoes.Somehaveseededthemselvesan dgrownwild.Butthethingis--ifpeoplelivedhere--wheredidtheylive?They musthavelivedsomewhere!" "Howqueer,"saidTom,lookingallroundasifheexpectedhousestospringfrom theground. AndthenJillgaveashout."IbelieveIcanseethechimneyofahouse!Look!W herethegrounddipsdownsuddenlyoverthere." Theotherslooked.Theysawthatthegrounddidsuddenlydipdownintoakindof hollow,wellprotectedfromthewind--justtheplacewherepeoplemightbuilda house.Theytoreovertherockygroundtothedip,expectingtheyhardlykneww hat. Andwhatasurprisetheygotwhenatlasttheyreachedthehollowandlookeddow nintoit!

CHAPTER6 AQueerLittleHome THEfourchildrenstoodatthetopofthesteepdip.Thehollowranrightdownt othesea--andinitwasaclusterofsmallbuildings! Butwhatstrangebuildings!Theroofswereoff,thechimneysweregone,allbut theonetheyhadseen,thewallswerefallenin.andeverythinglookedforlorna nddeserted. "Nothingbutruins!"saidTom,inastonishment."Whateverhappenedtomaketheh ousesandshedfalltopieceslikethat?" "IthinkIknow,"saidAndy."Ayearortwoagotherecameagreatstormtothes eparts--sogreatthatthepeopleofourvillagefledinshoreformiles,because theseabatteredourhousesandfloodedourstreet.Thestormmusthavebeenev enworseontheseunprotectedislandshere--andIshouldthinktheseacameinto thishollowandbatteredthefarm"tobits!Lookatthatchimney-stackthere--a llblackandbroken--thatwasstruckbylightning,Ishouldthink." Thefourchildrengazeddownatthepoor,hollowhouseandout-buildings.Alitt lefarmhadoncebeenthere--apoorfarmmaybe,tryingtogrowafewpotatoesin therockyground,tokeepafewgoatsorcows,andtotakefromtheseaenough fishtoliveon. Nowthefolkhadallgone,unabletobattlewiththegreatsea-stormsthatswept overtheirfarmanddestroyedtheirliving. "Thisexplainsthepotatoes,"saidJill."Thatstretchofstrugglingpotatoplan tsmustoncehavebeenafield." "Let'sjodownintothehollowandhavealookround,"saidAndy.Sodownintot hediptheyscrambledandwanderedroundtheruinedbuildings.Nothinghadbeen

left--allthefurniturehadbeentakenaway,andeventhegatesanddoorsremove d.Seashoreweedsgrewupfromthefloorsofthefarmhouse. "Aboymusthavelivedhere,"saidAndy,pickingupabrokenwoodentrainfroma patchofweeds. "Andhere'sabrokencup,"saidJill,bendingoverwhathadoncebeenarubbishheap. Theywanderedaboutandatlastcametoalirflewoodenshackwhereperhapsaco wortwohadbeenkeptinthewinter.Forsomereasonithadescapedbeingbeate ninbythewaves,andstillstoodupright,itsonewindowbroken,anditsfloor coveredwithacreepingweed. Andylookedatitcarefully."Thiswouldn'tbeabadplacetomakeintoalittle houseforourselves,"hesaid."Iwasthinkingwe'dhavetotryandbuildones omehow--butthiswilldoifwepatchitupabit.Thetentwon'tbeanyuseata lliftheweatherbreaksup--andalsoit'sgoingtobeagreatnuisancetokeep takingitdownfromthesignaltreeeachnightforourtentandputtingitback againinthemornings." "Ohyes!"saidTomindelight."Let'smakethisourhouse!Thatwouldbefun.Th enwecouldleavethesailflappingforoursignalallthetime." Theyallwentintotheshack.Itwasnotverylarge--morelikeabigbicycleshe d,thoughtheroofwashigher.Awoodenpartitiondivideditintotwo. "We'lltakethatdown,"saidAndy."Itwouldbebettertohaveonefairlybigro omthantwotinyones." "Well,we'dbetterstartworkatonce,hadn'twe?"saidTomeagerly."Weshallh avetobringallourthingshere--andmakeitabithome-like.Andallthosewee dswillhavetobecleared," "Yes--andwe'llspreadthefloorwithcleansand,"saidJill."Listen--youboysc learuptheweedsforus--andMaryandIwillgotothatoldpotatofieldandfi ndthebiggestpotatoeswecan,andcookthemintheirjacketsforlunch!" "Goodidea,"saidTom,feelinghungryatonce."Comeon,Andy--let'sstartandc leanuptheplacenow--wecan'tdomuchtillthat'sdone." Thetwoboyssettowork.Theypulledupthecreepingweedbyhandfulsandpiled itoutside.Theygottoftsofstiffheatherand,usingthemasbrushes,sweptt hecobwebsfromthewallsandroughceiling.Tombroketheremainingglassofth ewindow,gatheredthebrokenbitscarefullytogetherandtuckedthemintotheb ottomoftheoldrubbish-heapsothatnoonecouldbecutbyasplinter. Andymadearoughfireplacejustoutsidetheshack,withstonesfromthehearth oftheruinedfarmhouse. "Wecan'thavethefireinsidebecausethisshackhasnochimney,"hesaid,"and we'dbechokedwiththesmoke.Anyway,I'vemadeIbefireplaceoutofthewind andweoughttobeabletocookallrightonit.Mary,youcanbakethepotatoes there,oncethestonesgethot.Tom,getsomesticksandstartafire." MaryandJillpeepedinsidetheshack.Itlookedcleanandtidynow,thoughvery bare.Thetwogirlshadpulledplentyofgoodpotatoesfromtheold,weedyfiel d,andhadwashedtheminthespringwater.Theywouldbefine,bakedintheirj ackets--thoughitwasapitytherew$nobatterleftandsosalt Tomfetchedsomecleansandfromtheshore.Hehadfoundaveryoldbucket,whic hhadaholeinthebottom.Heputaflatstoneoverthehole,andthenthesand didnottrickleout.Hecarriedsixpailsfullofsandtotheshackandscatter editovertheearthfloor.Itlookedveryneatandclean. "We'llhavetogetheapsofheatherandbrackeninforbedsagain,"saidJill," justaswedidforourtent.Won'titbeanicelittlehouse!Wemustbringthe littletablehere,andthestool--andallthecupsandthings.Itwillmakeits eemlikehome." Thechildrenhadquiteforgottenhowserioustheiradventurewas.Itwassuchfu ntoworklikethisandgetreadyalittlehouse.Maryevenbegantowonderift herewasanythingshecoulduseasacurtainforthewindow! Theirlunchwaspotatoesandchocolate,withplentyofcoldspringwaterTomcou ldhaveeatenthreetimesasmuchbuthehadtobecontentwithfivelargepotat oesandawholebarofchocolate. "We'llhavefishforto-night,"promisedAndy."Thewaterroundaboutthisislan

disjustthickwithfish.Wellalwayshaveplentytoeatsolongaswedon'tge ttiredoffish!We'llhuntforshell-fishtoo." Aftertheirdinnerthechildrenseparated.Thegirlsweretogotothenearestp atchesofheatherandbrackenandbringinarmfulsforbeds.Theboysweretoma kejourneystoandfromthetent,andbringinalltheirbelongings. "Whenthetide'sdowntonightI'llgetthetinofoiloutofthelockeroftheb oat,"saidAndy."Thatwon'thavebeenspoiltbythesea-waterbecauseit'sgot atight-fittinglid.Wecancookoverthestovethen,aswellasoverafire,if wewantto." Thechildrenwereverybusythatafternoon.MaryandJillgotenoughheatherand brackentomaketwoteds,oneateachsideoftheshack.Theypiledthetoughb rackenonthefloorfirst,andthenthesofterheatherontop.Thentheyspread eachbedwitharug.andputanotherrug,neatlyfoldedup,tobeusedasablan ketatnight. "Thebedscanbecouchestositoninthedaytime,"saidMary,quitepleasedwit hthelookofthem."we'llhavetoaddmoreheatherdaybyday,Iexpect,Jill,b ecauseweshallflattenthebedsverymuchwithourweight.Butwecaneasilyse etothat." Theboysbroughtinthecrockery--cups,saucersandplates--thick,commononesu sedbythefishermenwhosailedinAndy'sfather'sboatwithhim.Theywerejust rightfortheshack--butwhereweretheytobeput? "Wereallycan'tkeepthemonthefloor,"saidMary.They'llgetbroken.Iwish wehadashelftoputthingson.Itwouldgiveusmuchmoreroomifonlywecoul dgettheseoddthingsoutofthe'way." Andydisappearedforafewminutes.Whenhecamebackhecarriedawoodenboard. Hegrinnedatthesurprisedchildren. "Irememberedseeinganoldshelfinwhatmusthavebeenthekitchenofthefarm house,"hesaid."SoIwentinandwrenchedhdownfromthewall.Tom,wheredid youputthetoolsandtheboxofnails?" "Downtherebyourbed,"saidTom.Andypickedupahammerandtheboxofnails. "Wheredoyouwanttheshelf?"heaskedthegirls. "Overthere,atthebackoftheshack,justaboutshoulder-high,"saidMary."Wh atalovelyshelfthatwillmake,Andy--itwilltakeeverything!" Soitdid!OnceAndyhadnaileditup,thegirlsarrangedthecrockerythere,th ekettle,oneortwopans,thefield-glasses,cameraandotherthings.Thegramo phonewouldnotgoontheshelfsotheyputitintoacorner. Bythistimetheshackreallylookedfine!Therewerethetwoneatbedsatthes ides--thetableinthemiddle,withthestool--theneatly-sandedfloor--theshel fatthebackwithitsarrayofgoods!Thechildrenfeltreallypleasedwithit. Andyfilledtheoil-stove."Youcouldboilussomepotatoestonightforachange ,"hesaidtoMary."You'vegotalittlesaucepan,haven'tyou?" "Yes,"saidMary."I'llboilthemandmashthemforyou--butthey'lltasteabit oddwithoutbutterorsalt!Andwe'llopenanothertinoffruit." Theboyswentofftocatchfish.Thegirlsbusiedthemselveswithfetchingmore potatoes,morewater,andsettingtheoil-stovegoing.Theyfeltverybusyandr atherimportant. Theyhadamostdelicioussupperandenjoyedeverybitofit.Theydidn'tevenm indgoingwithoutsaltinthepotatoes.Theyatetheirsuppersittingoutsideth eopendoorwayoftheshack,lookingouttotheeveningsea.Thegullscalledhi ghintheair,andthesplashofthelittlewhite-edgedwavescametothemevery nowandagain. "Nowwe'llturnin!"saidAndywithayawn."Itwillbefuntosleepinourlitt lehouseforthefirsttime!Comeon,girls--leavethewashing-uptillthemorni ng.Wearealltiredout!"

CHAPTER7 AStrangeDiscovery THEnextdaythechildrenwenttomakesurethattheirsail-signalwasstillsaf

elytiedtothesignal-treeatthetopofthecliff.Itwas.Itflappedtherest eadily,asignaltoanypassingshipthattherewerepeopleontheislandwhone ededhelp. "Supposenohelpcomes?"saidTom."Shallwehavetostayhereallwinter?" "Yes--unlessyouliketotryandswimdozensofmilesbackhome!"saidAndy. Thechildrenlookedatoneanother.Staythereforthewinter!Itwasallveryw ellhavinganadventureon.anislandforthreeorfourdays--buttostaythere allthewinter,inthebittercoldandragingstorms,wasnotapleasantthought . "Don'tlooksogloomy,"saidAndy."Wemayberescuedanyday.Ican'tthinktha tnoshipeverpassestheseislands.Afterall,therewerepeoplelivinghereno tsolongago--andtheymusthavehadsuppliesfromtimetotime--sotheshipsm ustcomebyheresome-times.Andmaybetherearepeoplelivingononeof'theot herislands.Ithinkperhapsataverylowtidewecouldcrosstothenextislan dbythatlineofrocksoverthere--andexplorethat.Wemayfinddozensofpeop le,???allweknow!" Everyonecheeredup.Ofcourse!Thereseemedto???orsixislandsneartothei rown;peoplewouldsurelybelivingononeorotherofthem,especiallyonthe biggerones.Theirownislandwassosmallthatitwasawonderanyonehadever botheredtobuildahousethere,andtriedtogetalivingontherockysoil. Theywenttoseeiftheirboatwasstillheldfastbetweenthetworocks.Yes--t hereitwas,allononeside,thetidewashingrightoveritsdecks, "Perhapsanextrastrongtidemightliftitofftherocks,"saidAndy."Ifonly itwould--andwecouldmendit!I'dtrytosailbackhomeagain." "Well,there'snothingleftintheboatthatcouldbetakenawaynow,"saidTom. "Ireallythinkwe'vegoteverythingmovable--ropes,nets,eventheoars!" Itwasquitetrue.Theboyshadbroughtbackwiththeoileverythinginthelock er.Ropesmightnevercomeinuseful--butstill,Andythoughttheymightaswell takethem.Thechildrenthoroughlyexploredthetittleislandagain,butfound nothinginterestingatall.Theycouldseethatthefarm-peoplehadusedthelev elstretchoflandonthemoresoutherlysideoftheislandfortheirfields.In oneplace,Jillfoundsomerunnerbeansgrowingoveratangleofbrambles,and shecalledoutinexcitement: "Beans!we'lleatthemfordinner!" Theotherscametolook."Iexpecttheseseededthemselvestoo,"saidAndy."May betherewasabean-fieldjusthere.Well--we'renotdoingtoobadly,withpotat oesandbeansandfish!" Therewasnothingtodothatafternoon,exceptbatheandfish.Thelittleshack wasfinished--therewasnothingmoretoaddtoit.Theycoulddonothingwithth eirwreckedboat.Itwasofnousegoingforaramblefortheislandwassosmal l.SoTomsuggestedabathefirst,andfishingafterwards. Itwaswarminthesunshinysea.Theyswamthroughthebigwavesandsplashedab outlazily.Thentheycameoutoftheseaandlayinthesuntodry.Afterthat, theboyssatontherockstofishandthegirlswenttohuntforprawns,shrimp s,andshellfish. Thetidewasverylowthatevening.Thewindhadcompletelydropped,andthesea wasalmostcalm--asnearlycalmasitevercouldbeonthatrough,rockycoast. Thechildrenstoodonarockyledge,lookingtothenorthwheretheotherislan dslay,bluewithasummerymist. "Theyreallylookasiftheyarejustfloatingonthewater,"saidJilldreamily ."Theydolooklovely.Iwishwecouldvisitthem." "Well,itwouldbequiteeasyifwechoselowtide,"saidAndy,pointingtothe lineofrocksthatwerenowuncovered,andwhichseemedtoleadinacrookedlin etothenextisland."I'dlikefinetogoacrossthoserocksto-morrowmorning whenthetideislowagain.Wecouldtakefoodfortheday--andseewhatwaron thenextisland--andclimbbackacrosstherocksatlowtideto-morrownight." "Oh,dolet's!"criedthetwins,andTomdidalittlewar-danceontherockyled geinexcitement.Whoknewwhattheymightfindonthenextisland? ThatnightJillcookedsomepotatoesintheirskins,andletthemgocoldtotak ewiththemnextday.

"We'llcookthesausagesthatareinthetin,letthemgocold,andtakethose, too,"saidM."Wecancatcbsomefishto-morrownightforoureveningmealwhen wecomehome." Thenextmorningtheyrantoseeifthetidehaduncoveredtherocksagain.Yes-theretheystretchedgreyandgreen,somequitebare,somecoveredwithseaweed .Verydeeprock-poolslaybetween.Theseaitselflaypaleblueandsparkling, beyondthelineofrocks. "Comeon!"saidAndy."We'dbettergonow,beforethetideturns." Theyleaptdownfromtheledgeandrantothesandyshore.Theyjumpeduponto therocks,andthenbegantomaketheirwaycarefullyoverthem.Someweresosl ipperythatonceortwicethechildrennearlyfellintothedeeppools.Thesepo olslookedexciting.Quitebigfishswaminthem,andAndysaidbigediblecrabs wouldbesuretobethere. "Butwe'venotimeforfishingabouthere,"hesaid."Weshallbecaughtbythe tideifwedon'tmakehaste." Sureenough,thetidewasontheturn--butbeforeitcouldreachthejaggedline ofrocksoverwhichthechildrenwereclimbing,theyhadcometotheendofthe m,andhadwadedthroughapooltothesandyshoreofthenextisland. "Nowwe'reonislandnumbertwo!"saidTom,caperingabout."Golly!Iamhungry! " Sowaseveryone."Well,ifweeatallourfoodnow,weshallhavetowaitages forournextmeal,unlesswecanfind'somethingonthisisland,"saidAndy.But hewashungry,too--sotheyatetheircoldsausagesandpotatoes,andsuckedat offeeeach. Thentheysetofftoexplorethesecondisland.Theyturnedtoclimbthecliffs --andhadabigsurpriseI "Look!Caves!"saidTom,pointingtobigblackopeningsinthecliff."Lookatt hat!Cavesofalllandsandsizesandshapes!Let'shavealookatthem." Theymadetheirwaytothefirstcave--andjustoutsideitAndystoppedandstar edatsomethinginthesand. "What'sup?"askedTom. "That!"saidAndy,andhepointedtoacigarette-endthatlayrollingalittlei nthebreeze. "Acigarette-end!"saidTom,lookingallround,asifhewerelookingfortheon ewhohadsmokedit."Well!Somebodyhasbeenhereallright--andnotverylong ago,either.Butthere'snotasinglehouseonthisisland,ruinedorwhole!" "Perhapsthepeopleliveinthesecaves,"saidJill,lookinghalf-timidlyatthe firstone. "We'llgoinandsee,"saidAndy.Hepulledarollofoilskinfromhispocketan doutofittookahalf-candleandaboxofmatches.Andyneverrananyriskof hismatchesgettingwet--andnowthechildrenweregladthathewassocareful, fornoonereallywantedtogointothecaveswithoutalightofsomesort. Andylightedthecandleandthea,leadingtheway.hesteppedintothefirstcav e.Theothersfollowedhim.Thefloorwasthickwithsilverysand,andthewalls ofthecavewerehighandsmooth.Itranbackalongway.andthennarrowedint oanarchway.Throughthisthechildrenwentintoanothercave,thetinylighto fthecandleshiningonrockygreywalls,andhigh,roughroof.Thefloorofthe cavethenbegantogoupwards,andbecamerockyinsteadofsandy.Thecavenarr owedintoapassage,whoseroofwasattimessolowthattheybompedtheirheads againstit. AndthentheycametotheRoundCave,whichwasthenametheyatoncegavethel aststrangecave.Itwasalmostperfectlyround,andasthefloorslanteddownt owardsthemiddle,itfeltlikebeinginsideahollowball! Butitwasn'ttheroundnessofthecavethatstartledthefourchildren--itwas whatitheld! Piledhigh,everywherewereboxes,sacks,andbigtinchestswithstrangewords onthem!Somepilesreachedtotheroofofthecave,othersreachedhalf-way. "Golly!Lookatthat!"saidTom,inthegreatestastonishment."Whatever'sinal lthoseboxesandthings--andwhyaretheyhere?" Thelittleflameofthecandleflickeredonthestrangearrayinthecave.Andy

setthecandlegentlydownonaflatpieceofrock,andpulledtheneckofathi ckbrownsackundone.Itwaslinedwithcoarsebluepaperinside.Heundidthat-andthengavealowcryofsurprise. "Sugar!Strangerandstranger!Iwasexpectingtreasureorsomething--andit'ss ugar!Iwonderwhat'sintheothersacksandboxes." Somethechildrencouldnotforceopen,butotherswerealreadyopened,asifso meonehadtakenfromthemsomeofthecontents.Theboxeswerefulloftins--th ereweretinsofsoup,meat,vegetables,fruit,sardines--everythingonecouldt hinkof.Therewasachestofflour,achestoftea,tinsofsalt,eventinsof butterandlard,well-sealedandair-tight. "Andy--Ireallydon'tunderstandthis,"saidJillinapuzzledvoice."Howdida llthesecomehere?Andwhodoyousupposetheybelongto?Asfarasweknowthe reisn'tasinglepersonontheisland." "Idon'tknowanymorethanyoudo,Jill,"saidAndy."It'slikeadream;butan ywayweshan'tneedtostarvewhilstthere'sallthisfoodstoredhere!" "Butmaywetakeit,ifitbelongstoanyoneelse?"saidMary,frightened. "Wecanpaythepersonitbelongsto,"saidAndy."Myfatherandyourmotherwil lgladlypay,tokeepusfromstarving,ifwehavetospendthewinterhere!" "Well,comeonthen--let'stakeallwewant,"saidTom,feelingsohungrythath ecouldn'twaitaminutelonger."we'llkeepacarefulaccountofeverythingwet ake,andpaythebillandalittlemore,whenwefindoutwhoownsthisverycur iouslarder." "You'reright,Tom,"saidAndy,inapuzzledvoice."Itisavery--curious--lard er!"

CHAPTER8 OdderandOdder THEchildreneachchosewhattheythoughttheywouldliketotakeaway.Sugarth eywanted,andsalt.Thetinnedbutterwouldbesplendid,andanytinsofmeata ndfruit.Jillthoughtshemightbeabletomakesomerollsofbreadwiththefl our,or,atanyrate,somescones.Theytooktinsofpowderedmilktoo,andeach childcarriedquitea-heavyloaddownthenarrowpassagesthatledfromtheRo undCavetotheshore-cave. WhentheyreachedtheopenairTomtookadeepbreathandsetdownhisload."My goodness,itwasstuffyupthere,"hesaid. "Whatpuzzlesmeiswhyitwasn'tmorestuffythanitwas,"saidAndy."Airmust getintothatRoundCavethroughsomeholewedidn'tsee.Pickupyourthings, Tom,thetideiscomingin.Wecan'tstayonthisbeach.Theseawillreachthe cavebeforelong." "It'sallrightforabouttenminutes,"saidTom,pullingafatlittlenotebook fromhispocket."Ijustwanttojotdownalistofallthethingswe'vetaken, incaseweeatthemupandthenforgetwhatwehad." "Tom'salwayssohonest,"saidJill."Well,I'lltellyouthethings,Tom,andy oucanwritethemdown.Threetinsofpineapple.Onebigbagofsugar.Threetin s'oftongue.Fourtinsof----" "Notsofast,notsofast,"saidTom,busywriting.Hewroteeverythingdown,sh uthisnotebookwithasnap,andpusheditbackintohispocket.Thenhepicked upbisloadandfollowedAndyupthesteep,rockypath. Untilthetidewentoutthatnightthechildrenwereprisonersonthesecondisl and,fortherewasnowaytogetbacktotheirownislandexceptbythelineof roeks.Thiswasnowcompletelycoveredbythetide,andgreatshowersofsprayw ere'senthighintotheairasthewatercrashedagainsttherocksoverwhichth eyhadclamberedearlythatday. "Anyonegotatin-opener?"askedTom,hismouthwateringatthesightofthelab elsonthetins. Andyhad.InAndy'spocketstherewasalmostanythingthatanyonecouldpossibly want,fromtin-tackstotoffee. "You'dbetteropenatin,Isuppose,"saidAndy,withagrin."I'vewatchedyou

stickingyourfingerintothesugarpacketadozentimesalready--andthere'll' benonelefttotaketoourislandifyoudoitmuchmore.Openatinoftongue andperhapsyouwon'tfeelsohungryforsugar!" Theyallfeastedonthetongue,whichwasreallymostdelicious.Theyfeltvery thirstyafterwards,andastheybadnotfoundanyspringorstreamonthesecond islandtheycouldnotthinkwhattodo. "Well,whydon'tweopenatinofpine-apple?"saidTomatlast."Thechunkswil lbelovelyandjuicyandwecanallhaveadrinkofthejuiceinthetintoo." Soatinofpine-applewasopened.Bothtinswerecarefullyburiedbythechildr en,forevenalthoughtheislandseemedquitelonelyanddesertedtheycouldnot beartomakeituglybyleavingemptytinsabout.Thegullsswoopedroundthem allthetimetheyate,screamingloudly.Andyimitatedthemandtheygrewevenm oreexcited,atlastlandingonthegroundbehindthechildrenandwaitingthere almostwithintouch. "Thesegullsknowthatwheretherearepeople,theremaybefood,"saidAndy."B uthowdotheyknowthat?--theseislandsseemquitebareandempty." "Andhow,how,howdidallthatfoodcometobeintheRoundCave?"saidJill." Couldithavebeenthereforyears,doyousuppose--andhavebeenforgotten?" "No,"saidAndy."Ithasn'tbeenthereverylong.Thesugarwasstillsoft--and sugargoeshardifitisstoredforlong.Thatcigarette-endwefoundtoo--that hadbeensmokednotlessthanaweekortwoago,orthewindwouldhaveblownit intobits." "Andy,don'tyouthinkitwouldbeagoodthingtostayonthisislandandlive here,insteadofgoingbacktoourownisland?"askedMary."Weshouldbeneart oagoodfood-supplythen!" "No,Idon't,"saidAndy,atonce."Youforgetwehaveleftasignalonourisla nd--andifanyshipseesitandcallsforus,wemightbeonthisisland,unable toberescuedbecausethetidewashighandwecouldn'tgetback." "Butcouldn'twetiethesignalupsomewhereonthisisland?"saidTom. "No,"saidAndy."Noshipcouldgettoushere.Thisislandisalmostsurrounded byareefoftheworstrocksI'veeverseen.Lookatthem,rightoutthere." Thechildrenlooked.Andywasright.Ajaggedlineofrocksransomewayoutfro mthecoast.Betweentherocksandthecoastthesealaytrappedinakindofbi glagoonorlake,calmandsmooth. Tomfrownedandlookedpuzzled."Well,ifnoshipcangetintorescueusifwe stayonthisisland,"hesaid,"howinthewoflddidonegetintolandallthat foodinthecave?" AndystaredatTomandlookedaspuzztedasTomdid."Yes--that'sodd,"hesaid. "Well--maybethereisawaythroughathightide.Butwecan'triskit.Wemust liveonthefirstisland,andwhenwewantfoodwemustcomehereandgetit--a ndmaybeweshallrunintothefolkwhosostrangelymadealarderintrieRound Cave." Marystoodupandtriedtoseewhatthenextislandwaslike.Itlookedmuchbig gerthanthefirsttwo.Therewasnolineofrocksstretchingtoit,butonlyan unbrokenspreadofbluewater.Togettothethirdislandtheywouldhavetosw im,oruseaboat. "Doyouthinkwe'dbetterleaveanoteinthecavetosaythatweareonthefir stislandandwouldliketoberescued?"saidTom."Thepeoplemaycomebackat anytime--andwecouldgoawayintheirboat." Andyshookhishead."Ithinkwewon'tleaveanote--oranythingelsetoshowwe 'vebeenhere,"hesaid."There'ssomethingabitmysteriousaboutallthis,and ifthere'sasecretgoingon,we'dbetterkeepoutofittillweknowwhatiti s." "Oh,Andy!Whateverdoyoumean?"criedMary. "Idon'tknowwhatImean,"saidAndy."It'sjustafeelingIhave,that'sall. MaybeI'mwrong--butoneofuswillcomeoverhereeverydayatlowtideandjus tseeifthere'ssomebodyaboutbeforeweletthemknowwe'rehere." "Well,Andy--whataboutallourfootmarksroundthecave?"saidTom. "Thetidewillwashallthoseaway,"saidAndy."Lookoverthecliff-edge,Tom-you'llseethetidehasgonerightintothecavenow.There'snothingthatwill

showwe'vebeenthere." "Exceptthatsomeofthefoodismissing,"saidMary."You'veforgottenthat,An dy." "No,Ihaven't,"saidAndy."There'ssomuchinthatcavethatIdon'tthink-any onewillmissthelittlewe'vetaken.Idon'texpectit'scheckedatall.Nobody wouldthinkthatanystrangerswouldevervisitthatcave." Thechildrenwanderedovertheislandandlookedforbilberries,whichwerefrui tingthereingreatnumbers.Itwasawayofquenchingtheirthirst,topickthe small,juicybilberries.Theislandwasquitedeserted.Itdidnotlookasifa nyonehadeverlivedthereatall. Thetidewentdownandthelineofrocksbegantoshow.Thechildrenclamberedd owntotheshoretogotacktotheirownisland.Theyhadtiedtotheirbacksth efoodtheyhadtaken,andAndytoldeveryonetobeverycareful. "Wedon'twanttoloseourfoodinadeeppool!"hesaid."Sodon'trushalongt oofast,Tom.Youarealwaysinsuchahurry!" Therockswerewetandslippery,butthechildrenwereverycarefulindeed.Once anextralargewavecameandsplashedrightoverJill,andshegaveasqueal. "Oh,hasitwetthefood?" "Yes--soakedit!"calledTom."Butnevermind-it'sallintins,Jill." Theygotbacktotheirlittlehutatlastandall-ofmemweredelightedtoseei t.Itreallyseemedlikecominghome. Theysatdownontheirbeds,tiredout.ButTomwasnotgoingtobedwithouthis supper.Hewantedhotsoup,moretongue,andatinofpeaches.Sothestovehad tobelighted,andTomwassenttofillthekettle. Allthechildrenenjoyedthemeal,althoughtheyweresosleepytheycouldhardl ybothertoclearupafterwards.Thefirststarswereintheskyastheyflungt hemselvesontheirbeds. "It'sawfullvearlytogotobed,"murmuredJillsleepily."Buffcan'tkeepawak eanotherminute!" Andshefellasleepatonce.SodidMary.Tomblewoutthestoveandlaydownto o.Andysatupforawhile,lookingouttowardsthesecondislandandwondering aboutalotofthings. Thenhetoolaydownandfellasleep--butnotforlong! Astrangeandcuriousnoiseawokehim.Itcameintohisdreams,startledhimand rousedhimsothathesatup,puzzledandalarmed. "Tom!Wakeup!"saidAndy."Listentothisnoise.Whatisit?" Tomawokeandlistened."Ifsamotor-bicycle,"hesaid,halfasleep. "Don'tbeafathead!"saidAndy."Amotor-bicycleonthisisland!You'redreamin g.Comeon,wakeup--Itellyouthere'sajollyqueernoise." Thenoiseitselfhummedawayintosilence.Thegullsscreamedbutsoonbecamequ iet.Andysatandlistenedalittlelongerandthen,asnomorenoisecame,lay downonhisspringybedagain. "Odderandodder,"saidAndytohimself."Weseemtohavecometosomemostmyst eriousislands--andI'mgoingtofindoutwhat'shappening--ormynameisn'tAnd y!"

CHAPTER9 TheMysteriousVisitors THEnextdaythechildrentalkedaboutthequeernoisethatAndyhadheard. "Itellyouitsoundedexactlylikeamotor-bicycle,"Tomsaidfirmly,andnothi ngwouldmakehimadmitthatitwasn't. "IfIdidn'tknowtherecouldn'tpossiblybeanylanding-groundontheserockyi slandsImighthavethoughtthenoisewasmadebyanaeroplane,"saidAndythoug htfully."Butthat'ssilly.Whywouldanaeroplanecomehere?Andwherewouldit land?" "Itmightbeamotor-boat,perhaps!"saidJillsuddenly.Theothersstaredathe r.Forsomereason,nobodyhadthoughtofmotor-boatstillthen. "Yes--Ibelieveitwas!"saidAndy,"Ithadthat'hrobbingsoundthatamotorma

kes.Nowwhat'samotor-boatdoinghere?But,anyway--itmeansthatwecanbere scued!" "Ofcourse!"saidTom."Well--let'sgoandfindthemotor-boat.Whatasurprise they'llgetwhentheysuddenlyseeusIThey'llwonderwhereverwe'vecomefrom. " "Tom,don'tbeinsogreatahurry,"saidAndy,pullingtheimpatientboydowni ntotheheather."Ithinkthere'ssomethingfunnygoingonhere--andbeforewes howourselveswe'dbetterfindoutifweshallbewelcome!" "Oh,"saidTom,surprised.Thegirlslookedratheralarmed. "Whatdoyoumean--somethingfunny?"saidJill. "Idon'tknow,asIsaidyesterday,"saidAndy."Butwhatwewilldoistoseew herethatmotor-boatis.Itwon'thaveseenoursignalbecauseitcameintheni ght--andweknowit'snotanywherethissideoftheisland,orwewouldhavesee nitthismorning.Ivotewegotothatrockyledgewherewegetthebestviewo fthesecondislandandseeifbyanychanceaboathasbeenabletogetthrough thereefofrocksandsailintothequietlagooninside." Thefourchildrenmadetheirwaytothehighrockyledge.Andymadethemliedow nflatandwrigglelikeRedIndiansastheyreachedit. "Betternotletourselvesbeseen,ifanyoneisdownthere,"hewhispered.So,a sflatassnakes,theywormedtheirwaytotherockyledge--andwhentheygotth ere,theyhadthebiggestsurpriseoftheirlives! Inthequietwaterthatlayoutsidethesecondislandwasalargeandpowerfuls eaplane! Yes--agreatseaplane,whosewingsspreadwidelyoverthebluewater.Nosmallm otor-boatpurredthere.Itwastheseaplane'senginethatAndyhadheardsomyst eriouslyinthemiddleofthenight. "Whew!Lookatthat!"whisperedAndy,hisfacegoingasredasabeetrootwithe xcitement."Ineverthoughtofaseaplane!Whataveryextraordinarything!" "Let'sgetupandshoutandwave."beggedJill."I'msuretheywilllovetoresc ueus." "Haven'tyouseenthesignonthewings?"askedTom,inacuriouslyangryvoice. Thegirlslooked.Thesignofthecrookedcrosswaspaintedoneachwing--thes ignoftheenemy,thefoeofhalftheworld. "Golly!"saidMary,andshedrewadeepbreath."EnemiesIUsingtheseislands!D otheybelongtothem?" "Ofcoursenot,"saidAndy."Buttheyaredesolate,andoutoftheusualships' course--andthey'vebeennotedbytheenemy,andhe'susingthemasakindofba seforsomething--seaplanesperhaps." "Well--whatarewegoingtodo?"askedTom. "Weshallhavetothink,"saidAndy."Onethingiscertain.Wewon'tshowoursel vestfllwe'vefoundoutafittfemore.Wedon'twanttobetakenprisoner." "That'swhatthatfoodwasfor,then--thepeoplewhocomehere,"saidJill."Is upposetheseaplanescomeoverhereforfoodandpetrol.Ifsagoodidea.HowI wishwecouldgetawayandtellmyfatheraboutit--he'dknowwhattodo.Igues she'dcleanupthisplace,whateverit'susedfor!" "Isay--hadn'twebettertakedownoursignalwhilstthatseaplaneishere?"ask edJill."Ifithappenstoseeit,theenemywillknowtherearepeopleonthis island".And"whataboutthefishing-boat?Thatmightbeseentoo." "Idon'tthinkso,"saidAndy."It'swellhiddenbetweenthoserocks.Butthesi gnalhadcertainlybettercomedown.Wewon'tputitupanymore.Comeon.Tom-we'lltakeitdownnow." "We'llcomewithyou,"saidthegirls.ButAndyshookhishead. "No,"hesaid"Fromnowoh,somebodymustkeepawatchonthatseaplane.Wemust findoutallwecan.Wewillbebackwithyouassoonaspossible--butyoumust stayhereandwatch." Sothetwogirlswereleftbehindwhflsttheboysranacrosstheislandtotake downtheirflappingsignal. "Idon'tknowwhereintheworldweshouldhideifwewerediscoveredandhunted for,"saidAndy,rollingupthesail."Thereisn'tasingleplaceheretohide awayin--notacaveoranything."

Tomfeltratheruncomfortable.Hedidn'twanttobehuntedforonthatbareisla nd!"Iwishwecouldseehowmanymenthereareinthatseaplane,"hesaid,"and whattheyaredoing,andeverything." "Whereareyourfield-glasses?"askedAndysuddenly."Theywouldbejustthethi ngtouse.Wecouldseeeverythingasdearlyascouldbe,then!" "Andmycamera,too!"saidTom,jumpingforjoy."Whataboutmycamera?Wecould takesomephotographsoftheseaplane--theneveryonewouldhavetobelieveusw henwegetback--ifeverwedogetback!" "That'safineidea!"saidAndy,reallypleased."Golly!Ifwecouldtakesomep icturesofthatseaplanewiththfrcrookedcrossshowingupclearly,therewould n'tbetheleastdoubtofourstorywhenwegothome.Tom,let'sgoandgetyour glassesandyourcamerastraightaway." Theydumpedthesailintoabushandrantotheshack.TheytookTom'sfield-gla ssesandpickedupthecameratoseeifitneededanewfilm.No--therewasane woneinside. "Betternotuseupallthefilmontheseaplane,"saidAndy."Theremightbeoth erinterestingandextraordinarythingstophotograph--youneverknow!" "Oh,I'vegotthreeorfourfilms,"saidTom."Ibroughtplentywithme,thinkin gIwasgoingtogetsomegoodbirdpictures,youknow.Comeon--let'sgobackt othegirlsandseewhattheyhavetoreport." Thegirlswereverygladindeedtoseetheboys.Theyhadalottotell. "Andy!Tom!Assoonasyouhadgonethemenintheseaplaneputoutafunnylitt leroundsortofboat,"saidJillinexcitement."Andtheypaddledtoshoreini t,andwenttoourcave.Whatagoodthingtheseahadwashedawayallourfootp rints!" "Itwas,indeed,"saidAndy.'Tom,givemethefield-glasses.Iwanttohaveal ookthroughthem." Andystaredthroughthepowerfulglasses.Theyweresostrongthattheyseemedt obringtheseaplanenearenoughtotouch!Theboysawthegreatcrookedcrosses boldlypaintedonthewings.Hesawthelittlerubberboatleftbobbinginthe surf,whilstthemenvisitedthecave--eithertotakesomethingtoit,ortobri ngsomethingaway,Andydidnotknowwhich. "Thereseemstobesomeoneintheseaplane,"saidAndy."And,look--thereareso memencomingfromthecave!" Andycouldseethemveryclearlythroughhisfield-glasses--andtheotherscould seethemtoo,thoughnotsowell,ofcourse.Tothemthemenlookedlikefarawa ydolls. "They'vegonetogetfoodfromthecave,"saidAndyinexcitement."AndIguess there'sastoreofpetrolsomewhereelseforthemtogetwhentheywantto.Food --andpetrol--justwhatIthought!Usingtheseislandssavesenemyplanesfromh avingtogohundredsofmilestotheirowncountry'sstores.Myword--wehavest umbledontosomethingqueer!" Themenenteredtheirrubberboatandrowedbacktotheseaplane.Twicemorethe ywenttothecaveandback.Thentheyclimbedupintotheplaneanddisappeared . "I'mgettingmostawfullyhungry,"saidTomatlast."Can'twegoandgetsometh ingtoeat?" "I'llstayhereandkeepwatch,andyouandthegirlscangoandgetyourdinner ,"saidAndy."Don'tlightafire,whateveryoudo--theenemywillseethesmoke .Usethestoveifyouwanttocookanything.Bringmesomethingtoeatanddrin klater." "Right,"saidTom,andheandthegirlswriggledoffthehighledge.Theystood uprightassoonastheywereoutofsightoftheseaplaneandtoretotheirshac k. Theyateahurriedmeal,anddidnotcookanythingatall.Theymadeupadinner -packetforAndyandsetofftotakeittohim. Buthalf-waytheretheyheardanoise.R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!R-r-r -r-r-r-r!Theystoppedatonceandlistened. "It'stheseaplanegoingoff!"criedTom--andthenthesoundcameagain,morelo udlythanever.R-R-R-R-R-R-R.

"Look--it'sthere!"criedJill."Dropflattothegroundorwe'llbeseen!" Jillhadseentheseaplanejustrisingintotheairoverthecliff.Thethreech ildrendroppedflattothegroundandlaythereperfectlystill.Theseaplanero aredovertheirisland,rosehigherandhigher,andatlastwasnothingbutasp eckinthesky. "Whatanarrowescape!"saidTom,sittingupandwipinghisforehead."Golly!My heartdidgobumpII'vespiltthewaterIwascarryingforAndy.I'llhaveto getsomemore!" "Itwasashocktoseethatenormousplanecoming!"saidJill."Ohdear--ifweh avemanymoreshocks,myhairwillturngrey!"

CHAPTER10 AndNowfortheThirdIsland! THEchildrenwereverygladthattheseaplanehadgone."It'sajollygoodthing oursignalwastakendownbeforeitflewovertheisland,"saidAndy,eatingth efoodthattheothershadbroughttohim."Icouldn'twarnyou.Itstartedupi tsengineallofasudden,taxiedoverthesmoothwaterthere,andthenroseint otheair." "Andy,doyouthinkthere'sanythingtobeseenoverontheotherislands?"aske dTom. "Theremaybe,"saidAndy,"Ithinkweoughttotryandfindout.Thatthirdisl andlooksapeculiarshapetome--verylongindeed,butverynarrow.Ontheothe rsideofitmightbeafinenaturalharbourforseaplanes.Theremaybeheapst here." "Well,we'veonlyheardonesofar,"saidTom."Itdoesn'tseemasifthey'reve rybusy,iftherearelotsoverthere." "No--you'reright,Tom,"saidAndy."Well,whataboutgoingtoseewhatwecanf ind?Idon'tquiteknowhowwe'llgettothethirdisland--havetoswim.Ithink .Idon'tbelievethegirlscouldswimsofar,though." "Idon'tthinkIcould,"saidJill,rememberingthelongstretchofseabetween thesecondandthirdislands."Youboyswouldhavetogowithoutus.MaryandI willstaybehindandbeaspatientaswecan." "Shallwegoto-morrow?"askedTomeagerly."Wecouldcrosstothesecondisland atlowtideinthemorningandswimacrosstothethirdisland.Wecouldcarry alittlefoodwithus,wrappedupinyouroilskin." "Yes--we'lldomat,"saidAndy.Agreatfeelingofexcitementcameoverthechild ren--afeelingasifsomebigunknownsecretwasgoingtobetheirs.Jillshiver edalittle--itwasalmosttooexciting. "There'sonethingI'mworriedabout"saidAndy."Justsupposewearediscovered ,byanychance--wemustfindsomehiding-place." "Well,theresimplyisn'tanyonthisisland,"saidTom."Sowemusthopewewon 'tbediscovered." Nothingmorehappenedthatday.Noseaplanecametothecalmharbourinthewate rsofthesecondisland.Nosoundbutthesea-gullscamethroughtheair.Itwas alovelydayandthechildrenenjoyedthemselvesbathingandsunningtheirbrow nbodies. Thankstothestoreoffoodtheyhaddiscoveredonthesecondislandtheyhadpl entytoeat.Andycaughtsomenicelittlefish,andJillfriedthemintinetinn edbutter.Theyweredelicious.Nowthattheyhadtinnedmule-powdertheycould makeamilk-mixtureanduseitwiththeirteaorcocoa,andcouldalsosweetent heirdrinkswiththesugartheyhadbrought. "Wearereallyverywelloffnow!"saidTom,whoasusualwasthoroughlyenjoyin ghismeal."we'lltakeanotherexcitinglotoftinsawayfromtheRoundCavenex ttime--Isawsomebakedbeansintomatosauce.Ishouldlikethose." Thechildrentookturnsatkeepingwatchonthesecondislandfromtherockyled ge.Butnothingwastobeseenatall.Theywenttobedearlybecausetheboysw ouldhaveratherahardandlongdaythenextday. "Weshallhavetoclamberoverthatlineofrocksfirst,"saidAndy."Andthenw

emustcrosstheislandandswimtothethirdone.Weshallhavetobebackont hesecondislandintimetoclamberovertherocksatthenextlowtide.Yougir lsmustn'tworryaboutus.Weshallbebackallright." "Idowishweweregoingtoo,"saidJill."Don'tyouthinkMaryandIcouldclim bovertherockstothesecondislandandwaitforyouthere?Itwouldbemoref unforustoplayabouttherethanonthisbareisland.Therearelotsofbilber riestherewecouldpick--theyarelovelyandsweetnow." "Allright,"saidAndy."Butjustkeepawatchforanyseaplanearriving.Liedo wnfiatunderabushorsomethingifyouhearone.Youmustn'tbeseen." "Allright,"saidMary."Youcantrustustodothat." SothenextmorningthefourchildrenonceagainclimbedoverthelineofsKpper yrocksatlowtide.Theboyshadononlytheirbathing-suits.Andyhadtiedhis oilskinpacketsafelytohisshoulders,andinitwasplentyoffoodfortheda y.Thegirlscouldgetwhattheywantedfromthecave. Allfourwentacrossthesecondisland,overtheheatherandbrackentowhereth eycouldseethethirdisland.Itlayintheseabeforethem,likealongbluea ndbrownsnake.Beyondtheycouldseeoneortwomoreislands. "Doyoureallythinkyoucanswansofar,Tom?"askedMarydoubtfully,asshelo okedatthewidespreadofwaterbetweenthesecondislandandthethird. "Ofcourse,"saidTom,whowasn'tgoingtogiveupthisadventureforanything. Allthesame,thedistancewasfurtherthanhehadeverswumbefore. "Well--good-byeforthepresent,"saidAndytothegirls."We'llgetdowntothe shorehere,wadeoutasfaraswecan,andthenswim.HaveyougotTom'?fieldglasses,Jill?Good--youcanwatchusthroughthemallthewaytothethirdisla nd!" Theboyswentdowntotheshore,wadedintothewater,andthen,whentheywere outoftheirdepth,begantoswim.Andywasbyfarthestrongerswimmer--buthe keptclosetoTom,justincasetheyoungerboygotintodifficulties. Onandontheyswam,usingthebreast-strokebecauseAndysaiditwastheleast tiring.WhenTombegantopantalittle,half-wayacross,Andyspoketohim. "Let'sdoaspotoffloating,Tom.Thatwillrestusalittle.It'salongway." Thetwoboyslayontheirbacksinthewater.Itwasalittleroughandchoppy, butquitewarm.Theyfloatedlikelogsofwood,spreadoutflatonthewater.It wasafinerestforTom. Thenoncemoretheyswamon--butitbegantoseemasifTomwouldnotreachthe shoreofthethirdisland.Hisarmsfeltsotired.Hislegsseemedtohavenopu shinthem.Hegaspedandpanted,andAndybegantofeelalarmed. "Treadwaterabit,"hecalledtoTom."Doyouthinkyou'llbeabletoswimthe restoftheway?" "Idon'tknow,"saidpoorTom,dreadfullyashamedofhimself.Buthecouldnots eemtomakehisarmsworkproperly.Hewasreallytiredout. Andywasnotintheleasttired.Hewasasstrongasahorse,andhetrodwater besideTom,wonderingwhattodo. "Tryagain,Tom,"hesaid."It'snousegoingback!Wearemorethanhalf-wayac ross." Tomlookedatthecliffofthethirdisland.Itseemedalong,longwayawaysti ll.Hetriedagain,strikingoutbravelywithhistiredarms.Butafteraboutsi xstrokeshecouldnotswimanymore.Heturnedonhisbackandfloatedagain. Andywasreallyalarmed.'Tom,youcan'tdoanymore,"hesaid."I'Dhavetohel pyou.I'llswimonmybaekandyoumustlieonyourfrontandputyourhandson myshoulders.Icandragyoualonginthewaterthatway,butitwillberather slow." "Thanks,Andy,"saidTom,veryangrywithhispoorswimming,butquiteunableto doanythingelse.HetookholdofAndy'sshoulders,andAndy,lyingonhisback withhisheadtowardsthethirdisland,begantostrikeoutvaliantlywithhis brownlegs. Itwasveryslowindeed.AndnowAndybegantogettired!Takingtwopeoplewasn 'tnearlysoeasyasonlyone,andhebegantogasp.Nowwftatweretheytodo? Iftheybothgotintodifficultiesitwouldbeaveryseriousmatter. Itwasn'tlongbeforeneitherTomnorAndyhadanystrengthleft--andgoodnessk

nowswhatwouldhavehappenedifAndy,strikingoutdesperatelywithhislegs,h adnotfdtsomethinghardbeneathhim.Itwasarock!Hefeltaboutwithhisfee tandatlastdiscoveredarockbelowthewater.Theyhadcometoakindofrock yreefratherliketheonetheyhadclimbedoverfromtheirownislandtothese condone--butthislineofrockswasnotuncoveredbythetide. "Tom!Tom!Putyourfeetdownandfeelwheretherocksare!"gaspedAndy."Weca nstandthere--andmaybefeelourwayalongabittillwecometotnesandybott om." Tomsoonfoundfootholdontherocksunderthevwater.Hefeltbetteratonce.H eandAndyheldhandsiSarftogethermadetheirwayverycautiouslyovertinsi sunkenrocks,bruisingtheirpoorfeet,butgettinggraduallynearertotheshor e.Andatlasttheyfelttherocksstop,andtherewassandbeneaththeirfeet! Good, "Golly!Ididn'tenjoythatverymuch,"saidTom."SorryIwassofeeble,Andy." "It'sallright,"saidAndy."Youdidyourbest.We'reallrightnow." ButinhisownmindAndydidn'tthinktheywereatallallright!Howinthewor ldwashegoingtogetTomoverthatstretchofwaterbacktothesecondisland gain?Hewouldnever,neverdoit!Andywasveryworriedindeed. Buthedidn'tshowit.HegrinnedatTom,hisblueeyesshininginhiswetbrown face."We'rehereatlast!"hesaid."Andmaybeweshallgetafewsurprises!" Theylayonthesandyshoreinthesunforawhile,dryingthemselves.Tomfelt verymuchbetteralteramealoutoftheoilskinpacket.Healmostfeltasifhe couldswimbackhomeagain!ItwaswonderfulwhatfooddidtoTom. "Ifeelanewmannow,"hesaid,leapingtohisfeet."Comeon,Andy,oldchap. Let'sgouptothecliff-topandgoacrosstotheothersideofthisisland,to seeifwecanspyanything." Andygotuptoo.Thetwoboysclimbeduptheroughcliffandsatonthetoptog etbacktheirbreath.Theislandseemedtobeaboutthesameastheothertwo--c overedwithheather,brackenandgrass,andwithwhitegullssoaringoverit. Theycrossedthenarrowwidthoftheislandandatlastcametothecliffonthe otherside. "Wrigglealongonthegroundnow,justincasethere'sanyoneabout,"saidAndy. Sobothboyswriggledalongontheirfronts,andcameatlasttoalacewheret heycouldseedowntothewaterfarbelow. Andwhattheysawtherefilledthemwithsuchastonishmentandalarmthatforat leastfiveminutesneitherboycouldsayaword!

CHAPTER11 TheSecretoftheIslands THEsightthatthetwoboyslookeddownuponwashardlytobebelieved.Therewa saveryfinenaturalharbourofextremelydeepwateronthenorth-easternideo fthethirdisland--andlyinginthiswaterwereatleastsevenoreightsubmari nes! Submarines!Asubmarinebaseinthosedesertedislands!Nowondersomanyofour shipshadbeensenttothebottominthewatersaroundtheseislands! "It'sarealnestofsubmarines,"whisperedAndyatlast."EnemysubmarinesII can'tbelieveit.Myword,Tom,we'vestumbledonanamazingsecret." Theboyslaylookingdownonthewater.Someofthesubmarineslaylikegreatgr eycrocodiles,humpedoutofthewater.Oneortwoweremovingoutoftheharbou r,theirperiscopesshowing.Itwasacuriouslysilentplace,consideringthats omanyoftheseunderwatershipswerethere.Therewasnonoiseofshouting--no noiseofmachinery--justadullthrobbingeverynowandagain. "Theygetfuelandfoodhere,"whisperedAndy.Theyarethesmallsubmarines--th isharbourcaneasilytakeadozenormore.It'saperfectplaceforsubmarines. Doyouseehowtheyhaven'tbuiltanyjettiesorpiers--notathingthatanyone couldsee,ifoneofourownplanescameover?Alltheywouldhavetodothenw ouldbetosinkunderthewater--andthentherewouldbenothingtosee.Theyst oreeverythinginthecaves--golly,it'samazing."

ForaverylongtimethetwoboyslaywatchingtheStrangesightbelow.Twosubm arinesslippedsilentlyoutoftheharbourentrance--awaybetweentworeefsof highrocks.Athirdsubmarinecamein,andlaypeacefullywiththeothers,them encomingoutonthedeckandlookingaround. AtfirstTomhadbeensofullofsurpriseandalarm,gosweptwithexcitement,t hathecouldthinkofnothingbutthesightofthequeervessels.Thenanothert houghtcameintohisheadandheturnedtoAndy. "Andy,"hesaid."We'vegottogethomeandtellwhatwe'veseen." "Iknow,"saidAndy."I'mthinkingthattoo,Tom.Andwe'vegottogetthegirls offtheseislands.Weareallindanger.Iftheenemyknewwewerespyingonth emlikethisIdon'tknowwhatwouldhappentous." "Idon'tcarehowmuchdangerwe'rein,"saidTom,andhedidn't."AllIknowis thatwe'vegottogoandtellourpeopleathomeaboutthissubmarinebase.It' sgottobeclearedaway.Andy,it'sserious." Andynodded.Bothboysseemedtobecomemenatthatmoment.Theylookedgravely intoeachother'seyesandwhattheysawtherepleasedthemboth.Eachboyknew thattheotherwoulddohisbestandevenmorethanhisbest. "Doyouthinkweshallbebelievedifwegohomewithastorylikethis?"saidT om."Grown-upshavesomefunnyideassometimes.Theymightthinkwehadmadeit allup--orbeenmistaken." "We'llgetyourcameraandtakeafewphotographs,"saidAndy."Nobodycandisbe lievephotographs.Andanotherthingwemustdoistotrytodosomethingwitho urboat.Wemustgetitofftherockssomehowandtrytopatchitup.It'souro nlywayofgettingbackhome." Theywatchedtheharbourforalittlewhilelonger,andthenwriggledalongthe topoftheclifftilltheycametosomebushes.Theywentdownbytheseandran alongtilltheycametotheendoftheharbour.Beyondlayacove,andinit,dr awnuptothesand,wereanumberofsmallboats.Nooneseemedtobeabout. ThesightofthelittleboatsexcitedAndy.Ifonlyhecouldgetholdofone!Th enheandTomcouldrowroundthethirdisland,andgetbacktothesecondones afely.AndyknewperfectlywellthatTomcouldnotswimback--andhedidnotmea ntoleavetheboyaloneonthissubmarineisland. "Tom,"hesaid,"seethoseboats?Well,whataboutwaitingtfflnight-time--and thenstealingdowntothecoveandtakingaboat?Wecouldeasilyrowitbackto thesecondisland.Itwouldsaveushavingtoswim--andwemightevenfillitw ithfoodandwaterandtryourluckatgoinghome.Icouldfixupthesailsomeh ow." "Goodidea,Andy,"saidTom,hisfaceglowingwithexcitement."ButIsay!Won't thegirlsbeawfullyworriedifwedon'tswimbackbeforelowtidetonight?" "We'llgotothecliffontheothersideofthisislandandwavetothem,"said Andy."They'vegotthefield-glassesandwillseeusquiteclearly.We'llpoint andwaveandnodandtrytoshowthemthatourplansarealtered,butthatwe're alllight" "Good,"saidTom,"Let'sgonow.IfeelsoawfullyexcitedthatIreallymustdo something!" Theboyswenttotheothersideoftheisland.Afterawhilethegirlsappeared andwavedtothem.Jillputtheglassestohereyes. Theboysseemfrightfullypleasedandexcitedaboutsomething!"shesaid."They arewavingandpointingandnoddinglikeanything.Theyseemtowantustounder standsomething." "Well,it-canonlybethattheyhavefoundsomethingexcitingandaregoingtod osomethingaboutit,"saidMary,takingtheglassesfromJillandlookingthrou ghthem."Yes--Tom'slikeamadthing.Well,weshallknowwhentheycomebackt o-night.IonlyhopeTomwillbeabletoswimbackallright.Iwasreallyafrai dhe'ddrownthismorning." Theboysdisappearedafteratime.Theysatdowninalittlesunnyhollowandfi nishedtherestofthefood.Andyfoundastreamofwaterandtheboysdrankfro mit.Thentheysattalkingquietly,waitingforthenighttocome. Atlastitcame.Themoonwasbehindtheclouds,andgaveonlyapatelightnow andagain.Theboys,slippedquietlytothetopofthecliffthatoverlookedthe

smallcovenexttotheharbour.Theyhadalreadyplannedtheeasiestwaydown. Andywentfirst.Heclimbedlikeacat.Tomfollowedhim,tryingnottosendany stonesclatteringdownthecliff. Theycametotheshore.Itwassandyandtheirfeetmadenonoise.Theboysstay edintheshadowofthecliffsforafewminutes,listening.Theycouldhearno noiseatall,exceptthesmallsoundoflittlewaves'breakingonthesand.The boatswerenotfaroff,upturnedinarow.Noonewasguardingthem.Indeed,why shouldanyone?Noonehadeversetfootontheislandssincethefarm-folkhad gone--saveforthecrewsofenemyseaplanesandsubmarines. Theboyscreptoverthesilverysand.'Taketheboatontheleft,"whisperedAnd y."It'sjustoursize." Theycametotheboat--andthentheyheardvoices.Theyseemedtocomefromthe farsideofthecliff,andsoundedclearlyinthenight.Theboyscouldnothear anywords--butthesound'wasenoughtomakethemliedownSatbesidetheboatt heyhadchosen. Tomwastrembling.Supposetheywerefoundoutjustastheyweretakingtheboat !Itwouldbetoobad.Theboyslisteneduntilthesoundofvoicesdiedawayand thentheycautiouslyliftedtheirheads. "Whenthemoongetsintothatverythickcloudwe'llturntheboatoverandrunh erintothewater,"whisperedAndy."YoutakethissideandI'lltaketheother. Beready." "Right,"whisperedbackTom.Sowhenthemoonslippedbehindthedarkcloudsthe boysrosesilentlytotheirfeet.Theyturnedovertheboatwithhardlyasound ,thoughitwasawkwardandheavy.Thentheypulleditoverthesandtothewate r.Tomgotinandtooktheoars.Andypushedtheboatrightoutandleaptinhim self.Themoonwasstillhidden. Silentlytheboysrowedawayfromtheshore,hopingthatthemoonwouldremainb ehindtheclouduntiltheyhadpulledoutofsight.Noshoutwasheard.Norunni ngfeet.Theywereundiscovered,sofar! Theyrowedfast.Whenthemooncameoutagaintheywerefarfromthelittlecove ."LookIPullroundabitmore,"saidAndy."We'repassingroundtheendofthe island.We'vedonewelltogetheresoquickly!" Soontheywererightroundthenarrowendofthethirdisland.Theyrowedintot hebroadstretchofwaterbetweenthesecondandthirdislands.Thenacrosstot heshorebelowthecliffwheretheyhadleftthegirls. JillandMarywerewatchingthere.Theyhadbeenveryworriedwhennighthadcom eandbroughtwithitnoboys.Theycouldn'timaginewhathadhappened.Theywer einagreatstateofalarmandfright. AndtbenJill,lookingthroughtheglasseswhenthemoonhadswumoutintoacle arpieceofsky,hadseenalittleboatcomingintothestretchofwaterbetween thetwoislands.SheclutchedMary'sarm. "Look!Aboat!Isittheenemy?" Thegirlslookedandlooked,theirheartswbeatingloudly.Theycouldnotseew howasintheboat.Itlandedonthebeach--andthenthecallofaseagullfloa tedupthecliff. "Andy!"criedJill,nearlyfallingdownthecliff."It'sAndy!I'dknowhissea gullcallanywhere!" Theboysclimbedupthecliffandcametotherockyledge.Thegirlsfellonthe mandhuggedthemlikebears,theyweresorelievedtoseethem. "Theboat!Wheredidyougettheboat?"criedJill. "Whatdidyousee?Whatdidyoufind?"criedMary. "We'lltellyouallaboutit,"saidAndy,andthefourofthemsatclosetogethe ronthecold,windyledge,quiteforgetfulofthechillybreeze,talkingandli steningeagerly.Thegirlscouldhardlybelievetheboys'story.Itseemedquite impossible. "Andnowthatwe'vegotaboat,we'llfill.Itfulloffoodandwater,andseei fwecangethome,"saidAndy."It'stheonlythingwecando--andwemustdoit ." "But,Andy."saidJill,"justsupposetheenemyseetheirboatismissing--won't theytakealarmandsearchtheislands?"

"Yes--theycertainlywill,"saidAndy."Andsowemuststartto-morrow.Wewill haveagoodsleepto-night--takeplentyoffoodfromthecave--andseeifwecan makeforhome." "Ifonlywecangetawaybeforetheenemyfindsthatboatismissing!"saidTom. "Oh,doyousupposeweshall?"

CHAPTER12 ADaringAdventure THEchildrendidnothaveaverygoodnightafterall,fortheywerefartooexc itedtosleep.TheyhadallrowedJnthestolenboattotheirownisland,andha dlandedthere,tieduptheboatandgonetotheirshack. Theysleptratherlatethenextmorning,fornotoneofthemhadgonetosleepb eforemidnight--andtheywereawakenedbythethrobbingnoisethattheyhadhear dtwonightsbefore! "Theseaplaneagain!"saidAndy,wakingupatonceandleapingtohisfeet.Her antotheopendoorwayofthehut,andwasjustintimetoseetheplanesoarov erhead.Thenitwentroundingreatcirclesreadytolandonthesmoothwaterou tsidethesecondisland. "Thatmeanswecan'tgetawayto-day,"saidTomatonce."Wesimplymustgetfoo dintotheboat--andwecan'tifthatplaneisthere." "No--wecan't,"saidAndy."ButItellyoowhatwemightdo,Tom.Wemightrowt othethirdisland,tieourboatupinahiddenplace,creeptothetopofthat cliff,andtrytotakeafewphotographsofthesubmarinebay!Wemeanttotake somephotos,youknow." "Yes--wecoulddothat."saidTom."we'llhavetobeprettycareful,though." "Wewillbe,"saidAndy."Jill,whatisthereforbreakfast?" Thereweretinnedsausagesandbakedbeansandtomatosauce.Jillproudlyproduc edsomelittlerollsofbreadshehadmade,too.Theyallateinsilence,thinki ngovereverythingthathadhappened. "Thatseaplanemaynotstaylong,"saidAndy."Itdidn'tlasttime.Iexpectkh ascometoaddtothestores--ormaybetakeawayfromthem.Itwillbebusythat sideoftheisland--sowewillrowroundtheafterside,wherewewontbeseen, goacrosstothethirdone.andtieupthere.Yougirlsmuststayhere." "Oh,youalwayshavetheexcitingthingstodo."sighedMary."Can'twereallyc omewithyou?Idontseewhywecan't." "Well,ifyoupromisetodoexactlywhatyou'retold,youcancome,"saidAndy, afteraminute'sthought.Hedidn'treallyliketheideaofleavingthegirlsal laloneagain.Perhapsitwouldbebetteriftheycame. Thegirlswerethrilled.Theyclearedawaythebreakfast-thingsandwashedup.T heypreparedamealtotakewiththem.Itwasaverygoodthingtheyhaddiscove redthatstorecave--theynowhadplentyoffoodofallkinds.Theydidhopethe seaplanewouldn'ttakeeverythingaway! Theyallgotintotheboat.Theboysrowedoff,andwerecarefultokeeptothe sideoppositethecavewhentheycametothesecondisland.Theyrowedquicklyo verthespaceofwaterseparatingthatislandfromthethirdone,andcametoth efarthesttipofft.Heretherewasatinybeachwithsteep,overhangingcliffs --sooverhangingthatitalmostseemedasifabigpiecewasabouttofalloff! "Justtheplace."saidAndy,pullingintothetinybeach."Jumpoutgirls.Take thefoodwithyou.'Giveahandwiththeboat.Tom.we'llrunitupthebeachand putitrightunderthatdangerouspieceofcliff.Itwillbewellhiddenthere. " Theyputtheboatthereandlookedatit.TheendofItjuttedoutandcouldbe seen.Jillran,toaseaweed-coveredrockandpulledoffhandfulsoftheweed. "Let'smaketheboatintoarock!"shesaid,withalaugh."Coveritwithseawee d!" "Jollygoodidea!"saidAndy."Ididn'tknowgirlscouldhavesuchgoodideas!" "Youwaitandseewhatfineideaswehave!"saidMary.Theyanpulledatthesea weed,andsoontheboatwasnicelydrapedandlookedsoexactlylikeaseaweed-c

overedrockthatnoonecouldpossiblyguessitwasn't,evenastheypassedquit enearit. "That'sgood."saidAndy."Nowwe'llmakeourwayverycarefullyacrossthisend oftheislandtillwecometothelittlecovewherewetookourboatfrom.We'l ljustpeepoverthecttffandseeifthere'sanyonetherelookingasthoughthe yhavemissedtheboat!Thenwe'llcrawltothetopofthenextcliffthatoverl ooksthesubmarinebay,andTomshalltakeafewpictures." Everythingwentwell.Keepingclosetotallbushesofgoneandbramble,thefour childrencreptoverthetipoftheislandandsooncametothecliffbelowwhic hwastheboat-cove.CautiouslyAndypartedsomebramblespraysandpeepeddown tothebeachbelow. Thereweretherestofthelittleboats,stillupturned.Nobodywasaboutatall .AsfarasAndycouldsee,thestolenboathadnotbeenmissed.Good! Andylettherestofthechildrenlookdowntothebeach.Tomwaspleased."Asl ongasourboatisntmissedweareallright,"hesaid."Ishouldthinktheenem yfeeltheyaresosafeherethatitjustdoesn'tentertheirheadsthataboat mightbetaken.Idon'tbelievethey'llevermissit." "Ihopeyou'reright,"saidAndy."Butitdoesn'tdotothinktheenemyiscarel essorstupid.Wemustthinktheyaresmartandclever,andtrytobethesameo urselves.Nowlet'swrigglealongtothenextbitofcliff--andyougirlscanse ethesubmarines.Thatwillbeasightforyou!" Goingveryslowlyandcautiouslyindeedthefourofthemmadetheirwayunderbu shesandbrackentothetopofthenextcliff.Theyalllayontheirtummiesand peepedbetweenthetallbracken.Thegirlsdrewalongbreathofsurprise. "Golly!"saidJill."One--two--three---four--five-six--seven--howevermanysubma rinesarethere!Andallofthemmarkedwiththecrookedcross." "Anenemysubmarinebasesonearourownland!"saidMary."Andnobodyknowsit! " "Where'syourcamera,Tom?"whisperedAndy,Tomhaditroundhisshoulder.Caref ullyhetookitoutofitswaterproofcaseandsetitfortakingdistantpicture s. "It'sgottheseaplaneonthefirsttwonegatives,"saidtheboyinalowtone. "I'llfilluptherestofthefilmwithphotosofthesubmarines.Thepicturesc aneasilybemadelargerwhenwegethome.Thennobodycandisbelieveus,orsay wemadeitallup!" Click!wentthecamera."Qnepicturetaken,"saidTom."Igotinthosetwobigs ubmarinestogether,justoverthere." Click!Click!Click!Click!Tomwasascarefulashecouldbetotakegoodphoto graphs.Soonthewholefilmwasused."I'llwaittillIgetbacktothehutand theninwindoffthefilminadarkcomer,"saidtheboy."That'saspotofgood workdone!" Heputthecamerabackintoitscaseandstrappeditop.Thefourchildrenlaya ndlookedatthenestofsubmarinesinthewaterbelow.Anothercameslippingin astheywatched.Twoslippedout. "Gonetosinksomemoreofourships,Isuppose,"saidAndyangrily."IfonlyI couldstopthem!Butwewillcleanupthewholelotoncewegetthenewsbackho me.Iguesswe'llhaveabattleshiportwosentouthere." "Wherewillitbesafetohavesomethingtoeat?"askedTom."Idofeelhungry." "IwishIhadashillingforeverytimeI'veheardTomsaythat,"saidJill,wit hagiggle. "Well,Ionlysaywhattherestofyouarethinking!"saidTom."Ibetyou'real lhungry!" Theywere!Andyfoundalittlebrackendellnotfarfromthetopofthecliff.H erethebrackenwastallerthanthechildren,andoncetheyhadsettledthemselv esdownbelowthetallfrondsnobodycouldpossiblyseethemeitherfromaboveo rpassingby. Theyateagoodmealandenjoyedit.Theylayonfceirbacksandlookedbetween thefrondsatthebluesky.Itwasmarvellousthattheweatherwasstillsogood .Itwouldhavebeenmiserableifithadrainedallthetime. "Nowwe'dbettergetback,"saidAndy.

"Oh,why?"askedJill,lazily."Iwasalmostasleep." "I'lltellyouwhy!"saidAndy."Supposingthatstolenboatismissed--well,the firstplacesearchedwouldbethisisland!Andwe'dbefound.No--thebestthin gTorustodoistogetbacknow,waittilltheseaplanehasleftandthengos traighttothestore-caveandfillourboatwithfood.Thenwe'llstartoffto-n ight." "Allright.We'llcomealongnowthen,"saidJill,gettingup.Theytookonelas tpeepatthesubmarinebayandanotherattheboat-cove.Thentheymadetheirw ayverycautiouslybacktothetinybeachwheretheyhadhiddentheirboat. Itwasstillthere,beautifullydrapedwithseaweed.Nobodyhaddiscoveredit!T hechildrendraggeditdowntothewavesandjumpedintoit.Andypusheditout. Theytookturnsatrowing.Theywerehalf-wayroundthesecondisland,ontheco astoppositetotheonewherethestore-cavewas,whenadreadfulthinghappened . Theseaplanechosethatminutetoleavethewaterbythe.secondislandandtor iseintotheair,readytoflyoff! Thechildrenhadnotimetorushtheirboatintoshoreandhide.Theywereouto nthesea,clearlytobeseen! "Crouchdownflatintheboat,sothatthepilotmayperhapsthinkthere'snobod yinit,"orderedAndy.Theyshippedtheoarsquicklyandcroucheddown.Thesea planeroseuphigh,andthechildrenhardlydaredtobreathe.Theydidsohopei twouldflyoffwithoutnoticingthem. Butitsuddenlyaltereditscourseandbegantocircleround,comingdownlower. Itflewdownlowenoughtoexaminetheboat,andthen,risinghigh,flewovert hethirdisland,andthenflewdowntothesubmarinebay. Andysatup,hisfaceratherpaleunderitsbrown. "That'sdoneit,"hesaid."Theysawus!Nowthey'llcounttheirboats--findthe re'sonemissing--andcometolookforus!"

CHAPTER13 TomDisappears THEchildrenlookedatoneanotherinthegreatestdismay.Tothinktheseaplane shouldhaveflownoverjustatthatverymoment!Itwastoobad. "Well,wecan'tsitherelookingatoneanother,"saidAndy,inabravevoice." We'vegottodosomethingquickly.Butwhat?Ican'tseemtothink!" Nobodycouldthinkwhattodo.Andylongeddesperatelyforsomegrown-upwhocou ldtakecommandandtellhimwhatwouldbethebestthingtodo.Buttherewasn ogrown-up.Thiswassomethinghehadtodecidehimself--andhemustdecidewell ,becausethetwogirlswereinhiscare. "Wehadbetterrowstraightroundtothestore-caveandfilltheboatwithfood whilstwecan,"hesaidatlast."Thenwe'llstartoutstraightawayandhopetha ttheseaplanewon'tspotusoutonthesea.It'stheonlythingtodo." Itwasalongrowroundtothecave,buttheygotthereatlast,quitetiredout .Therewasnobodyabout.Theybeachedtheboatandjumpedout.Itwasnotlong beforetheywereintheRoundCave,carryingoutstacksoftinsandboxestothe boat. "Golly!We'vegotenoughfoodtolastforweeks!"saidTom. "Wemayneedit!"saidAndy."Goodnessknowshowfaritisbackhome.I'venotm uchideaoftherightdirectioneither,butIshalldomybest." Tomstaggeredouttotheboatwithheapsofthings.Andylookedatthepileoff oodattheendoftheboatandnoddedbishead. "That'senough,"hesaid."Wedon'twanttomaketheboattooheavytorow!Get in!" Theyallgotin.Theyrowedoutbeyondthereefofrockswheretheyhadfounda wayinandthentowardstheirownisland.Andywantedtogettherugs,forhewa ssuretheywouldbebitterlycoldatnight. "Yougirlsjumpoutandgoandfetchallthewarmthingsyoucanfind,"saidAnd y."Andbringacuportwoandaknife,I'vegotatin-opener."

Thegirlsspedofftotheshackinthehollow--andwhilsttheyweregonetheboy sheardthesoundtheydreadedtohear--thenoiseofseaplaneenginesboomingov erthewater! "Thereitcomesagain!"saidAndyangrily."Alwaysatthewrongmoment.Liedown flat,Tom.Ihopethegirlswillhavethesensetodothesame!" Theseaplanezoomeddownlowovertheisland,asifitwerehuntingforsomeone. Thenitdronedoverthesea,andflewroundingreatcircles.Andyliftedhish eadandwatchedit. "Youknowwhatit'sdoing?"hesaid."It'sflyingroundhuntingtheseaforour boat--justasahawkfliesoverfieldshuntingformice!It'sagoodthingwedi dn'tsetoutstraightaway.Ithinknowwe'dbetterwaitforthenighttocome--a ndthensetoutinthedarkness.Weshouldbeseenaseasilyasanythingifwet rytogonow." Theywaitedtillthedroneoftheplane'sengineswasfaraway.Itwashuntingt hewaterseverywhereforthestolenboat.Andystoodupandyelledtothegirls, whowerelyingflatunderabush. "It'sgoneforthemoment.Helpustotakeoutthesegoodsandhidethem.Ifthe boatisdiscoveredhereandtakenaway,andwearemadeprisonersonthisislan d,weshallatleastbesureofstores!" "Ifweareabletostartoutto-nightwecaneasilypatbackthefood,"saidTom .Theyallworkedhard,andburiedthetinsandboxesundersomeloosesandatt hetopofthebeach.Theypulledtheboatfartherupthebeachandthensatdown torest,hotandtired. AndthenpoorTomgaveasquealofdismay.Theothersjumpedandlookedathimi nfright."Whatever'sthematter?"askedAndy. "Mycamera!"saidTom,hisfaceapictureofhorror."Mycamera--withallthose picturesItook!Ileftitinthestore-cave." "Leftitinthestore-cave!"saideveryone."Whateverfor?" "Well,IwasafraidI'dbumpitagainsttherocks,carryingitupanddownthose passages,"saidTom."SoItookitoffforaminute,meaningtoputitonwhen wewent.AndIforgot." "Youfathead!"saidJill. "Don'tcallmethat,"saidpoorTom,lookingalmostreadytocry. "Well,fatheadistoogoodaname,"saidMary."Thinheadwouldbebetter.Youca n'tpossiblyhavegoHmybrainsifyoudoathinglikethat,soyoumustbeathi nheadwithnobrainsatall." Tomwentveryred.Heblinkedhiseyesandswallowedalumpthathad-suddenlyco meintohisthroat.Heknewhowvaluablethepictureswerethathehadtaken.Ho wcouldhehavecometoforgethiscameralikethat? "Cheerup,Tom,"saidAndy."Iknowwhatyoufeellike.Ifeltjustlikethatwh enIfoundI'dforgottentobringtheanchorintheship.It'sawful." TomwasgratefultoAndyfornotscoldinghim.Butallthesamehefeltreallyd readful.Theyhadgonetosuchalotoftroubletogetthosephotographs--andno wallbecauseofhiscarelessnesstheyhadbeenleftbehind. "Ivotewehavesomethingtoeat,"saidAndy,thinkingthatwouldcheerTomup. Butitdidn't.ForonceinawayTomhadnoappetiteatall.Hecouldn'teatat hing.Hesatnearbylookinggloomilyattheothers. Theseaplanedidnotcomeback.Thechildrensatandwaitedfortheeveningtoc ome,whentheymightstart.Jillyawned."Imustdosomethingforthenexttwoo rthreehours,"shesaid,"orIshallfallasleep.IthinkI'lltakethekettle andkeepfillingitwithwateratthespring,andbringitbacktotheboat.The re'sabigwater-barrelthere,andwecouldfillitwithwater." "Goodidea,"saidAndy."YouandMarydothat.IthinkI'lljustwanderuptoth ebushwhereweputthesailandseeifit'sstillthere.Idon'tthinkI'vetim etorigupsomekindofamastinthislittleboatsothesailwon'tbeanygoo d.Butitmightbeusefultocoveruswithifitshouldhappentopourwithrain ." Thegirlswentoff.AndynoddedtoTom,whowasstilllookinggloomy,andwenta crosstheislandtothebushwherehehadputthesail. Tomwasleftalone,"Theydon'twantmewiththem,"thoughttheboy,quitewrong

ly."TheythinkI'mawful.IthinkI'mawfultoo!Oh,dear--ifonlyIcouldget mycamera." Hethoughtofthereefofrocksthatledtothesecondisland.Itwasn'tabito fusetryingtoclimboverthembecausethetidewasgettinghighnow. Butthenhethoughtoftheboat!Itreallywasn'tagreatdistancetorowtothe cave,fromthebeachwherehewas.Howpleasedtheotherswouldbeifhegotba ckhiscamera! Theboydidnotstoptothink.Hedraggedtheboatdownthebeachbyhimself,th oughhenearlypulledhisarmsout,doingit!Hepusheditintothewaterandju mpedin.Hetooktheoarsandbegantorowquicklyroundtothesecondisland.H ewouldlandontheshorethen,runquicklytothecaveandgethiscamera. "ThenI'llbebackherewithitalmostbeforetheothersknowI'mgone!"hethou ght. NobodywouldhaveknownwhatTomhaddoneifAndyhadnothappenedtolookround ashewentoverthelittleislandtofindtheoldsail.To'hisenormousastonis hmenthesawtheirboatbeingrowedaway! HecouldnotseethattheoneinitwasTom,andforamomenthestoodstill,wo nderingwhathadhappened.Wasitanotherboat,nottheirown?Heranquicklyto findout. Hesoonsawthatitwastheirownboat.HesawwhereTomhaddraggeditdownthe beach.Hecouldjustseetheboatroundingthecornerofacliffnow. "ThatwasTomallright,"saidAndytohimself.Thegirlscamebackatthatmome ntandshoutedtoAndy. "What'sthematter?Whydoyoulooklikethat?Where'stheboat?" "Tom'sgoneoffwithit,"saidAndyangrily. "Tom!Whateverdoyoumean,Andy?"askedJillinthegreatestsurprise. "Isupposehefeltupsetaboutleavinghiscamerabehindandhe'sgonetogetit byhimself,"saidAndy."Hereallyisafathead.Hemaybeseenandcaught.I'm quitesuresomeonewillbehuntingforussoon.Really,IcouldshakeTomtill histeethrattled!" ThegirlsstaredatAndyindismay.Theydidnotatallliketheideaoftheirb rothergoingoffaloneintheboat.Well--theywouldjusthavetowaitpatiently tillTomcameback.Itshouldnotreallytakehimaverylongtime.Thesunwas sinkingnow.Heshouldbebackbythetimeitwasgone.Thentheycouldallsta rtoutagainandtrytomakeforhome. Jillsetthekettleofwaterdownonthebeach.Shefelttired.Marysatdownbe sideherandlookedoutoverthewaterforTomtocomeback.Andywalkedupand downimpatiently.HecouldunderstandthatTomlongedtogetbackhiscameraand puthimselfrightwiththeotherssothattheynolongerthoughthimcarelessa ndsffly--buthedidwishhehadn'tgoneoffintheirpreciousboat! Thethreechildrenwaitedandwaited.Thesunsanklower.Itdisappearedoverth esky-lineandthefirststarsglimmeredinthedarkeningsky. AndstillTomwasnotback.Thegirlscouldnolongerseeanythingonthesea,w hichwasnowdark.Theycouldonlysitandlistenfortheplashofoars. "Tomoughttobebackbynow,"saidAndyanxiously."He'shadplentyoftimeto getadozencamerasIWhateverishedoing?" Nobodyknew.Theysatthereonthechillybeach,anxiousandworried.Ifonly,o nlyTomwouldcomeback!Nobodywouldscoldhim.Nobodywouldgrumbleathim.Th eyjustwantedhimtocome. "Ishouldthinkhe'sbeencaught,"saidAndyatlast."Therecan'tbeanyother reasonwhyhe'snotback.Nowwe'reinaprettyfix!NoTom--andnoboat!"

CHAPTER14 APrisonerintheCave WHAThadhappenedtoTom?Agreatmanythings.Hehadrowedsafelytothebeach wherethecaveslayhiddeninthecliffbehind.Hehaddraggedtheboatupthes andandhadgoneintothefirstcave.Hestumbledthroughtherockyarchwayand intothequeerRoundCave,whichwassofulloffood.

Hehadnotorch,sohehadtofeelaroundinthedarkforhiscamera.Ittookhi malongtimetofindit. "WheredidIputit?"wonderedtheboyanxiously."Oh,ifonlyIhadamatch!" Buthehadn't.Hefeltovertinsandboxes--andatlasthishand-fellonthebox -likeshapeofhiscamera,safeinitswaterproofcovering! "Good,"Tomthought."NowI'lljustrushdowntotheboatandrowback.Ireally mustbequickortheotherswillbeworried." ButTomhadadreadfulshockashewasabouttomakehiswayoutoftheRoundCa vebacktothebeach.Heheardvoices! Theboystoodperfectlystill,hisheartbeatingfast.Whosevoiceswerethese? Theycamenearer.Menwereonthebeachoutside!Menhadfoundhisboat!Wasit theenemy? AlasforpoorTom--itwastheenemy!Tomhadnotheardtheboomoftheseaplane comingdownonthewater.Hehadnotseenarubber'boatputtingoffhurriedlyt othecave.Butnowhecouldhearthevoicesofthemen. Theyhadseentheboatonthebeach,andhadcometoexamineit.Theysoonsawt hatitwasthestolenboat,whichhadnowbeenmissedandwasbeingsearchedfor . Themenknewatoncewheretheowneroftheboatwas--intheeavelAndtheywere goingtosearchforhimthere. TomdartedbackintotheRoundCaveandhidbe-hindabigpileofboxes.Hefelt quitecertainhewouldbefound--andashecrouchedthere,tremblingandexcite d,hemadeuphismindvery,veryfirmlythathewouldnotsayhowmanyothersh adcometotheislandswithhim.Hewouldmakethementhinkthathewastheonl yone--thennlaybetheotherthreewouldnotbehuntedfor. "I'vebeenaperfectsillytorunintodangerlikethis,"thoughtpoorTom."But ,atanyrate,Icansavetheothersfrombeinghuntedfor,perhaps." ThemencameintotheRoundCave.Theyhadpowerfultorcheswhichtheyflasheda round--andalmostatoncetheysawTom'sfeetstickingoutfrombehindabox. Theydraggedhimoutandstoodhimup.Theyseemedmostastonishedtofindonly aboy.Theyhadexpectedaman.Theytalkedquicklyamongthemselvesinalangua gethatTomcouldnotunderstand. Thenoneman,whocouldtalkEnglish,spoketoTom."Howdidyougettothisisl and?" "Isetoffinasailing-boatandastormblewupandwreckedme,"saidTom."You canseemyboatoffthecoastofthenextisland,ifyoulook." "Isthereanyoneelsewithyouonthisisland?"askedtheman."Speakthetruth. " Tomcouldreplyquitetruthfullythattherewasnooneelsewithhimontheisla nd!Thankgoodness,theotherswereonthefirstisland! "Thereisn'tanyoneelseherewithme,"heanswered."Searchthecave,andsee!" Themendidsearchthecaveagain,butfoundnobody,ofcourse.Theydidnotsee msatisfied,however.Tomcouldseethattheyfeltsuretherewereotherstofin d. "Howdidyoufindthiscave?"askedthemanwhospokeEnglish. "Byaccident,"saidTom. "AndIsupposeyoualsofoundourboatbyaccident,andsawthesubmarinesbyac cident?"saidtheman,inaverynastyvoice."Areyousurethereisnooneelse herewithyou?" "Quitesure,"saidTom."Wouldn'tyouseetheminthecave,iftherewere?" "Weshallnottakeyourwordforit,"saidtheman,withahorridlaugh."Wesha llsearchthisislandandboththosenexttoit--andifwefindanyoneelse,you willbevery,verysorryforyourself!" "Youwon'tfindanyone!"saidTom,hopingtogoodnessthattheywouldn't,andwi shinghecouldwarnAndyandthegirlssomehow."Areyougoingtokeepmeprison er?" "Wecertainlyare,"saidtheman."Andasyouseemsofondofibiscave,we'lll etyoustayhere!You'vefoodtoeat--andyouwon'tbeabletodoanyspyingrou ndifyou'rehereinthiscave!Weshallputamanonguardattheentrance--so ifyoutrytogetout,oranyoneelsetriestogetin,you'llbecaught.Ourman

willbewellhiddenbehindarockattheentrance--andifanyfriendsofyours trytorescueyou,theywillgetashock!" Tomlistened,hisheartsinkingintohisshoes.Whatanidiothehadbeen!Hewa stobeaprisoner--andittheotherstriedtofindhimtheywouldbemadepriso nerstoo,fortheywouldneverguessasentrywashiddenbehindtherocks,watch ingforthem. Tomsatdownonabox.Hewouldnotcry.Hewouldnotshowthemenhowfrightene dandworriedhewas.Hisfacewasbraveandbold--butinsidehefeltasifhew ascryingbucketsoftears!Ifonly,onlyhecouldgetwordtoAndy! Therewasnothinghecoulddo--nothing!Hecouldonlysitthereinthecave,sur roundedbymarvellousfoodthathefelttooworriedeventolookat,andthinka bodttheothers.PoorTom!Itwasadreadfulpunishmentforbeingcarelessenoug htoforgethiscamera,andfoolishenoughtotryandfetchit! ThemenleftalampinthecaveforTom.Itwasgettinglateandtheboywastir ed--buthecouldnotsleep.Heheardthemengoout,andheknewasentryhadbe enplacedbytherocks.Hecouldnothopetoescape.Buthecouldtry! So,veryquietly,hemadehiswaythroughtherockyarchway,downtotheshore-c avebelow.Buthisfeetsetthestonesmovinghereandthere,andavoicecameo utofthedarkness Hecouldnotunderstandwhatwassaidtohim,butthevoicewassosternthatth eboyfledbacktotheRoundCaveatonce.Itwasn'tabitofgoodtryingtoesc ape. Hesatdownagainandwonderedabouttheothers.Whatweretheythinkinganddoi ng?Wouldtheyguesshehadgonetofetchhiscamera,andcometolookforhimw henthetideuncoveredtherocksnextday?Ifso,theywouldcertainlybecaught . Andyandthegirlssatupuntiltheycouldkeepawakenolonger.Theywentback totheshack,curledupontheirbeds,andsleptrestlessly,worryingaboutTom andthelostboat. Inthemorning,Andywentoutcautiously,wonderingiftheenemyhadalreadylan dedaboatontheirislandtohuntforthem.Buthecouldseenothingstrange. Hesattalkingtothegirlsastheypreparedbreakfast."Tomiscertainlycaught ."hesaid."There'snodoubtaboutthat,I'mafraid.Well.IknowenoughofTom toknowthathewon'tsaywearehere,too.Hewon'tgiveusaway.Buttheywil lcertainlycomeandhuntforanyoneelsewhomightbehere.Wehavetodotwot hings--hideourselvessothatwecan'tpossiblybefound--andthenthinkofsome wayofrescuingTom." "Ohdear!Itseemsquiteimpossible,"saidJill,feelingveryworried.Marybega ntocry. "Don'tcry,Mary,"saidAndy,puttinghisarmroundher."Wehavetobebraveno w.WeareBritishchildren,andsowehaveplentyofcourageandheapsofideas. Wemustallthinkhardandseewhatwecandototricktheenemy." "But,Andy,howcanwehideonthisbareisland?"saidMary,dryinghereyesand blinkingawayhertears."Theywillbeatallthroughthebrackenandheather.T herearenogoodtreestohidein.Notasinglecave.Really,thereisn'tanywhe reatall!" "You'reright.Mary,"saidAndy."It'sgoingtobeverydifficult.Butwemustt hinkofsomething.Yousee,ifonlywecanhideandnotbefoundwecansomehow thinkofawaytorescueTom--butifwearefoundwecan'thelpTom,andwon'tb eabletoescapeandtelloursecret!" "Yes--it'svery,veryimportant,"saidJillthoughtfully."Let'sthinkofwayso fhiding.Thebrackenisnouseatall,isft?" "Notabitofuse,"saidAndy."Ididthinkwemightperhapswadeouttotheshi pandhidedowninthecabin--butIknowtheywouldlookthere." "Couldwehideintheshack?"askedMary."Piletheheatheroverourselves,ors omething?" "No,"saidAndy."Theshack'snouse.Weshouldbediscoveredthereatonce.And there'snoplaceinanyoftheotheroldruinedbuildings.Iwishweknewofa caveorsomethinglikethat." "It'sagoodthingwe'vegotplentyoffoodhiddeninthesand,"saidJill."If

wecanmanagetohideourselvesawayweneednotstarve!We'veonlygottogoan ddigupthatstoreoffood!" "Yes--that'sverylucky,"saidAndy."Isay,listen!.That'sthesoundofamoto r-boat,isn'tit?" Andycreptouttosee,keepingwellundercover.Yes--therewasamotor-boatcom ingroundthecorneroftheisland--amotor-boatwithfivemeninit! "They'recoming!"whisperedAndy."They'reinamotor-boat.Quick--whereshallw ehide!" "We'dbetterrushovertotheopposite'sideoftheisland,"saidJiM,herface pale."Thefirstplacethey'llhuntisthisside,wheretheyland.XJuick,Mary!" Thethreechildrenslippedoutoftheshackandmadetheirwayuptherockypath .Theywerejustoutofsightwhenthemotor-boatlandedonthebeach.Theywoul dbeabletoreachtheothersideoftheislandunseen--butwhatcouldtheydot here?Theshoretherewasnothingbutrocksandsand--theywouldbefoundintwo minutes!

CHAPTER15 TheIslandisSearched ANDYandthegirlsdidnottakelongtoreachtheoppositeshoreoftheisland. Theysliddownthesteepcliffthereandreachedthebeach.Itwassandy,butat onesidewasamassofseaweed-coveredrocks.Itwasimpossibletohidebehind them,foramoment'ssearchwouldatoncediscoverthem. Theylookedatoneanotherindespair."Anygoodwadingouttoseaandkeepingu nderwater?"askedJill. "No,"saidAndy,"we'dhavetokeeppoppingourheadsuptobreatheandwe'dbe seenatonce." JillstaredattherocksnearbyandthenshegavesuchasquealthatAndyandMa ryjumpedinfright. "Sh!"saidAndyangrily."You'llbeheard.Whatever'sthematter?" "I'vethoughtofhowtohide!"saidJillbreathlessly."It'sthesameideaIhad forhidingthatboat.Can'twecoverourselveswithsand,andthendrapeoursel veswithseaweed,tolooklikerocks?Wecouldgoandliedownbesidethoserock s,andifwewerewellcoveredwithweedswe'dlookexactlylikethem!" "Golly!Thatisanidea!"saidAndyatonce."Quick!I'llcoveryougirlswiths andatonce.Comeoverhere." Thethreerantotherocks.Thetidewasout,andthesandwashardbutdamp.An dymadethegirlsliedowntogether,andthenhepiledsandhighoverthem,leav ingaspaceovertheirnosesforbreathing.Heonlyhadhishandstodothis,so itwashardwork.Thenhedraggedgreathandfulsofseaweedfromtherocksand threwitoverthesandymound.Whenhehadfinished,thegirlslookedexactlyli ketheseaweed-coveredrocksnearby!Itwasreallymarvellous. Andycoveredwithlooseseaweedtheuntidyplaceshehadmadeinthesand.Then hebegantomakeaholeforhimself,andtocoverhimselftoo.Hedrapedhimself withpilesofseaweedandthenpokeduphisheadtolookatthegirls. Hereallydidn'tknowwhichoftherockstheywere!Hesimplycouldn'ttell!He lookedandlooked--butnotuntiloneoftherocksmovedalittledidheseethat itwasthegirlsI "Jill!Mary!"hecalledinalowvoice."Assoonasyouhearmescreaminglikea gullyoumustlieabsolutelystill.Youlookmarvellous!Ididn'tknowwhichro ckyouweretilloneofyoumoved." "Andy,I'mafraidoneofthemenmighttreadonme,"saidMary,inafrightened voice. "Well,lethim!"saidAndy."Idontadviseyoutocalloutandaskhimnottowa lkonyou!" Therewasalittlegigglefromthenearbyrock.Althoughthegirlswerefrighten edtheycouldstillseeajoke.TheyalllayquietlyforatimeandthenAndyhe ardvoicescomingnear.Hecriedlikeaseagull,andthegirlsthenlaysostill thatnoteventhetiniestbitofseaweedabovethemmovedatall.

Themensliddowntothesandyshore,callingtooneanotherinloudvoices.And ycouldnotunderstandanythingtheysaid.Allthechildren'sheartsbeatloudly andJillwonderedifherscouldpossiblybeheard.Itseemedtohertobethump ingasloudlyasahammer. Themenstoodonthebeachandlookedround.Oneshoutedsomethingtotheothers andbegantowalkovertotherocks.Andyfeltmostalarmed. "Idohopewelooklikerealrocks,"hethought"AndIhopejiobodytreadsonus --weshouldbefoundatonceifthathappened--tosaynothingofbeinghurt!" Themancamenearer.HestoodnearAndyandtookoutapacketofcigarettes.And yheardhimstrikeamatchandknewthathehadlightedacigarette. Themanthrewtheemptycigarettepacketontothesand,andpuffedathiscigar ette.Ayounggull,seeingthemanthrowthepacketaway,thoughtthatitmight beapieceofbread.Itflewdowntosee,crying"Ee-oo,ee-oo,ee-oo!"verylou dly. Theothergullshearditandsoaredroundincircles,wonderingiftherewasany foodtofind.Theyounggulllandedonthesandandstoodlookingatthepacket ,hardlydaringtogonearertopeckit,foritwastooclosetotheman. Theothergullsflewdown--andtwostoodonAndyandonestoodonthegirls!The childrenlookedsoexactlylikerocksthatthegullsreallythoughttheywere! Onegullthoughttherockfeltunusuallysoftandwarmandhebentdownhishead andpeckedatit.HepeckedAndy'skneeandtheboynearlygaveayell. Themenjoinedtheonewhowassmokingacigarette.Theydidnotevenbotherto walkovertherocks.Onemansaidthatitwasplaintherecouldbenobodyhiding thereforthegullswouldnotstandaboutastheyweredoingiftherewasanyon ehiding.Theywouldknowitandbesuspicious. Forsometimethemenstoodtalkingandsmoking.Thentheyturnedtogoupthec liffagain.OnewalkedsonearAndythattheboycouldfeelthethudofhisfoot fallcloseby. Upthecliffclimbedthemenanddisappearedoverthetop.Andycautiouslylifte dhisheadafterawhileandlookedaround.Therewasnoonetobeseen. Theboyfeltthatitwouldbesaferiftheyallstayedwheretheywereforsome timelonger--buthefeltcoldanddamp,andhewasafraidthatthegirlswouldc atchadreadfulchill. "Mary!Jill!"hecalled,inalowvoice."Iflunkthemenaregone,butwemust stillbecareful.Slowlyandcarefullytakeofftheweedandshakeyourselvesfr eeofthesand.BereadytoliestillatonceifIsayso." Buttherewasnoneedtosayso--themendidnotcomebacktothebeach.Thethr eechildrenshookoffthedampsand,threwtheseaweedovertheplaceswherethe yhadbeenlyingandranquicklytotheshelterofthecliff,wherenoonecould seethem,iftheylookedover. Thegullsflewoffinthegreatestsurpriseandalarm.Theycouldnotunderstand rocksturningintochildrensosuddenly.Theyounggullmadeupitsmindthati twouldneverlandon.arockagain--justsupposeitchangedintoaperson! "Golly!"saidAndy,astheystoodshiveringunderthecliff."Thatwasanarrow escape!Onemanverynearlytrodonmyhandunderthesand!" "Whathaveyoudonetoyourknee,Andy?"askedJill,pointingtowhereAndy'skn eewasbleeding. "Agullpeckedmethere,"saidAndy,moppinghisknee."It'snothingmuch.Isay ,wasn'titfunnywhenthegullsthoughtwewererocksandcameandstoodonus! Theywereagreathelp!" "Onegullstoodnearlyonmyface,"saidJill."Ididn'tlikeitverymuch." "Idofeelcold,"saidMary,shiveringandshaking."Itwashorridtobecovered withdampsandforsolong." Shesneezed.Andylookedatheranxiously.Itwouldneverdoforanyofthemto beilljustnow.Hemadeuphismindquickly. "Themenmaybeofftheislandnow,"hesaid."I'llgoandsee.Iftheyarewe'l lalltearacrosstothehut,lightthestoveinsideanddryourselves.we'llmake somehotcocoaandgetreallywarm." Thegirlsthoughtthatwasasplendididea.Andysetoffupthecliff."Stayher etillyouhearmyseagullcry,"hesaid."Thencomeasquicklyasyoucan."

Hecametothetopofthecliff.Then,keepingtothethickbracken,hemadehis waytotheothersideoftheisland,lookingoutforanysignsofthemen.Hew entrightacrosstheisland,andcametothehollowwheretheoldbuildingswere --andhesawthemotor-boatputtingofffromtheshore!Themenhadgivenupthe huntandweregoingbacktothethirdisland.Theyhadalreadysearchedthesec ondoneandhadfoundnobodybutTom. Andytorebacktothegirls.Hescreechedlikeagull.Thegirlsatonceclimbed thecliffandranacrosstheisland,feelingalittlewannerastheyran.Andy wasintheshack,andthestovewaslighted.Itgaveoutawelcomeheat. "Takeoffyourdampthingsandwrapyourselfintherugs,"saidAndy,whowasal readywalkingaboutinarughimselfandlookedlikeaRedIndian."I'mmakings omecocoa." Intenminutes'timeallthechildrenfeltwarmandlively.Thestovedriedthei rthings,andthehotcocoawannedthemwell.NobodysneezedagainandAndybega ntohopethattheirlongstayunderthedampsandwouldn'tgiveanyoneachill afterall. "Andy,whatareyougoingtodonow?"askedJill,sippinghercocoa."We'vegot plentyoffood,luckily,becauseweburieditallinthesandatthetopofthe beachoutthere--butwecan'tgetaway,becauseourboat'sgoneandwe'velostT om.Havewegottostayherefortherestofourlives?" "Don'tbesilly,Jill,"saidAndy."Let'stackleonethingatatime,forgoodne ss'sake.We'vedonetHemostimportantthingsofar--hiddenourselvessowellt hatweweren'tfound--andnowwe'lldothenextmostimportantthing--we'llrescue Tom!Afterthatwe'llthinkhowtoescape--butonethingatatime,please,and noworryingaboutwhat'sgoingtohappen.Ifwegetworried,we'llgetfrightene d,andnobodyisanyusewhenthey'refrightened.We'veallgotplentyofcourag eandwe'lluseit!" JillandMarycheeredupatAndy'sbravewords."IwouldliketorescuepoorTom ,"saidJill."Hewillbesolonelyandupset.Wheredoyousupposeheis?" "Inthecavewherehelefthiscamera,Iexpect,"saidAndy,pouringhimselfout anothercupofcocoa."AndI'mprettycertainthere'llbeaguardsomewhereat theentrance,foriftherewerenot,Tomwouldsoonescape--sowewon'truninto trouble--we'llseeifthereisn'ttomeotherwayofrescuingTom." "Buthowcantherebe?"askedJill. "Idon'tknowyet,"saidAndy."ButIdoknowthis--wethoughtitwasimpossible tobidesafelyonthisbarelittleisland--yetwedidit!Andso,thoughitsou ndsimpossibletorescueTom,theremay.beawayifwethinkhardenough.Sonow --let'sallthinkhard!"

CHAPTER16 AnExcitingDiscovery NOBODYcouldthinkhowtorescueTom.Afterall,iftherewassomeoneguardingt hecave-entrance,howcouldAndypossiblygetinwithoutbeingseen? Theboygaveitupafteratime,andforachangehesetthegramophonegoing.T herewasonlyonerecordthatwasnotbroken,andthatwastheonewiththelull abyononesideandthenurseryrhymesontheother.Thegirlslistened,rather bored,fortheyhadheardthatrecordscoresoftimessincetheyhadcometothe island. "Turnitoff,Andy,"saidJill."IfIhearthatvoicecrooningthatlullabyany moreIshallgotosleep!" Andyswitchedoffthegramophoneandwenttothedoorwayoftheshack.Hewasno tafraidofthemencomingbackagainforhewassuretheythoughttherewasno oneonthisisland,atanyrate. AthoughtcameintoAndy'sbead.Hewentbacktothegirls. "IthinkitwouldbeagoodthingifIcrossedtothesecondislandto-night,wh enit'sdark,"hesaid."ImightbeabletogetintotouchwithTomsomehowand hearwhathashappened,evenifIcan'trescuehim." "Oh,Andy--weshallbeleftallalone,"saidMaryindismay.

"Wedon'tmindthat,ifAndycanhelpTom,"saidJill."We'llstayhereintheh ut,Andy,andtrytosleepwhilstyougo.Butdobecareful,won'tyou?" "I'llbecareful,"saidAndy."Idon'twanttobemadeaprisoner,too--butyou needn'tbeafraidofthat!Noenemycancatchme!" Sothatnight,whenhehadonlythestarlighttoguidehim,forthemoonwasnot up,Andycrossedthelineofrockstothesecondisland.Hewentverycautiousl y,forhedidnotwantasinglesoundtocometotheearsofanyoneonthecavebeach. Hewadedthroughtheshallowwatertothesandatthenearerendofthebeach.H estoodthere,listening--andnotveryfaroff,closeagainstthecliffwhereth ecave-entrancewas,heheardacough! "Oho!"saidAndytohimself."Thanksforthatcough,dearsentry!Inowknowexa ctlywhereyouare.Youarebehindthebigrockatthecaveopening.Well.Isha llnotgonearyou!" Theboystoodquitestillforawhile,listening.Thesentrymostobliginglycle aredhisthroatandcoughedagainveryloudly.Andygrinned.Hemadehiswaycar efullyroundtheendofthecliffandthenbegantoclimbup,feelinghiswayca utiously.Theclifftherewasnotverysteep,andAndywassoonatthetop.Heh adnotmadeasinglesound. Hefoundalittlehollowwhereheatherandgorsegrewthickly.Hecreptunderan overhangingpieceotbush,piledtheheatherbeneathhim,andsleptpeacefully. Heknewhecoulddonothingtillmorningcame,andhecouldseewherehewas. ThesunroseandAndyawoke.Hewasstiffandhestretchedhimselfandyawned.H ewashungry,buttherewasnothingforhimtoeatbutbilberries. Hewriggledcarefullytotheedgeofthecliffandlookedover.Almostbelowhim wasthesentryhehadheardlastnight,behindarockatthecave-entrance.As Andylookeddownhesawaboatcomingtotheshore,andamansteppedoff,andw alkedupthebeachtochangeplaceswiththesentry.Theystoodtalkingforawh ileandthenthefirstsentrywenttotheboat,yawning,andthenewonesettled downtohistaskofwaitingandwatching. Andysatandthought.Hewriggledbacktoaplacewhereheimaginedhemustbee xactlyovertheRoundCave.HewonderedifTomcouldhearhim,ifhedrummedon thegroundwithhisfeet.Afterall,theboycouldnotbeveryfarbelow,forth eRoundCavewasfairlyhighupinthecliff. Andthenamostextraordinarythinghappened--sostartlingthatAndy'sheartjum pedalmostoutofhisbody! Agroancamefromsomewhereunderhislegs!Andywaslyingontheheather,andw henthegroancame,heshothislegsupbeneathhimandstaredattheplacewher ethegroanhadcomefromasifhesimplycouldn'tbelievehiseyesorears! Asmallergroansounded,morelikealongyawn.Andystaredattheheather,and wonderedifhisearscouldberight!Heathercouldn'tyawnorgroan!Thenwhatw asit? Verycautiouslyandgently,theboyturnedhimselfaboutandbegantofeelinth eheather.Hepulledittooneside,andtohisenormousastonishmenthefounda holebelowtherootsoftheheather--aholethatmustleaddowntotheRoundCa veforAndyreckonedthathemustbeexactlyoverthatcave. Andyfeltsoexcitedthathebegantotremble."Nowonderthatcavedidn!tsmell asmustyandstuffyasweexpecteditto,"hethought."Thereisanair-holele adingrightdowntoit!GollylIwonderifthere'sanychanceofrescuingTomth isway." Hepulleduptheheatherandexaminedthehole.Theearthwasdryandsandy.And yscrapedawayhard,andfoundthatitwasquiteeasytomakeitbigger.Justsu pposehecouldmakeitbigenoughtogetdown--orforTomtogetup! "Iknewthere'dbeawayifwedidn'tgiveuphope!"thoughttheexcitedboy."I justknewit!" Hecrawledtothetopofthecliffandlookedoverit.Thesentrywastherestil l,andhewasbusyeatinghisbreakfast.Hewasallrightforsometime. Andycrawledbacktothehole.Hescrapedaboutalittlemore,andthenlaydown withhisfaceinthehole.Itseemedtogodownanddownintothedarkness. Andyspokeinalowvoice.'Tom!Areyouthere?"

AndwasTomthere?Yes,hewas!HehadbeenintheRoundCave,aloneandlonely, eversincehehadbeencaught.Ithadseemedagestohim.Theboyhadworriedd readfullyabouttheothers.Hehadeatenalittleofthefoodaroundhim,buthe hadnoappetitenow.Hewasmiserableandfrightened,thoughhewouldnotshow thistoanyofthesentrieswhooccasionallycameuptherockypassage-waytose eifhewasallright. ThemanwhocouldspeakEnglishhadcometoseehimtheeveningbefore. "Wehavesearchedthefirstislandandthisone,"hehadtoldTom."Wehavefoun dyourshack--andwehavefoundyourfriends,too!" Tom'sheartsankwhenheheardthis.Themanwasreallytellinganuntruth,hopi ngtotrapTomintosayingsomethingthatwouldshowhimtherewereotherstobe found.ButTomsaidnothing. "Itellyouwehavefoundyourfriends,"saidtheman."Theyfoughthardbutthe yhavebeencaptured." Tomstaredatthemaninsurprise.Heknewquitewellthatthegirlswouldnotf ightmen.Whatdidmismanmean?Couldhebetellinganuntruth? ThenTomsuddenlyknewthatthemanwashopingtotraphimintosayingsomething abouttheothers.Thismaildidnotknowthatthe"others"wereonlytwogirls andaboy.Hedidnotevenknowforcertainthattherewereanyothers! "Well,twocanplayatagameofpretendlikethat!"thoughttheboy.Soheput onafaceofgreatsurpriseandsaid: "Golly!Arethereothersontheseislandsthen?IwishI'dknown!Icouldhavea skedthemforhelp!" Themanlookedsurprised.Soperhapsthisboyhadnofriendsthen?Coulditbet hathewasreallyalone?Themandidnotknowwhattothink.Hesaidnomorebut turnedandwentoutofthecave.Tomcouldn'thelpfeelingpleased.Themanhad thoughthemighttraphim--buthefeltsurehehadtrickedtheman! ItwasverylonelyintheRoundCave.Tomsleptheavilyallthenightthrough,b utfoundthedayvery,verydull. Hesatonaboxandgroaneddeeply.Thenheyawnedloudly.Hewasbored.Hewas lonely. Hesatthere,doingnothing;andthenheheardaverypeculiarnoiseabovehish ead--akindofscrapingnoise.Tomwonderedwhatitcouldbe. "Perhapsit'sarabbitorsomething,"hethought."Butno--itcouldntbe.Thero ofofthecaveisofrock." Thescrapingnoisewenton--andthensomethinghappenedthatmadeTomleapupin fright. Astrangehollowvoicecameintothecavefromsomewhere!-Itranallroundthe caveandTomcouldjustmakeoutthewords.Thefunnydeepvoicesaid,"Tom!Are youthere?" ItwasreallyAndy'svoice,ofcourse,comingdowntheholetothecave--andthe hotehadmadeitsounddeepandstrange,notabitlikeAndy's. Tomtrembledandsaidnothing.Hecouldn'tunderstandthisqueervoicesuddenly comingintothecave.SoAndyspokeagain. "Tom!It'sAndyspeaking.Areyouthere?" Thevoicerumbledroundthecave--butthistimeTomwasnotsoscared.Couldit reallybeAndy,somehowmanagingtospeaktohim?HeSnsweredasloudlyashedar ed. "I'mhere!IntheRoundCave!" Tom'svoicecameuptoAndy,allmuddledandjumbled,forTomwasnotneartheo peningofthehole.Andycouldnotmakeoutwhathesaid,butheknewitwasTom speaking. "Good!"hethought.'Tom'sinthereallright.I'llspeaktohimagainandseei fIcanfindoutwhat'shappenedtohim." SooncemoreAndy'svoicecamerumblingdownintothecave.'Tom!I'mspeakingd ownaholethatmustsomehowleadintoyourcave.Seeifyoucanfinditandspe akupit.Ican'thearyouproperly.Butwhateveryoudo,don'tletanyonehear youspeakingtome." Tomfeltexcited.GoodoldAndy!Hegotuplandbegantohuntaroundforthehole thatledupwardstoAndy.Hemustfindit,hesimplymust!

CHAPTER17 AMarvellousEscape TOMpickedupthelampandhuntedaroundthecave.Ashewasdoingthisheheard thestepsofthesentrycominguptherockypassagetotheRoundCave.Atonce Tomsatdownandbegantosingloudlythelullabythatwasontheunbrokengramo phonerecord. "Hush!Hush!Hush!Youmustn'tsayaword!It'stimeforhush-a-by,Mylittlesl eepybird!" Thesewerethewordsoftherathersillylullabysongontherecord.Buttheydi dverywellindeedforawarningtoAndynottosayanythingforamoment!Thes entryheardtheboysinging,peepedinathim,saidsomethingthatTomdidn'tin theleastunderstand,andwentoutagain.Heseemedsurprisedthattheboyshou ldsing.Tomwentonsingingthelullabyforalongtimetillhefeltquitesure thesentrywasnotcomingback. Thenhestoppedsingingandhurriedlybegantohuntfortheholeagain.Itdidn' tseemtobeanywhereITheroofofthecavewasnotveryhigh,andbystanding onboxesandtinsTomcouldexaminenearlyeveryinchofit.Buthecouldnotfi ndaholethatledupwards. Andy'svoicecameboomingdownagain:'Tom!Haveyoufoundthehole?" ThevoicewassonearTom'searthattheboynearlyfellofftheboxhewasstan dingon.Heheldupthelamptotheplacewherethevoicecamefrom.Itwasatt hepointwhereroofandwallmet,attheback.Theroofwasofrock--butthewal ljusttherewasonlyofsand.Tomputhishandupandfeltacolddraughtblowi ngdownthehole. "Andy!I'vefoundthehole!"hesaid,puttinghisheadtoit."Isay--tellmewh at'shappened." Inlowvoicesthetwoboystoldoneanotherallthathadhappened.Tomwasvery excitedwhenheheardhowtheothershadpretendedtobeseaweed-coveredrocks. "Iwonderedhowyonwouldhide,"hesaid."Icouldn'ttrunkwhatyouwoulddo!O h,Andy,I'mgladyou'resafe." "Well,Tom,thenextthingtodoistorescueyou"saidAndy."I'mwonderingif wecanusethishole.What'sitlikeatyourend?" "Rathersmall,"saidTom."Icouldn'tgetupftunlessIcouldmakeitlarger.W hat'sitlikeatyourend?" "IcaneasilymakeitaslargeasIlikeby-scrapingatit,"saidAndy."Canyo umakeyourendlarge,too,doyouthink?" Tomscrapedatitwithhishands.Hecouldeasilyscrapethewallaway,butnot theroof."Imightperhapsbeableto,"hesaid."ButI'dwantsomethingtodoi twith--I'venothingbutmyhands." "I'venothingbutmyhandseither,"saidAndy,"andtheyarebleedingalreadyfr omscrapingatthesoil.Listen,Tom--Ishallgobacktothegirlssoon,whenth erocksareuncovered,butIcan'twaittillnight.Imusfgonowwhilstthetid eislow.SoIwantyoutocalltothesentryandpretendthatyouwanthishelp inundoingatinoffoodorsomething.See?Thenwhilstheisinthecavewith you,I'llcreepovertherockssafelywithoutbeingseen,andgetback." "Allright,"saidTom."Whatwillyoudothen?" "I'llcollectsomethingforustoworkatthesoilwith,"saidAndy."AndI'llb ringitbackto-night.Thenmaybewecanmaketheholelargeenoughforyoutoc rawlup.Idon'tthinkit'smorethanaboutsixfeetlong.Now,waittohearmy seagullcall,Tom--thenyellforthesentry,andI'llmakeadashfortherocks assoonasIseehimgointothecave." Everythingworkedwell.WhenTomheardAndy'sseagullcryheshoutedforthesen try,andthemanwentintothecavetoseewhatwasthematter. HefoundthatTomhadgotalargetinoftongue,andseemedtohavelostthetin -opener,Thesentryhadn'toneeither,andhespentaverylongtimetryingtoo penthetinwithhispocket-knife.Heendedincuttinghisthumbverybadly,and Tomproducedahandkerchiefandspentalongtimebindinguptheman'sthumb,g

ladtokeephiminthecavesolong. Andyhadplentyoftimetoescapebackovertherocks.Heknewthemwellnow,an dleaptfromrocktorockeasily.Hewasbackintheshackinnotime,itseemed ! Thegirlswerethrilledtoseehimandhehadtositandtellthemallhehaddo neatleastfourorfivetimes.Whentheyheardabouttheholeleadingdowntot heRoundCavethegirlsweretremendouslyexcited. "Soyousee,"finishedAndy,"IplantogetTomoutthatwayto-night--andImus ttakebackwithmesomethingtodigandscrapewith." "Here'sanoldbitofwoodwithsomejollybignailsinit,allstickingout,"s aidJill."Wouldthatdo?"' "Yes--that'sfine,"saidAndy."IsthereabitforTom?" Theyfoundanoldbitthatwoulddo.AndthenAndysaidsuchafunnything. "I'lltakethegramophonetoo!Andtheonerecord!" Thegirlsstaredathim."Thegramophone!"saidJillatlast."Whateverfor?Are youmad!" "Itdoessoundrathermad,Iknow,"saidAndy."ButIwantitforsomething.I'l ltellyouafterwards.Itwon'tsoundquitesomadthen!" Andyhadaverygoodmeal,forhewasawfullyhungry.Thenhesettleddowntosl eep,for,ashesaid,hewouldnothavemuchofanightthatnight! Thenextnight,aftermidnight,theboywentovertherocksagain,carryingthe piecesofroughwoodwithnailsin,andthegramophoneslungcarefullyoverhis shoulder.Hereachedtheshoresafelyandmadehiswaycautiouslyupthecliff. AndverysoonTom,halfasleep,heardthequeerhollowvoicerumblingroundhis caveoncemore."Tom!Areyouasteep?" Tomclimbedonthechestandputhisheadtothehole."Hallo,Andy!"hesaid." I'mnotasleep.I'vebeenwaitingandwaitingforyou!" "There'sabitofwoodwithnailsincomingdownthehole,"saidAndy."Scrapea tyourendwithitandtryyourbesttomaketheholelarger.I'vegotonetoo. I'llscrapemyend.Lookoutthatyoudon'tgetyoureyesfullofbitsfallingd own." Thetwoboyssettowork.Bothofthemscrapedanddugforalltheywereworth. Thesoilwasverydryandsandy,andwaseasytomove.Heapsofitfelldownto Tom'sendandhehadtododgeiteverynowandagain. AtlastAndy'sholewasquitebigenoughtogetinto.HecalledsoftlytoTom." Howareyougettingon?Myendisbigenoughforyoutogetout.IVegotarope Icanletdowntoyouifyouareready." "I'mnearlyready,"answeredTom,scrapinghard."Justaminuteortwomore!" Andthen,atlast,hisendwaslargeenoughtoclimbinto!Theboyputanotherc hestonthetopoftheonehewasstandingonandkneltuponit.Hisheadandsh oulderswererightinthehole--hestoodupandalmostdisappearedinthelongn arrowfunnel. "Waitaminute,Tom,"saidAndy."I'vegotsomethingIwanttoletdownonther ope.It'sthegramophone." "Thewhat?"askedTom,inastonishment,thinkinghecouldn'thaveheardaright. "Thegramophone,"saidAndy."I'mafraid,Tom,youmaymakeratheranoiseclimb ingdownthecliff,andthesentrymightthinkyouhadescaped--butifIsetthe gramophonegoing,singingthatsillylullabyyousangyesterday,hewillthink it'syoustillinthecave--andhewon'tcomeandseewhatthematteris.SoI'm goingtoletitdown,andyoumustsetitright,andtieabitofstringtoit sothatIcanpulltheswitchandsettherecordgoingwhenIthinkit'sbestto ." "Golly!"saidTom."Youthinkofeverything!"Thegramophonecamebumpingdownt hehole,ontheendoftherope.Tomputitcarefullybehindabigchestandset theneedlereadyontheoutsideedgeoftherecord.Hetiedalongpieceofstr ingtothestarting-switch,andthentiedtheotherendtotheropethatAndyha dletdownwiththegramophone. "Pullitup,Andy,"hesaid."Butcarefully,please,becausethestring'sonthe ropeandwedon'twanttobreaktheneedlebyjerkingthestringtoohard!" Andydrewuptherope,untiedthestringontheendofit,andtiedittoaheav

ystoneforsafety.ThenhecalledtoTom,"That'sdone.Comealongupnow,Tom. Don'tbrushagainstthegramophonestringmorethanyoucanhelp.Here'sthero pe.TieitroundyourWaistandI'llhelpyouuptheholebypulling--andIsay, don'tforgetyourcamera!" Tomstooduponthehighestchestandbegantoscrambleupthehole.Therewere plentyofroughledgeseachsidewherehecouldputhisfeet.Andyhauledstrong lyontherope,andTom'sheadsuddenlyappearedthroughtheholebyAndy'sfeet ! "Good!"saidAndy."Climbout!" Tomclimbedout.Hesniffedthefreshbreezewithdelight,forithadbeenrathe rstuffydowninthecave.AndyundidtheropefromroundTom'swaist."Nowyou mustgetdownthecliffasbestyoucanwithoutnoise,"hesaid."Waitformeat theedgeoftherocks,won'tyou.I'llgiveyouahandoverthosebecauseIkno wthembetterthanyoudonow." Tomwenttothecliffandbegantoclimbdown.Halfwaydownheslipped,andkick edoutquicklytopreventhimself'fromfalling.Awholeshowerofstonesfelldo wnthecliff.Thesentry,half-dozing,shoutedatonce. Andyknewitwastimetopullthestringthatwastiedtothegramophone!Hejer kedit.Theswitchslidtoonesideandtherecordbegantogoroundonitsdisc .Theneedleranovertherecordandthelullabybegantosoundinthecave."Hu sh!Hush!Hush!" ThesentryhearditandthoughtitwasTomsinging.Hefeltsatisfiedthathisp risonerwasstillinthecave,asthesongwenton,andsettledhimselfdownaga ininacomfortableposition.Itmusthavebeenarabbitthatsentstonesdownt hecliff,hethought! AndyslippeddownthecliffafterTom,gladthatthesentryhadheardthelullab yandhadthoughtitmustbeTom.Tomwaswaitingforhimbythelineofrocks. "Didn'tImakearow?"hewhispered."ButIcouldn'thelpit." "It'sallright!Isettherecordgoingandthesentrythinksyouarebusyinth ecave,singingyourselftosleep,"saidAndywithalowchuckle."Comeon--we'v enotimetolose!"

CHAPTER18 Heave-Ho!Heave-Ho! OVERthelineofrockstheboysslippedandclimbed.TomfollowingAndyclosely, forAndynowknewthebestwayverywellindeed.Bigwaveswettedthem,butthe ydidnotcare.Alltheywantedwastogetbacktothegirlssafely. "Thesentrywon'tlookinatmeto-night,I'msure,"saidTom,astheyatlastr eachedthesandyshoreofthebeach."Andtheonethatcomesinthemorningmay notgointothecavetoseemeatall--heisasurlyfellow." "Well--thatgivesusalittletimetothinkwhattodonext,"saidAndy."Though I'mblessedifIknowwhatwillbebesttodo!" Theymadetheirwaytotheshack,whichwasindarkness,forAndyhadforbidden thegirlstoshowalightofanysortincasetheenemysawit.MaryandJillwe relyingtogetherontheirheatherbedinthedarkness,fastasleep. Maryheardtheboyscomeinandshesatuprightinbedatonce."Is.thatyou,A ndy?" "Yes--andTomtool"saidAndy.Jillawokethen,andthefourofthemsatonone bed,huggingoneanotherforjoy.Nowtheywerealltogetheragain!Itwaslovel y. "Iwasanawfulidiottotryandgetmycameraback,"saidTom."Ineverthought ofbeingcaught.Nowourboatisgoneandit'sgoingtobedifficulttoknowwh attodo." There'sonlyonethingtodo,"saidAndy."Andflatistogetourfishing-boato fftherocksearlytomorrowmorningsomehow--andrefloather.I'venoticedshes eemstohavemovedabit,anditmaybethatthetideshaveloosenedher.Perhap sthetworocksthatheldherarenotholdingherquitesofastnow.Anyway,it' souronlychance."

"Yes--we'lltryanddothat,"saidJill."Tom'sescapeissuretobediscovered sometimeto-morrow,andthistimesuchasearchwillbemadematIknowwe'llal lbefound." "Well,let'ssleepforanhourortwotilldawn,"saidAndy."Wecan'tdoanythi ngatthemoment." SotheyalllaydownontheirbedsandsleptuntilAndyawakenedthemtwohours later,Nowdawnwasintheskyandsoonthesunwouldrise. Thechildrenslippedacrosstheislandandcametothebeachwheretheyhadfirs tlanded,aftertheirwreck.Theylookedattheirpoorfishing-boat,stilljamme dbetweentherocks.Certainlyithadmovedalittle--itwasnotleaningsomuch tooneside. Theystoodandlookedatit.Thetidewasnotveryhighyet,anditwaspossible toreachtheboatwithouttoomuchdifficulty. Itwasnotlongbeforeallthechildrenhadreachedtheirboat,andwereclamber ingupthewetandslipperydeck.Seaweedlayacrossitnow,throwntherebythe waves.Theboatlookedoldandmiserable--notatalllikethesmartJittleship inwhichtheyhadstartedoutsogaily. Theboyswentdownintothelittlecabin.Ithadwaterlyingatthebottom.Andy rippeduptheplanksandexaminedtheboatunderneaththefloorofthecabin. Thenhecameoutandlethimselfdownthesideoftheship,disappearingundert hewatertofeelthebottomoftheboat.ThegirlsandTomwatchedhimanxiously . "Wemustmendtheboatsomehow,"saidTom."It'souronlychance!" WhenAndyjoinedthemontheslantingdeckhelookedverycheerful. "Doyouknow,there'snotmuchwrong!"hesaid."IdobelieveIcouldpatchher upfairlyquickly.ThewaveshaveshiftedherabitsothatIcangetatthedam agedpart--thepartwhereshestrucktherocksanddamagedafewplanks." "Oh,good,Andy!"criedthegirls,andTomslappedthefisher-boyontheshoulde rforjoy.Howmarvellous,thattheycouldperhapsmaketheshipseaworthyagain !Whatluckthatthewaveshadshiftedherenoughtomakeitpossibletoexamine thedamagedpart!TomhadnoideaatallhowAndymeanttopatchoptheship,b uthemeanttohelpwithallhismight,tomakeupforlosingthestolenboat. TomandAndywentbackovertherockstofetcharope.Andyfeltsurethatifth eyalltuggedattheboatathightide,theycouldgetherofftherocksandflo athertothebeach,whereitwouldtiotbedifficulttopatchherup. "Yousee,Tom,she'snotjammedverytightlynow,"saidAndy."AndIreckonifw ewaittinthetideisatitsveryhighest,andbigwavesaretryingtoliftthe boatup,wecouldpullherrightofftherocks!Thenwe'llgetherintoshores omehow,andseewhatwecando." "Ifonlywecandoitallbeforetheenemycomeagain,"saidTom."Iwonderift hey'vediscoveredthatI'vegone!" "Don'tlet'sthinkaboutthat,"saidAndy. Theboysfoundalltheropetheyhadandwounditfirmlyroundtheirwaists.The ywentbacktotheshore.Thegirlswerestillontheship,butthetidewasris inghighandtheywouldsoonhavetoleave,astheseacoveredtheboatathigh tide. Thechildrenfastenedstrongdoublestrandsofropetothefrontoftheship.Th en,holdingfirmlytotherope,theyclamberedovertherocksbacktothesandy beach,wetthrough.Thetidecameuphigherandhigherandthechildrenhadtos tanduptotheirwaistsinthewater,fortheropewouldnotreachrighttothe shore. "Look!There'sanenormouswavecoming!"shoutedAndy."Pullontherope,allof you,assoonasthewavestrikestheship!Heave-ho!" Theyallpulled--andeverychildfelttheshipgivealittleasthewavefinedh erandtheropepulledher."Nowhere'sanotherone!"yelledAndy."Heave-ho!" TheyallheavedattheropewithalltheirmightAgaintheyfelttheshipmovea little.Thetwobigwavesranuptheshoreandwettedthechildrentotheirchi ns! "Hangontotherope,girls,"criedAndy."IfwegetmanywavesKkethatyoumay besweptoffyourfeet.Butaslongasyou'vegotholdoftheropeyou'llbeal

lright." Thewavesweresmallerafterthat--andthenthewindbegantoblowstifflyagain ,andthewavesgrewbigger.AnenormousonereareditsgreenJieadfarouttos ea. "There'samonstercoming!"shoutedTom."Look-atit!Itwillsweepusoffourf eet!" "Butwe'llpullattheboatfirst!"yelledAndy,whowastremendouslyexcited.H ereallyfeltthattheycouldgettheboatofftherocks."Now--heave-ho,heaveho!" ThewavestrucktheboatandtheropedraggedatheratthesamemomentSheshiv eredandgroanedasshetriedtoescapefromtherocksthatheldher.Sheslippe dafewfeetforward. Thegiantwavestruckthechildrennext,andallofthemwentdownunderit,eve nAndy.Theyflounderedinthefoamingwaves,andJillswallowedaboutapintof saltwater.MarywasveryangrybecauseTomputhisfootintoherneck,butTom didn'tmeanto.Thewavestruckhimsohardthathewasflungrightoffhisfee t,andhadtostrikeouttogethimselfuprightagain. Noneofthemletgotherope.Theyallheldonfordearlife,asAndyhadordere d.Soitwasnotlongbeforetheywerestandingupagain,gaspingandsplutterin g,saltititheirmouthsandnoses,butallofthemdeterminedtoheaveagainas soonasthenextbigwavecame. "Lookhowtheboathasmoved!"yelledAndy,inthegreatestdelight."She'salmo stofftherocks!Golly!Isn'tthisexciting?" Theboathadmovedagooddeal.Andywassurethattheycouldpullherinnow.H ewaitedpatientlyforthenextbigwavetocome--andmygoodness,itwasamons ter!Thetidewasatitsheightnow,andthewindblewverystrongly.Agreenwa veputupitshead,andthechildrengaveayell. "Lookatthatone!" "Itwillknockusalloveragain,"saidMary,afraid.Butshedidn'tletgothe rope.Whethershewasknockedoverornotshemeanttodoherbit. Thewavegrewbiggerandhigherasitcamenearertotherocksonwhichtheboat layItbegantocurloveralittle--andthenitstrucktherocks,andtheboat too. "HEAVE-HO!"yelledAndy,inavoiceasenormousasthewave!Andtheyallheaved .Mygoodness,whataheavethatwas! Thegreatwaveblottedtheboatfromtheirsightandcameragingtowardsthem.J illgaveashoutoffear. "Holdon!"shoutedAndy,half-afraidhimself.Thewavesweptthemallofftheir feet--andalas,sweptthemallfromtheropetoo,exceptAndy,whoheldonwith allhismight. Theotherthreechildrenweretakenlikecorks,rolledoverandover,andflung roughlyonthesandattheedgeofthesea.Thenthegreatwaveranbackdownth ebeach,gurglingandfoaming. Jillsatup,crying.Marylaystill,quitestunnedforthemoment.Tomsatup,f uriouslyangrywiththewave!Ithadbumpedandbatteredhimmostspitefully,he thought. AsforAndy,hewasunderwater,stillclingingtotherope--butassoonashes truggledtohisfeethegaveagurglingshoutandtriedtoclearhisthroatoft hesaltwaterthere. "Theship!Look!She'soffandfloating!" Theyalllooked--andtherewasthelittlefishing-boat,safelyofftherocks,bo bbingaboutontheseathatswirledhighovertheotherrocks. "Comeinandhelpme,quick,beforeanyotherbig"wavesceme!"yelledAndy."We cangetherintoshorenow.Quick,Tom!" Thethreebatteredchildren,drippingwet,ranbravelyintotheseaagain".They caughtholdoftheropeandpulledhard."Heave-ho,heave-bo,heave-ho!"chante dAndy,astheyallpulledhard. Andtheboatcamebobbingintotheshore!Thechildrendraggedtheropeupthe beachandtheboatfollowed,scrapingitsbottomatlastonthesand. "We'vegother!"shoutedAndy,doingakindofwar-danceonhistiredlegs."We'

vegother!Nowwe'lljustseewhatwecando!"

CHAPTER19 AShockfortheChildren THEfourchildrenweresoexcitedatgettingtheirboatofftherocksthatatfi rsttheycoulddonothingbutlaughandchatterandclaptheirhands.Theywere alllitedoutwiththeirlongstruggleinthesea,butsoJoappythattheyforgo tallabouttheirachingarmsandlegs,saltymouthsanddrippingclothes. Theboatlayonhersideintheshallowwater.Andyexaminedhercarefully.Hew assurethatifhecouldnailplanksinside,justwhereshehadbeenstove-inby therocks,hecouldpatchherupwellenoughforhertosailhome. "Shewillletwaterin,butyoutwogirlscanbailheroutallthetime,"saidA ndy"I'llpatchherupenoughtogethersailingsafely.Golly!Ineverthought wecoulddothis!" Thechildrenhadbeensobusythatnoone,notevenTom,hadthoughtofanybrea kfast.ButAndysuddenlyfeltveryhungry,andsentthegirlsofftofetchbreak fastofsomesort."Andbringajugofhotcocoa,too,"hesaid."Weareallwet through,anditwouldbenicetohavesomethingtowarmus." Tomfetchedthetoolsfromtheshackandtheboxofnailsandscrewsandbolts. Andymeanttobeverybusyindeed.Somehoworotherthatboathad"tobefinishe dbeforeTom'sescapewasknown. Afteraburnedbreakfast,theyallsettoworkunderAndy'sorders.Andystrippe dsomeofthewoodfromtheroofofthecabintouseinthepatchingoftheship .Thegirlstookouttheoldnailsfromthestrips.TomwaitedonAndyandhande dhimeverythinghewanted. Thesoundofthehammerechoedovertheisland."Doyouthinktheenemywillhea r?"askedJillanxiously. "Can'thelpitiftheydo,"saidAndy."Wecan'thammerwithoutnoise!Passmet hebiggestnailsyou'vegot,Tom." Theyallworkedsteadilyforthewholeofthemorning.AndatlastAndyheaveda sighofrelief. "Well--Ithinkthat'spatchedup.Shewon'tlastlongwithoutbeingbailedout, becauseIcan'tpatchherreallyproperly--butthegirlscaneasilybailoutwhi lstyouandIsailtheboat,Tom." "Issheready?"askedthegirlseagerly. "AsreadyasIcanmakeher,"saidAndy."Nowyougirlsmustgoandgetallthe rugs,andTomandIwillgetthefoodfromwhereweburieditunderthesand,at thetopofourownbeachbytheshack.Wellpileineverythingwecan,pushher outintothewateraridsailoff!Golly,Ineverthoughtwe'dbeabletodothi sl" Thefourofthemsetofftofetcheverything.Theyfeltcheerfulandexcited.It mighttakethemagestogethome--butatlasttheyweregoingtoleavethesest rangeunknownislandssafely,andtaketheirsecretwiththem! Thegirlsgathereduptherugs.Theboystiedthetinsandboxestogetherandst aggeredovertheislandwiththeirheavyload,backtotheboatagain. Itwasdifficultclimbingdownthecliffsoheavily-laden,buttheymanagedits afely.Thegirlsthrewdowntherugsonthedeck,andtheboyspackedthefoodi ntothecabin.Nowtheycouldgo! "Waitabit--we'lltaketheoldsailwithus,"saidAndy."Icouldrigitagain, anditwouldhelpus." Hesetofftogetthesail--andthenhesuddenlystoppedandlookeddownpnthe beach.There,byhisfoot,laysomethingthatgreatlyastonishedhim. "Whatisit,Andy?"calledTom,seeingAndy's-puzzledface. "Lookatthis,"saidAndy,pickingupadry.cleanmatch,thathadalreadybeen struck. "Whataboutit?It'sonlyamatch,"saidTom. "It'samatchthathasn'tverylongbeenstruck,"saidAndy."Anditislyingon sandthathasbeencoveredanduncoveredbythetidesincewe'vebeenworkingo

ntheboatthismorning.Well--hasanyofusstruckamatchandthrownitdown? No--wehaven't!Thenwhohas?" "Oh,Andy--surelyyouaremistaken,"saidJill,lookingreadytocry."Nobodyel sehasbeenhere.Weshouldhaveseenthem." "I'mwonderingifanyonehasbeenherewhilstwewerefetchingtherugsandthe food,"saidAndy,lookingallround."Idon'tlikeit--and,ohgolly--lookatth atsetoffootprintsinthesandoverthere!Theyarenotourfootprints!" Thefourchildrengazedatthesetoflargefootprints.Whoevermadethemhadbe enwearingnailedboots--andthechildrenallworerubbershoes. Thegirlswerefrightened.Yes--someonehadbeenonthe.beachwhilsttheyhadl eftittogetrugsandfood.ButWho?Andwherewashe? "Well--let'sgettheboatlaunchedandhopetogetawaybeforewe'restopped,"s aidAndy."Comeon--we'lldowithoutthesail." Theyrantotheboatandtookholdoftheropetodragitdowntothesea--bute venastheytookholdofit,aloudvoiceshoutedtothemfromroundthecorner ofthecliff. "Stop!Halt!" Thechildrenstoppedhaulingtheboatandstaredround.Theysawtheenemy--four ofthem!OneofthemwasthemanwhospokeEnglish,anditwashe'Whowasshou ting. Thechildrenstaredinfrightatthefourmen,whocamequicklyoverthebeach. Theyspoketooneanotherinaforeignlanguage.Thenthefirstmanspokeagain. "So!Therearefourofyou--andallchildren!Thisistheboywhoescaped---ah, youthoughtyouwereveryclever,didn'tyou!" "Idid,rather,"saidTomboldly.Hefeltfrightened--buthewasn'tgoingtosho wit!No--hewasandthesemenshouldn'tthinktheycouldsc "Youtookyourboatofftherocks,andthoughtyouwouldescapesafely,didn'ty ou?"saidthemanmockingly."Well,youmadeamistake.Weshallnowtakethebo ataway--andyoushallremainprisonersonthisislandforaslongaswewantyo uto!Takeoutthefoodandtheblanketsagain.Youwillneedthoseifyoulive hereformonths!" Thechildrensulkilytookoutallthefoodandrugstheyhadsocheerfullyputi ntotheboat.TomwasgladtoseethatneitherJillnorMarycried.Good!Thatw ouldshowtheenemyhowbraveBritishchildrencouldbe! "Nowwearegoing,"saidthemanwhospokeEnglish.Hegavearapidordertothe othermen,whoranoffroundthecliffandthenreappearedinasmallboat,bob bingonthewaves.Itwasplainthattheyhadlandedroundthecliff,watchedth echildren,andthencometocatchthem. Andyandtheothershadtowatchthemendragtheirshipdowntotheseaandlau nchit.Theyhadtiedtheirlittlerowing-boatbehindit,andnow'wavingmockin glytothechildren,theymadetheirwayoverthewater,roundthecliff,andou tofsight,rowing!Andy'sboatalongswiftly. Thechildrenwatchedthemgo,angeranddespairintheirheartsAlltheirworkf ornothing!Howtheyhadbattledwiththeseathatmorning--howtheyhadslaved togetthatboatright!Andnowtheyhadallbeendiscovered,theirboathadbee ntaken,andtheywererealprisoners. Andyshookhisfistatthedisappearingship,withthesmallboatbobbingbehind it. "YouthinkyoucanbeataScotsboy,butyoucan't,"hecried."I'llbeatyouye t!Youandyoursubmarines!" Wearilythechildrengathereduptheoldrugsandallthefoodandmadetheirwa yupthecliff,acrosstheislandandbacktotheirshackTheypackedthefoodo nthefloorinacornerandthrewtherugsonthebeds. Thentheysatonthebedsandlookedatoneanother.Nottillthendidthegirls begintocryButcrytheydid,lettingthetearsrundowntheircheekswithout tryingtowipethemoff.Theyweresotiredandsodisappointed. TearscameintoTom'seyestoo,whenhesawthetwomiserablegirls.Butheblin kedthemback,afteronelookatAndy'sleanbrownfaceAndy'sblueeyeswereli kestones,andhismouthwassternandstraight.Andywasnotthinkingofcrying orgrumbling.Andywasangryandfierce,andhesatinsilence,lookingstraigh

tbeforehim,thinkinghard. "Andy--whatareyouthinkingabout?"askedTomatlast."Youlooksostern.You' renotangrywithus,areyou?" "No,"saidAndy."Wealldidourbest--andwe'vegottodoourbestagain,Itel lyou,Tom,we'vegottoleavethisisland!Somehow,we'vegottogetawayandt elloursecret.Nomatterwhathappenstoanyofuswemusttrytogethomeand tellallwehaveseen!Aslongastheenemyremainhiddenintheseislands,able tocomeherewhenevertheyneedfoodorfuel,thenjustsolongwillourships besunkroundabouttheseseas." "OhAndy--it'sallverywelltosaythingslikethat--buthowconwegetawayno wourboat'sgone?"saidJill,wipinghereyes. "I'llthinkofaway,"saidAndy."Somehow,I'llthinkofaway.I'mgoingoutb ymyselfnow,topuzzleawayoutofthisfix.Don'tcomewithme.Iwanttobe alone" Theboyslippedoutoftheshack.Heclimbedthecliffandsatintheheatherby himself,hisblueeyesfixedonthesky-line.Howcouldhegethome?Howcould hetellhissecret?Fortwohourshesatthere,puzzlingandworried,sostillt hatthegullscircledroundhisheadandwonderedifhewereasleep. AndthenAndystraightenedhimselfandgotup.Hewentdowntotheothers,hise yesshiningandhisheadup"I'vethoughtofaway,"hesaidproudly."I'vethou ghtofawayatlast!"

CHAPTER20 AndyMakesaPlan TOM,MaryandJilllookedatAndy,excited. "Doyoureallyknowawayofescape,evennowthatourshiphasbeentaken?"ask edJill."Youareclever,Andy." "Well,it'snouseustryingtotakeoneoftheenemy'sboatsagain,ortogeto urownshipback,"saidAndy."Andit'snouseputtingupasignaltopassingsh ips,fortworeasons--oneisthatIamperfectlycertainnoshipeverpassesnea rtheseislands,ortheywouldhavediscoveredthesecretofthesubmarinesbefo rethis--andthesecondreasonisthatIamjollysuretheenemywouldn'tletus haveasignalupanyhow!" "Goon,"saidTom,feelingsureAndyhadgotaverygoodideacoming. "Well,myideais--we'dbettermakearaft!"saidAndy."Wecan'tgetaboator makeone--butwecouldmakearoughkindofraft,andgetamastofsomesortto rigasailon.We'veplentyoffoodtotakewithus--andyouandI,Tom,could setoffaloneonittotryandjnakeforhome.Idaren'ttakethegirls--theywo uldbesocoldonanopenraft,andtheywouldbesaferhere." "Nottakeus!"criedJillindignantly."Ofcourseyou'lltakeus!Wewon'tbele ftbehind--willwe.Mary?" "Listen,Jill--you'reonlytenyearsoldandnotverybig,"saidAndypatiently. "IfwetakeyouitwillmaketilingsmuchmoredifficultforTomandforme.If wegethomesafelywecanhaveyourescuedatonce--ifwedon'tgethomeyouwi llatleastbesafeontheisland." Thegirlscriedbitterlyatthis.Theythoughtitwasveryunfair.TheycouldnH' knowthatAndydidn'tfeelatallcertainofevergettinghome,andwasverymuc hafraidofthegirlsbeingwashedoverboardwhenbigwavescame.HeandTomwer estrong--andbesidestheywereboys--butthegirlswouldneverbeabletostand tossingaboutonaraftfordaysanddays. Andywasquitefirmaboutit,andthegirlsdried'theireyesandlistenedtohi splans.Tomwonderedwhattheraftwastobemadeof. "Weshallhavetopullourwoodenhuttopiecesandusetheplanks,"saidAndy. "Luckilywe'vegotplentyofnailstouse." "Butwhatshallweliveinifwepulldowntheshack?"askedJillindismay. "I'vethoughtofthat,"saidAndy."Yousee,ifwestartpullingdowntheshack theenemyareboundtonoticeitandwillguesswhatwearedoing.Well--Ithoug htwecouldmakeitlookasifourhuthadfallendownonus,andIcouldaskth

eenemytogiveusatenttoliveiivinstead.Thenwecouldliveinthat,andqu ietlymakeourraftfromthefallen-downshack!" "Thatreallyisa"goodidea,"saidTom."Wegetthetwothingswewant--somewhe reelsetolive--andwoodtomakearaft--andtheenemyactuallyhelpus-withou tknowingit!" "Yes,"saidAndy,grinningroundattheotherthree."We'dbetterwaitadayor two,though,becausetheenemyareboundtowatchusabitatfirst,toseeifw e'veanyotherideasofescape.Wewon'tdoanythingsuspiciousatallforthen extfewdays." "Allright,"saidtheothers,andtheybegantofee!excitedagain.Theystillf eltterriblydisappointedwhentheythoughtofhowtheirpreciousboathadbeen takenfromthem--butnevermind,perhapstheirraftwouldbeluckier. Soforthenextfewdaysthechildrenjustplayedabout,bathing,fishing,paddl ing,andtheenemy,whosentamanovereverydayatnoon,sawnothingtomakeh imthinkthatthechildrenhadanyplansatall. "Ithinkthere'sgoingtobeastorm,"saidAndy,onthethirdevening."Thatwo uldbeagoodreasonforourshacktofalldown,Ithink!Assoonasthatmanha scomeandgoneto-daywe'llturntheshackintoaruin!" Themancame,lookedroundtheislandandwent.Assoonashehadgonethechild rensetaboutthehut.Andyremovednailsandtookoutplanks.Hehammeredpart oftheroofawayandmadeabighole.Hemadeonesideofthehutsoweakthati tfellinontopofthegirls'bed. "Doesn'titlookaruinnow!"saidJill,withagiggle."We'dbetterspreadthe sailoverthatsideofthehut,Andy,ortherainwillcomeinto-night." "Yes,we'lldothat,"saidAndy.S,owhentheyhaddonealltheycouldtomaket hehutlookasifitwasfallingtopieces,theydrapedthesailovertheopens ideforprotection,andthengrinnedatoneanother. "Andto-morrowwewillactanicelittleplayfortheenemy!"saidAndywithac huckle."Wewillpretendthatinthestorm'whichwecannowhearrumblinground, ourhutwasblownin--andwewillbandageupJill'sheadasifthehutfellon topofher--andbandagemylegtoo.Andwe'llbegforatentmosthumbly!" "IhopeIshan'tgiggle,"saidMary. "Ifyoudoyou'lldeserveagoodslapping,"beganAndyfiercely--butMaryspoke hastilyoncemore. "Ididn'tmeanit,Andy.Ishan'tgiggle.Ishallbefrightened,really,though Iwon'tshowit." "Allright,"saidAndy,calmingdown."Golly!Whataloudclapofthunder!" Thestormbeganproperlythen.Itwasnotaverybadone,butthechildrenwere gladoftheprotectionofthebigsailovertheopensideofthehut.Thewindb lewfiercely,andAndyandTomhadtoweightthesaildowntopreventitfrombe ing-blownaway.Thethunderrumbledandcrashedandthelightningflickeredrou ndtheislands.Inanhour'stime,however,thestormwasgone,andthewinddie ddownagain. Inthemorningthechildrentookthesailandhiditsafely,forAndydidnotwa nttheenemytoknowhehadanoldsail.Theymadetheshacklookasifthewind hadalmostblownitdown,andJillbrokeaplateandthrewthepiecesaboutas ifthestormhadcausedtheaccident. "NowI'lltieupJill'sheadinmybighandkerchief,"saidAndy,takingoutara therdirtyhanky."AndI'llusearagtotiemylegupwith.Wellpretendwegot hurtinthenight." Whenthemancametolookatthechildrenandgoovertheislandasusual,hewa ssurprisedtofindJillbandagedup,andAndylimping. Andyhailedhim."Hie!Ourshackhasfallendown!Comeandsee!" Themanwenttolook.HecouldnotspeakEnglish,butheunderstoodatoncethat theshackhadfallendownonthechildrenduringthestorm.Jillsatonthegro und,pretendingtocry,holdingherheadinherhand.Marywastryingtocomfort her. "Wewantatenttosleepin,"saidAndy.Themandidnotunderstand.Tomtookou thisnotebookanddrewatentinit.Thenthemanunderstood.Henoddedhishea d,saidsomethingthatsoundedlike"Yah,yah!"tothechildren,andsetoffin

hisboat. "Don'tcrytoomuch,Jill,orthemanwillwanttoseeyourwound!"saidAndy." Iwasawfullyafraidhewouldtakeoffthebandageandhavealooktoseehowmu chyourheadwashurt." "Gracious!"saidJill,inalarm."Ididn'tthinkofthat!" "Ihopehecomesbackwithatent,"saidTom."You'dbettergoupthecliff,'Ji ll,andsitonthetop,sothatifthemancomesbackhewon'tasktoseeyourh ead." JillandMarywentoff.TomandAndywaitedforthemantoreturn.Hecameback inaboutthreehours--andhebroughtatent!Theboyswerepleased. Themanlookedroundforthegirls.Hetouchedhishead,andlookedatAndy.He wastryingtosayhewantedtoseethegirlwiththebandagedhead.Andynodded andpointedtothetopofthecliff."She'sailrightnow,"hesaid.Themansaw thegirlssittinguponthecliffandseemedsatisfied.Heputthetentdownon thebeach,showedAndytheropesandpegswithitandwentoffagaininhisboa t. "Good!"saidAndy."We'llputthistentupinashelteredplaceinthenextcove .Wedon'twanttkemanvisitingthishollowtoooften,orhemaynoticethatth eshackisgraduallydisappearing!" Theyputupthetentinthenextcove,justaroundthecliff,inassheltereda placeaspossibleattheendofthebeachwhereheathergrewthickly,andbigcu shionsofthriftweresoftandplentiful.Theymaaethemselvesbedsofheathera ndbrackenandpiledtherugsthere. ThemancameagainnextdayandAndyshowedhimwheretheyhadputthetent.And ylimpedaboutwiththeragstillonhisleg,whichmadetheotherswanttosmil e--butthemandidnotonceguessthatitwasallpretence.Assoonashehadgo neAndywalkedandranjustasusual! Theweatherwasnotsogoodnow.Thesunwasnotsowarm,andcloudssailedover thesky,bringingshowersofrainattimes.Thechildrenoftenhadtositinth etent,andtheylongedtobeginmakingtheraft. "Idon'twanttostartittillI'msurethemanhasforgottenaboutthetumble-d ownshack,"saidAndy."Yesterdayhebroughthisboatintothisbeachinsteado fthenextone,andhardlylookedovertheislandatall.Ifhecomesto"thisc oveto-day,wecanbegintheraftthisafternoon." Themancameatnoonasusual.ThistimeheDTo-ugntalargesupplyoffood,and triedtomakethechildrenunderstandthathewouldnotbebackforafewdays. Hepointedtothreefingersandshookhishead. "Ithinkhemeanshewon'tbebackforthreedays,"saidAndy,hisheartjumping forjoy.Henoddedtotheman,who,instead,oflookingovertheislandasheu suallydid,gotstraightbackintohisboatandrowedoff. "Well,ifthatisn'tabitoftack!"saidAndyjoyfully,assoonashehadgone. "I'msurehewon'tbebackforsomedays--andhe'sbroughtusamarvellousSupp lyoffood,thatwilljustdobeautifullyfortheraftIWecansafelybeginbui ldingitthisafternoon!"

CHAPTER21 TheBuildingoftheRaft THEfourchildrentackledtheshackthatafternoonandtoreoutasmanyplanksa stheycould. "Pilethemupindifferentsizes,"orderedAndy.'"Comeandhelpwiththislong plank,Tom--it'stooheavyformetopulloutalone." Bytheendofthatdaythechildrenhadsixteenplanksofdifferentsizespiled up.Andywaspleased. "Ifwecangetasmanyasthatto-morrow,we'llbeabletomakeareallyfinera ft,"hesaid."Tom,youaresavingailthoselongscrewsandnails,aren'tyou? Weshallneedthemsoon." "Yes--they'reallsafe,"saidTom,showingAndyatinintowhichhehadputall thescrewsandnailshehadtakenoatoftheplanks.

"Doyouthinkwe'dbetterhidetheseplanksincasethemandoescometo-morrow, althoughwefeelsurehewon't?"askedJill. "Well--perhapswehadbetter,"saidAndy,whowasfeelingtiredandnotatalle agertocarryheavyplanksabout.SoheandTomtooktheplanksonebyoneandt admeminthickheather.Thentheywenttohaveagoodmeal;whichthegirlshad beengettingready. "I'veneverbeensohungryinmylife!"saidTom. "You'vesaidthataboutathousandtimessincewe'vebeenonthisisland,"said Jill."Well--seeifyoucaneatthatplateful!" Tomtooktheplate.Itwasfullofcoldtongue,bakedpotatoes,andtinnedaspar agustipswhichthemanhadbroughtyesterday.Therewerealsoslicedpears,tin nedmilktoeatwiththem,andhotcocoa.Thepearsandtinnedmilkweresodeli ciousthatTomwantedasecondhelping. "Goodgracious!Attherateyoueatyou'llwantaboutathousandtinsontheraf t!"saidMary,openinganothertinofpears."Andy,Ihopeyouwon'tforgettot akeatin-openerwhenyougo.Itwouldbesoawfultobehungry,andhaveheaps oftinnedfoodroundyou--andnotbeabletoeatanyofitbecauseyouhadforgo ttenanopener!" Andygrinned."Ishan'tforgetthat,"hesaid."Golly,Iamtired!" Theywerealltired,andtheyfellasleepinthetentalmostassoonastheylay downontheirheatherybeds.TheyawokelatethenextdayandAndycouldnotma keuphismindwhethertogetonwiththeraftornot. "I'mprettysurethatfellowmeanthewouldn'tcomeforafewdays,"Andysaid. "Butifhedidhappentocomeandfoundusatworkonaraft,itwouldbetoodi sappointingforanything." "Well,oneofuscouldgouptotherockyledgeandkeepwatchallthetime,cou ldn'twe,"saidJilleagerly."Wecouldeasilyseeanyonecoming,then,andgive warningintimetoletyouandTomhideeverything." "Yes--ofcourse,"saidAndy."That'sagoodidea!Takeitinturnsofabouttwo hourseach.Yougofirst,Jill,andMarynext." SoJillwentuptotherockyledgeandsatthere.Shecouldseethecave-beacho fthenextislandandhadagoodviewofanyboatthatmightcomeoverthewater . Noboatwasto-beseen--butallthatdaytheislandswereverynoisyindeed!Sea planesflewovermanytimes,theirenginesroaringloudly.Threecamedowninth ecalmwateroppositethecave-beach.Jillwatchedthemcarefully. Storesweretakentothecave,asshecouldplainlysee.Theseaplanesroaredaw ayafteratime--butallthatdayothersflewovertheislands,andthechildren wonderedtoseesomany. "Well,there'sonethingthat'slucky,"saidAndywithagrin."Thoseseaplanes makesuchanoisethatnoonecouldpossiblyhearthesoundofanyhammeringtoday--soIvotewegetonwithitandmakeasmuchnoiseaswelikenowthere'sa chance!" Sothesoundofhammeringwasheardonthechildren'sislandthatday,asAndya ndTomnailedtwelvebigplankscrosswisetotwelveothersbelow.Thenontopof thetwocrosswiserowsAndynailedyetanotherrowofshorterplankstomaketh eraftreallysolidandheavy. Theboysaddedakindofrimtotherafttopreventthingsrollingofftooeasil y.Andywascleveratcarpentryandheknewallthebesttricksofmakingeachp lankholdtheotherfastItwasaverysolid-lookingaffairthatbegantotakes hapebythetimethatnightcame. Andyhadfoundastrongpostthatwoulddoforamast,buthedidnotmeantopu tthisuptilltheraftwasalmostreadytolaunch."Wecan'tverywellhidear aftwithamast."hesaid."Itiseasiertohideaflatraftwithnomast,ifth atmanpaysusavisittoosoon." "Howcanwehideit,though?"askedTom,lookingattheheavyraft."Wereallyc an'ttossitlightlyintotheheatheraswecoulddowithplanks!" Andygrinned."Wellhideitinaveryeasyplace,"hesaid."We'llsimplyrigup thetentaboveit,andpileheatherontheraft,whichwillthenmakethefloor Idon'tthinkanyoneislikelytothinkthatourtenthidesaraft!"

Inthreedaystheraftwasquitecomplete,andwasverysoundandsolid.Andyha ddecidedtotakeallthefoodinthebigwoodenboxinwhichthemanhadbrough tthetinsandjarsonhislastvisit. "Wecannailtheboxtotheflooroftheraft,"saidAndy,"andourfoodwillst aytherequitesafelyIIfweputitlooseonthedeckoftheraft,everythingw ouldgetthrownoffinaroughsea,eventhoughwe'veputakindofrailtothe edgeoftheraft." TherecameawarningcryfromJillnotlongafterthat.Shehadseenaboatcomi ngroundthecliffonthefarsideofthecave-beach.Hastilytheboysputupth etentovertheraft,andMarystrewedtheheatherandbrackenoverthedeck.Sh ecouldnothidetheboxof.foodinthemiddleoftheraft,however. "Nevermindaboutthat,"saidAndy."Putarugoverit,anditwilllooklikea seatorsomething." Thereweretwomenthistime,andoneofthemwastheonewhospokeEnglish. Theboatdrewupinthecovewheretheraftwas,andonemangotout.Itwasnot themanwhohadseenthefallen-downshack,buttheonewhospokeEnglish. Andywentdowntomeethim."Please,sir,won'tyougiveusaboattogohomein ?"askedAndy,knowingperfectlywellthatthemanwouldsayno. "No,"saidthemanatonce."Youwillstayhereforaslongaswewish.Butsoon thewinterwillcome,andatentwillbenogoodtoyou.Ismereanybuildingh erethatcanbemended?" "No,"saidAndy,whodidnotwishthemantoexaminethebuildings,andperhaps askwherethetumbledownshackwas.Thishadalmostdisappearedbynow,forthe childrenhadtakenalltheplanksfortheirraft! "Letmeseeyourtent,"saidtheman.Andy'sheartsank.Itwouldbetoobadif theraftwasfoundjustasitwasfinished.Hetookthemantothetentinsilen ce. Themanlookedinside.Hesawtheboxinthemiddlecoveredwitharug."What's that?"heasked. "It'stheboxoffoodthemanbroughtustheotherday,"saidAndy,andhepulle dofftherug.Themansawatoncethatitwayonlyaboxoffoodandhenodded. Hedidnotgoinsidelhetent,luckily,orhisnailedbootmighthavegonethrou ghtheheatherycoveringandstruckagainstthewoodenraftbelow.Thenhewould certainlyhavepulledasidetheheatherandseenthechildren'ssecret. JillandMarywatched,verypaleandscared.Tomsatnearbyandwhistled.Thema nstillstoodlookingintothetent,andallthechildrenfeltveryanxiousinde ed--andthenagreatseaplaneroaredovertheisland,makingaterrificnoise. "Look!Look!"yelledTom,jumpingup."Isn'titabigone!" Themanlookedup,atTom'syell,andfollowedtheseaplanewithhiseyes."Imu stgo,"hesaid,andhewentdownthebeachtotheboat."Iwillsendmentoput youuparoughhutforthewinter.Besensiblechildrenandyouwillbelooked after--butifnot,youwillbe,verysorryforyourselves." Thechildrenwereverythankfulindeedwhentheysawtheboatgooffoverthewa ter.Theyheaveddeepsighsofreliefandlookedatoneanother. "Thankgoodness,thatseaplanecamewhenitdidandTomletoutthatyell,"said Jill."Itjusttooktheman'sattentionaway!Ireallythoughthewasgoingto goinsidethetentandlookateverything!" "Well,Ithinkwe'resafetomakeourescapesoonnow,"saidAndy."Idon'texpe ctanymenwillbesentforawhile.We'lldragtheraftdowntotheshoreearly to-morrowmorning,andI'llsetupthemastandrigthesailasbestIcan.The nTomandIwillstartoff." Thegirlssaidnothing.Theydidnotlikebeingleftaloneontheisland--andye ttheyknewthatAndywasright,Somehowhemustgethomeandtellthepeopleth erethesecretstheyhaddiscovered.Theraftwouldnotreallytakefour--andth egirlswerenotstrongenoughtostanddaysandnightsoftossingaboutonthe sea. "Well,Andy,it'sveryimportantthatyoushouldgetbackandtellthesecretof theseislands,"saidJillatlast."So,forthesakeofourcountry,MaryandI willstaybehindherewithoutanyfussanddothebestwecan,whilstyouandT omsetoffforhome.Butdorescueusassoonaspossible!"

"Ofcourseweshall,"saidAndy,gladtoseethatthegirlsweregoingtobebra veandnotmalceanyfuss."Youaregoodsports,youtwogirls--Ireallydofeel proudofyouboth--don'tyou,Tom?" "Veryproud,"saidTom.Andthegirlswentredwithpleasure. "We'llwishyouluckto-morrow!"saidJill."Oh,howIhopeyou'llsoongetback home,Andy!MaryandIwillwatcheverydaytillyoucomeback." Theyallwenttobedearlythatnight,forto-morrowwastobeanimportantday! Theydidnotsleepverywell,fortheyweretooexcited. Andinthemorning,early,theytookdowntheirtent,draggedofftheheatherth atcoveredtheraft,andtiedropestoit,topullitdowntothebeach. "Nowwe'reoffonanotheradventure!"saidAndy,draggingtheraft."Heave-ho!H eave-ho!Downtotheseawego!"

CHAPTER22 AwayontheSea THEraftwasdraggedrightdowntothesea.InthemiddleofitAndyfixedthep ostthatwastobethemast.Heriggeduptheoldsailverycleverly.Theboxof foodwasfirmbelowthemast--theyhadenoughtolastthemforsomedays.They tookabigtinofwaterwiththemtoo,butexpectedtousethejuiceofthetins offruittoquenchtheirthirstaftertheyhaddrunkallthewater. Andyhadmadetworoughpaddlestohelptheboatalongandtoguideit.Thegirl shandedtheboysthetwowarmestrugstowrapthemselvesinatnight,thoughAn dysaidtheywouldn'tbeanyuse--theywouldgetwetwiththeveryfirstwaveth atsplashedovertheraft!Buttopleasethegirlshetooktherugs. "Andy,youcandrytheminthesuninthedaytime,"saidJill,"andyoumightbe gladofthem.MaryandIhavegotplentyhere." Theraftwasreadytofloatoffatlast.Theboysgavethegirlsahugandsaid good-bye. "Nowdon'tworry,"saidAndy,jumpingontotheraft."Youwon'thearfordaysa nddays,becausewe'vegottogetbackhome,andthentellourtaleandthenshi pshavegottofindtheirwayhere.Soyou'llhavetowaitalongtime." "Whatshallwesayiftheenemywanttoknowwhereyouare?"askedJillanxiousl y. "Justsaywehavedisappeared,"saidAndy."Andifyouliketodoanotherbitof pretendingandmakeafuss--well,doit!" "Allright,"saidJill."Anyway,youmaybequitesureweshan'ttellthemyou'v egoneoffonaraft" "No--wedon'twanttheirseaplaneshuntingtheseaforus!"saidAndy,lettingt hesailunfurl."Now--good-bye,Jill!Good-bye,Mary!Seeyousoon!" "Good-bye,Andy!Good-bye,Tom!"criedthegirls,tryingtosmilecheerfully,th oughtheyfeltverymiserableandlonelytoseetheboyssettingofftogether." Goodluck!" Tompushedouttheraftandjumpeduponit.Hetookapaddleandguidedit.And yletthesailbillowout.Thewindcaughtitandthelittleraftleaptalongov erthewaveslikealivethingf "Isay!Itcangetalong,can'tit!"criedJill,jumpingupanddowninexciteme nt."Lookhowitbobsoverthewaves!" Theboyswavedwildlytothegirls.Littlewavessplashedoverthedeckofther aftandwettedtheboys'legs.Iftheyranintoastormyseatheywouldsoonbe wetthrough--butatthemomenttheycarednothingforwhatmighthappen!Theywe reveryexcitedandveryanxioustoguidetheirlittleraftontherightcourse. Thesailflappedandbillowedfinely.Andyhadriggeditmostcleverly,andthe windshotthelittlecraftalongswiftly. "It'sgoingnearlyasfastastheship!"saidTomindelight. "No--itisn'treally,"saidAndy.-shakinghishead."Noraftcouldeverequala boatforspeed--it'ssoclumsyandheavy.ButImustsayourraftisn'tbad!Loo kout--there'safatwavecoming!" Theraftsailedintothewave--slap!ItdrenchedTom,andhelaughedandshookh

imselflikeadog.Thesunwasoutandtheboy'sclothessoondried. Theboyslookedbackattheshoreoftheirisland,whichnowseemedfaraway.Th eycouldjustmakeoutthetwogirls,whohadnowclimbedtothetopOftheclif fandwerestandingthere,watchingtheraftoutofsight. "IhopeJillandMarywillbeallright,"saidTom."Poorkids--itwasawfulhav ingtoleavethemalone." "Yes,"saidAndy."Butitwastheonlythingtobedone.We'vehappenedonvery bigthings,Tom--andsowe'vegottobebigenoughandbraveenoughtomeetthem ." "Well--I'mnotafraid,"saidTomstoutly."Andasforyou,Andy,Ireallydon't believeanythingintheworldwouldfrightenyou!" "Ohyes,itwould,"saidAndy."ButI'dnotshowIwasfrightened!Look,Tom--yo ucanseealltheislandsnow!" Theboysstoodontheraft,holdingontothemastandlookedbackonthecluste rofislands.Theylayintheseatogether,andlookedverysmallnowthattheb oysweresofaroff.Theycouldnolongerseethegirls.Andsooneventheislan dstoowoukldisappear--thentheboyswouldbequitealoneonthewidesea. "Doyoureallyknowwhichwaytogo,Andy?"saidTom. "Moreorless,"saidAndy."Icanguidetheraftbythesunintheday-time,and bythestarsatnight.It'sagoodthingforusthatthewindisjustintheri ghtdirection.Ihopeitlasts.It'seasyenoughnow--butifthewindchanges,t hingswillbeverydifficult!" Nowtheboyscouldnolongerseeanylandatall.Theywerealoneonthewidegr eensea.BelowthemJhewaterwasvery,verydeep.Theseawasnotrough,buta littlechoppy,andtheraftbobbedlikeacorkoverthewaves.Everynowandaga inawavehoppedoverthesideandwettedthedeckoftheraft.Theboysgotuse dtothisanddidn'tevenmovewhenawavereareditsheadtorunacrosstheraf t. Tomdraggedhishandinthecoolwater.Helikedthemovementoftheraftrunnin goverthesea.Thesunshonesteadilydownandtheboysbecameveryhot.Tomto okoffhisjerseyandhungitsafelyoverthetopofthemast,outofreachoft hewaves. "Golly!I'mcooking!"hesaid.Luckilytheboyshadgothatswiththem,andthes eshadedthesunfromtheirheadsortheymighthavefeltsick.Thesunblazedd own,andatlasttheboysletthemselvesdropintothesea,holdingontotheed geoftheraftallthetime.Thiscooledthemalittle,andtheyscrambledback wetandpanting. "Itwouldbeanawfulthingifoneofusletgotheraft,"saidTom."It'sgoing atsuchapacethatitwouldsoonleaveusbehindintheseaandwe'dneverbe foundagain." "Well,forgoodness'sakehangontightlythen,nexttimewecoolourselves,"sa idAndy."Whataboutsomethingtoeat?" Theyopenedatinofsalmonandatinofpears,andhadagoodmeal,thoughTom longedforsomebreadwiththesalmon.Itwasoddsittingthereeatingonthebo bbingraft,allbythemselvesinthemidstofawideheavingsea. Thedayseemedendless--butatlastthesunsliddowntheskyandtheseaturned fromgreentopurpleinthetwilight."It'snotsowarmnow,"saidTom,taking hisjerseydownfromthemast. "Tom,seeifyoucanhaveanapforawhile,"saidAndy."Idon'tthinkweought bothtosleepatonce.Thewindmightchange,orastormmightblowup--yousle epnowandI'llhaveanaplater." Tomwrappedhimselfinarugandtriedtogotosleep.Andyslippedaroperound hiswaistandtiedhimtotheboxinthemiddle. "Youmightrollofftheraftinthemiddleofthenight,"hesaidwithagrin." Ishouldn'tliketolookroundandfindyougone,Tom!" Tomlayonhisbackandlookedupatthenightsky.Itwasaclearnight,withn omoonandthestarsshonebrightly.AndypointedouttheNorthStartoTom. "Thattellsmewearestillgoingintherightdirection,"saidAndy."Atthisr ateweshouldsightthecoastwe'reheadingforinaboutthreeorfourdays." "Oh--aslongasthat!"saidTomingreatdisappointment."Ithoughtwe'donlyby

adayortwo,goingatthispace." "Thisisaraft,notasailing-smack,"saidAndy."Nowgotosleep.I'llwakeyo uifIneedyouforanything." Tomslept.Hedreamthewasonaswing,goingupanddown,upanddownintheai r.Itwasverypleasant.Thenhedreamthewasbeingscoldedbylillforsomethi ngandshesuddenlythrewapailofcoldwaterrightoverhim!Hewokewithaju mpandsatup. "Didthatwavewakeyou?"saidAndywithagrin."Ithoughtitwould.Itpopped itsheadup,sawyouasleepandjumpedrightonyou!" Tomlaughedandlaydownagain.HethoughtaboutAndy--whatagoodsorthewas-alwaysdoingwhathefeltwasbestandwisest--nevergrumbling--alwayswillingt odothehardestjob.ItwasagoodthingTomandthegirlshadhadAndytohelp them. AndyawokeTomneardawnandtoldhimtositupandkeepwatch."Thewind'sstil lright,"hesaid."Watchit,Tom.YoucanseetheNorthStar,can'tyou?I'mso sleepyIcan'tkeepawakemuchlonger." Andytiedhimselfupsafely,laydownandwasasleepashisheadtouchedtherug thatmadeapillowforhim.Tomsatandwatchedthedawncoming.Itwasawonde rfulsight.Firsttheskyturnedtosilverandtheseaturnedtosilvertoo.Soo napinkflushcameintotheeasternskyandthenitchangedtoablazeofgold. Theseasparkledandglintedwithgoldtoo. TomwishedhecouldwakeAndyupandmakehimseethemagnificentsight.Therew asnothingbutseaandsky,allglowingwithcolour.BatAndywastiredandTom satandwatcheditbyhimself,halfafraidofthestrangebeautyaroundJiim. AfterawhileTomfeltveryhungry.Heburrowedintheboxoffoodtoseewhatt herewas.Hefeltlikeamealoftongueorham.Hepickedoutatinoftonguean dopenedit.Itsmeltdelicious AndywokeupafterawhileandsharedthemeatwithTom.Theyopenedsomepine-a ppleandhadthattoo.Thejuicewasverypleasant.Theypouredwaterintothet inandmakeakindofpine-appledrinktohavelateronintheday. Andysniffedthewind,andlookedatthesky."There'sachangecoming,"hesaid ."Idohopeweshan'tbeblownoutofourway.Weweregettingonsowell!" Theseawasrougher.Wavessloppedoverthedeckalmosteveryminutenow.Onlyb ysittingupontheboxoffoodcouldtheboyskeepdryfromthewaistup.Once ortwicetheraftheeledover,andTomhadtoclutchthemasttokeepfromoverbalancing. "Blow!"saidTom."Whatdoestheseawanttogetsoroughfor?It'sagoodthing we'rebothgoodsailorsorwe'dbeveryill." Andylookedanxiouslyatthesky."I'mafraidthewindischanging,"hesaid."W eshallbeblownrightoutofourwayifitdoes.Theseaisgettingveryrough, Tom.Ithinkwe'dbothbettertieourselvesfirmlytothemast.Itwon'tdofor eitherofustobethrownofftheraft--andabigwavecouldeasilydashoneof usoverboard!" Sotheytiedthemselvestothemast,andthenwatchedthescurryingclouds,wond eringiftheywouldsuddenlyslowdown--andflytheotherway!

CHAPTER23 AWonderfulSurprise ALASforTomandAndy!Thewinddidchangeandblewstronglytheotherway.Andy tookdownthesailhurriedly."Wedon'twanttobeblownbacktoourisland!"h esaid."Wemustjustbobalongwithoutasailnowandhopeforthebest.Whent hewindchangesagainwe'llputupthesailoncemore." "Iwonderiftheenemyhasfoundoutthatwe'veescaped,"saidTom."Theymight sendaseaplaneoutafterusiftheyfoundoutwe'vegone.They'dknowwewereo naraft." "Well,thegirlswouldn'tgiveusaway,that'scertain,"saidAndy."Buttheene mymighteasilyguesswe'dmakearaft,iftheysearchedtheislandforusandm issedus--andtheycouldsendoutaseaplaneortwotohunttheseasforus.We'

reagoodwayfromtheislandnow--butaseaplanecouldeasilyfindus." "Ihopeonedoesn't,"saidTom."Isn'tthiswindhateful,Andy?Itjustwon'tst op!It'swastingallourtime." Thewindblewcold.Thesunwasbehindtheclouds.Bigwavesslappedaroundthe raftandseemedreallyspiteful."Almostasiftheywanttosnatchusoff,"said Tom,tighteningtheropethattiedhimsafelytothemast.Heshivered.Therew asnoshelteratallontheopenraft,andnowayofgettingwarmordrynowtha tthesunwasnottobeseen. "Doafewarmexercises,Tom,"saidAndy,"Thatwillgetyouabitwarmer!" Theboysswungtheirarmsandslappedthemselves.Thewavesracedalongandthe raftracedalongtoo--butnotintherightdirection,Tomwassure! Andthen,towardsafternoon,thewinddroppedagain,andthesunshoneout!What areliefthatwas!Theboyssunnedthemselvesgladly,andweresoonwarm.Andy riggedthesailagain."We'llgetthewindwewantthisevening,"hesaid."We'l lbereadyforit." Sureenough,asthesunsliddownthewesternsky,thewindgotupagain--andth istimeitwasWowingfromtherightquarter!Andywasdelighted. Thesailflappedandthelittleraftracedalongnobly."Ithinkthewind'sset inproperlynow,"saidAndy,pleased."Ifonlyitholdsforanothercoupleofda yswemaybehome--or,atanyrate,seeashipwecanhail." Thewindbecamestifferastheeveningdrewon.Thesunwasjustabouttoslipo verthesky-linewhenAndysatupstraightandlookedalarmed. "Canyouhearanoise?"heaskedTom. "Plenty,"saidTom."Thewindandthewavesandthesail!" "No--notthatsortofnoise,"saidAndy."Anoiselike--aseaplane.'" Tom'sheartalmoststoppedbeating.Surelytheirescapehadn'tbeendiscovereda fterall!Hesatandlistened. "Yes--there'saseaplaneaboutsomewhere,"saidAndy."Blow!Ifit'sreallyhunt ingforusitwillbesuretofindus.Justaswe'vegotawaysonicely,too--an dthewindhelpingUsagain,andall!" Tomwentpale,andlookedupattheskyanxiously.Bothboyscouldnowhear,the humoftheenginesquiteclearly. Andthentheseaplaneappeared,flyingfairlylowandquiteslowly.Itwasplain thatitwashuntingtheseasforsomething. "Canwedoanything,Andy?"saidTom. "Wehadbetterjumpintothewater,holdontotheraft,andhopemaybetheseap lanewillthinkthere'sno-oneonit,"saidAndy."Onlyourheadswillshowbesi detheraft--theymightnotnoticethem.Comeon,quick!" Theboysslidintothewateroverthesideoftheraff.Theyhungtherewiththe irhands,onlytheirheadsshowing.Theywaitedanxiously. Thegreatseaplanecamezoomingoverhead,veryclosetothewater.Ithadseent heraftandwascomingtoexamineitmoreclosely.Howtheboyshopedthatwhen theraftwasseentobeemptytheseaplanewouldflyoff! Theplaneflewovertheraft.Itcircledroundandcamebackagain,flyingonce moreovertheraft.Itcircledroundagainandtheboyshopeditwouldnowflyo ff.Butoncemoreitflewovertheraft--andthen,totheboys'greatdismay,it skimmedoverthewaterandlandedthere,notveryfaroff. "It'snogood,Tom.We'rediscovered,"saidAndy."Wemayaswellclimbbackon totheraft.Look--they'relettingdownaboat." Theboysclimbedbackontotheraft,angryanddisappointed.AndthenTomgave suchatremendousyellthatAndynearlyfelloverboardwithfright. "Andy!ANDY!Lookatthesignontheseaplane!It'sBritish!It'sBRITISH!" Andylooked--andsureenoughtherewasthewell-knownmarkthatallBritishmach ineswear!Andthensuchachangecameovertheboys.Insteadofsittingtheres ullenandangry,theywentcompletelymad.Theystoodupanddancedonthatrock ingraftITheyyelled,theywaved,theystamped!And,asyoucanimagine,Toml osthisbalanceandfellrightintothewater. Andypulledhimin,gaspingandspluttering."Oh,Andy,it'saBritishseaplane-nottheenemy.Golly!Supposeithadflownoffandnotcomedowntoexaminethe raft!"AndthenTomwentmadagainandshoutedforjoy.

Theboatfromtheseaplanecamenearer.Ithadtwomeninit,andtheyhailedth eboys. "Ahoythere!Whereareyoufrom?" "Ahoythere!"yelledbackAndy."Ahoythere!"Hewastooexcitedtoshoutanythi ngelse.Theboatcamealongsidetheraftandthemenpulledthetwoboysintoi t. "Why,it'sonlyacoupleofboys,"saidoneman."Wereckonedyoumightbemenf romasunkshiporaeroplane.Howdidyougethere?" "It'salongtaletotell,"saidAndy."IthinkI'dbettertellittothechief, ifyoudon'tmind." "Allright.Thecommander'sintheplane,"saidthefirstman.Theyrowedoffto theseaplane,andleftthelittleraftbobbingaboutontheseaalone.Tomwas quitesorrytoseeitgo.Hehadgotfondofit.He'wassorrytothinkofthewa stedfood,too! Theboatreachedtheenormousseaplane.Theboyswerepushedupintoit,andag rave-facedmanturnedtoreceivethem. AndthenAndygotasecondshock,forTomoncemoreletoutayellthatreallys caredhim! "DADDY!Oh,DADDY!It'sYOU!" Thegrave-facedmanstaredatTomasifhecouldn'tbelievehiseyes.Thenheto oktheboyintohisarmsandgavehimsuchabear-likehugthatTomfeltasith isboneswouldbreak! "Tom!We'vebeenhuntingforyoueversinceweheardyouhadgoneoffinthatbo atandhadn'tcomeback!"hesaid."Wherearethegirls--quick,tellmef" "They'resafe,"saidTom."Weleftthemontheisland.They'requitesafe.Oh,D addy--isn'tthistoogoodtobetrueIDaddy,thisisAndy.He'sbeensuchabri ck.Weldneverhaveescapedifithadn'tbeenforhim." "Whatdoyoumean--escaped!"saidTom'sfather,insurprise."Escapedfromwhat? " "We'vegotabigsecrettotellyou,"saidTom."We'vefoundoutsomethingqueer .Youtellhim.Andy." "Well,sir,"saidAndy,"wegotthrownoffupthecoastofsomedesolateislands wherenobodylivesnow.Theenemyareusingthemfortheirsubmarinesandseapl anes.Therearecavesstoredwithfood--andthere"mustbestoresoffuelsomewh ere,too." "What!"shoutedTom'sfather.HecalledhismennearandtheyalllistenedtoAn dy'stale.Theboytolditwell. "Andwewerejustescapingontheraftwehadmadewhenwesawyou,"finishedAn dy."Weslippedoverthesideoftherafttohide--butyoumusthaveseenus." "Wedidn't,"saidTom'sfather."Butwewerepuzzledabouttheemptyraftandca medowntoexamineit.LittledidwethinkyouandAndywerethere!Thisseaplan eandtwoothershavebeenscouringtheseasaboutherelookingforthesailingshipyouwentoffin.Wewereafraidyoumightbedriftingaboutinit,half-sta rving.Yourpoormotherhasbeendreadfullyupset." "Ohdear,Iwasafraidshewouldbe,"saidTom."But,nevermind,we'reallsafe ,Daddy--atleast,Ihopethegirlsaresafe!" "Theywillbe,verysoon,"saidtheboy'sfatherinagrimvoice."Weshallresc uethem--andcleanupthosesubmarinesandseaplanesinnotime!Howcleveroft heenemytohaveabasejustunderournoses--butitwon'tlastlongnow!You've doneamarvellousthing,TomandAndy!" "Ihopemyfatherwon'tbeveryangrywithmeforlosinghisboat,"saidAndy." Thoughwemightperhapsbeabletogetitbackfromtheenemynow." "Yourfatherwon'tbeangrywithyouforanythingonceheseesyouaresafe,and hearsthetaleyouhavejusttoldme!"saidTom'sfather."Settledownnow--we' regoingup." "Backtotheislandtorescuethegirls?"askedToineagerly.Hisfathershookh ishead. "No,"hesaid."Theymustwait,I'mafraid,tillIgetthisnewsthrough.I'llw irelesshomethatwe'vegotyousafe,andhavegotgreatnews--butthat'sall.T hisistooimportanttobetoldtoanyonebutthechiefhimself."

Withagreatnoiseofengines,theseaplaneskimmedoverthewater,andthenros egracefullyintheair.Sheshotawaysouthwards,andtheboyslookedoutover thesea,whichwasnowfarbelow. "Well,whatlucktoberescuedlikethis!"saidAndy."Andoh,Tom--whatashock theenemyaregoingtoget!"

CHAPTER24 WhatHappenedtotheGirls THEtwogirlsfeltverylostandlonelywhentheboyswentoffontheraft.They climbedthecliffquicklysothattheymightwatchtheboystilltheywereout ofsight. Theywaveduntiltheraftwasatinyspeckonthesea.Thentheylostsightofi t.Itwasgone. "IdohopeTomandAndyreachhomeallright,"saidJill,astheymadetheirway downtheclifftotheshoreagain."Itwouldbeawfuliftheygotlostonthes ea." "Don'tsaythingslikethat!"saidMary."Let'sthinkofsomethingcheerful.Let 'shavesomethingtoeat." Butneitherofthemreallywantedanything.Theykeptthinkingofthetwobrave boysontheirlittleraft. "Idohopenobodycombstotheislandto-day,"saidMary."Idon'tfeelasifI shallbeabletoactverywell." Nobodydidcomethatday.Thegirlswereleftquitealone.Theybathedinthese aanddriedthemselvesinthesun.Thentheybathedalloveragain.Therereally wasn'tmuchelsetodo! Theymissedthetwoboysverymuch,andwhennightcametheyevenfeltalittle frightened. "Cheerup!"saidJill,seeingMary'slongface."Weshallbeallrightcuddledu pinthetenttogether!Theenemydon'tknowtheboysaregone--that'sthemain thing.Ishouldthinktheboysareprettysafebynow--therehasbeenagoodwin dblowingalldayandtheymusthavegonealongwayalready." Thegirlslightedtheirlittlestoveandputitjustatthetent-openingwhenni ghtcame.Theylikedtoseethesmalllightitgave.Theyboiledakettleofwat eronitandsatinsidethetent,drinkinghotcocoa,whilstthestarscameout inthesky. Astheywereabouttocurlupandgotosleeptheyheardthesoundofaseaplane droningoverhead.Itcameovertheislandtwice,andthenwentaway. Andthen,aboutanhourlater,thegirlsheardthenoiseofthemotor-boat!Itg roundedonthesandofthecoveandthegirlsheardmen'svoices. "Goodgracious!"saidJill,sittingupinalarm."Whataretheycominghereatt histimeofnightfor?Theywillsoonseetheboysaren'there!Quick,Mary,get up.We'llslipoutofthetentandgointothebracken.Maybewecanpretendwe 'vebeenroamingovertheisland,andthey'llthinktheboysaresomewhereabout too." Thegirlsleftthetentandranintotheheatherandbrackeninthemiddleofth esmallisland.Themenlefttheirboatonthebeachandtwoofthemcameupto thetent. Theyliftedtheflapofthetentandflashedatorchinside.Therewasnooneth ere,ofcourse!Oneofthemencalledoutloudly. "Now,youchildren!Whereareyou?" "Here!"answeredJill.ShenudgedMary."Youshouttoo,"shewhispered."ThenI' llshoutagain,andthey'llthinkweareallhere." "We'rehere!"yelledMaryvaliantly,thoughherheartwasbeatinghard. "Inthebracken!"shoutedJill. "Comealongdownhere,"commandedtheman.HewastheonewhocouldspeakEnglis h. "Weshallhavetogo,"saidJill."Nowdon'tyougivetheboysaway,Mary.Prete ndtheyareaboutsomewhere."

Thegirlsmadetheirwaytothemen,whoflashedalightonthem. "Wherearetheboys?"demandedtheman. "Haven'tyouseenthem?"askedJill.'Theymustbeaboutsomewhere.Maybetheya reinthetent.Haveyoulooked?" "Yes,"saidtheman."Nowlookhere--whatdoyoumeanbylightingthisstoveout here?Areyoutryingtosignaltoanyone?" "Goodgracious!Ofcoursenot!"saidJill."Weonlymadesomehotcocoa,that's all.Look--thereareourdirtycups." Shewishedshehadnotsaidthiswhenthemanlookedforthecups--forhesawat oncethattherewereonlytwo!HelookedatJillsuspiciously. "Whydidtheboysnothavethecocoa?"heasked. "Theyweren'therewhenwemadeit,"saidJill."Whydon'tyougoandlookfort hem?" Themanturnedoutthestove,andthelightflickeredandwentout."Nowdon'ty oudaretoshowalightatnights,"hesaid."IfIthinkyouaresignallingtoa nyoneyouwillbeverysorry!" "Whocouldwesignalto?"askedJill."Wedon'tevenknowwhereweare!" Themantooknonoticeofher.Hestoodandshoutedintothenight."Boys!Come hereatonce!" Therewasnoanswer,ofcourse--therecouldn'tbe,fortheboysweremilesaway onthesea. "To-morrowIwillcometotellthoseboysthatwhenIcall,theymustanswer,"s aidthemaninanangryvoice,"Iamgoingnow--butto-morrowIcomeagain.You willtelltheboystheymustbehere,bythetent." JillandMarysaidnothing.Theycouldnottelltheboys--andtheywonderedwhat wouldhappenwhenthemenfoundthattheywerenotontheisland. Themenwentoffintheirboatagain."Whatapitywelightedthatstove!"said Jill."Isupposethatseaplanesawitandreportedit--andtheythoughtwewere signallingtosomeone.Howclevertheymustthinkus!Ionlywishwecouldsigna ltosomeone!" Neitherofthegirlscouldimaginewhatthemenwoulddowhentheycametofind theboysthenextday,andsawthattheyweregone.Theycuddleduptogetherand triedtogotosleep.Theyawokeearlyandgotthemselvessomebreakfast.Then theysatwaitingforthemen. Therewasnothingelsetodo--itwasofnousetryingtohide.Theymustjustpr etendthattheydidnotknowwheretheboyswere. Themotor-boatdidnotarriveuntilmid-day.Thentwomencameuptothetent,a ndtheonewhocouldspeakEnglishlookedatthetwogirls. "Whataboutthoseboys?"hesaid."Whyaretheynothere?" "Idon'tknow,"saidJill,tryingtospeakbravely. "Wherearethey?"askedthemanangrily. "Idon'tknow,"saidJillagain,quitetruthfully. "Youdon'tknow!Youdon'tknow!"saidthemanindisgust."Itistimeyoudidk now.Aretheyonthisisland?" "Whydon'tyoulookandsee?"saidJill."IamsureyouwillnotbelievewhatI say--soyouhadbetterlook." Themenglaredatthepluckylittlegirlandthenwenttohuntovertheisland. Theyfoundnoone,ofcourse,andreturnedlookingworried. Theyspoketooneanotherinalanguagethatthegirlscouldnotunderstand.The ntheywenttotheruinedbuildingsandlookedaroundcarefully.Itdidnottake themlongtoseethattheboyshadpulledtheoldshacktopieces! "So!"saidthefirstman."Theboystriedtomakeaboat!" JillandMaryshooktheirheads.Theywerereallyfeelingverymuchalarmed. "Itisarafttheymadethen?"askedtheman."What!Youwillnottellme,youn aughtylittlegirls!ThenIshallorderoutmyseaplanesandtheywillfindthos ebadboys,andbringthembackagain.Andyouwillallbemadeprisonersonano therislandtillwetakeyoufarawaytoourcountrywhereyouwillstayforal ongtime." Thegirlsbegantocry--notbecausetheywereafraidforthemselvesbutbecause theydidnotwanttheseaplanestohuntforAndyandTom.

Themenspokequicklytooneanother.Itwasplainthattheywantedtogetback tothethirdislandandtelltheirchiefwhathadhappened. "Weshallcomebackforyouto-morrow,"saidthefirstman."Andmaybebythatt imeweshallhavecaughtthetwobadboys.Theywillbepunished,youmaybesur e!" Theyleftintheirmotor-boat,leavingtwomiserablegirlsbehindthem."Oh,Id ohopetheywon'tcatchpoorAndyandTom,"weptMary."It'stoobad!Nowtheyw illhuntallovertheseatilltheyfindthem.Andthey'llcatchusto-morrowto o,andtakeusallaway." "Well,theyjustwon'ttakemeaway!"saidJill,dryinghereyesfiercely."Ish allgivethemagoodoldhuntforme!Ishallgotothesecondislandandmaket hemhuntalloverthefirstoneandnotfindmelThatwillgivethemashock!I shallhideinthefood-cave!" "SowillI!"saidMary,dabbinghereyesfiercelytoo."We'llwaittillthetide goesdownandthenwe'llclamberovertherocks!" Sowhenthetidewaslowthatdaythetwogirlsclamberedhurriedlyoverthelin eofrocksthatledfromoneislandtothenext,andcametothesandybeach.No tfaroffwastheentrancetothecavethatleduptotheRoundCave. "Nobodyhasseenus,"saidMary,astheyranuptothecave."We'llhideherean dmaketheenemythinkwe'veescapedfromtheislandtoo!Perhapstheywillbes obusylookingforusthattheywillforgetabouttheboys." "Idon'tthinkthey'llforgetAndyandTom,"saidJill,makingherwayupthepa ssagetotheRoundCave."Iamsurethatseaplanesareoutlookingforthemalre ady.Ihaveheardthreeorfourleavingthethirdisland.Look,Mary--thischest isalmostempty.Let'stakeoutthetinsandthingsthatareleftandgetinsid e.Wecanshuttheliddownonusifwehearanyonecoming." Thegirlsgotthechestready,andthenamusedthemselvesbytryingtofindthe funnelopeningthatledfromthecavetothesurfaceofthecliffabove.Butthe ycouldnotfindit. "Iwonderifit'snightyet,"saidMary,foritwasimpossibletotellintheda rkcave.ThegirlshadAndy'storch,fornodaylightcameintothecaveatall. Theycrepttotheshore-cavetosee.Yes--itwastwilightoutside.Nightwoulds oonfall. "Ivotewemakeanicesoftbedinthesandyfloor,"saidJill."Wecancoverou rselveswiththoseemptysacks.Andinthemorningwe'llpeepoutandseeifwe canseeanything!" Sotheymadesandybedsandthrewthesacksoverthemselves,'iheyfellfastasl eepanddidnotwaketillmorning. Andthen,whentheywenttopeepoutoftheshore-cave,theyhadagreatsurpris e!Cominggracefullydowntothesmoothwaterwasanenormousseaplane,droning likeagreatbumble-bee. "It'scomingtogetus!"squealedMaryinfright,andthetwogirlsscuttledbac kintotheRoundCave!

CHAPTER25 ReturntotheIslands IFonlythegirlshadstoppedtolookcarefullyatthatseaplane,theywouldhav enoticedthatitborethesignsoftheirowncountry!Itwastheverysameseap lanethathadrescuedTomandAndy!Ithadflowntoheadquarters,hadmadeitsr eport,andhadhandedTom'scamerain.Assoonasthepictureshadbeendevelope d,andtheseaplaneandsubmarinephotographshadcomeoutclearly,therewasgr eatexcitement. TomandAndyhadbeenquestionedcloselyTheytoldtheirstoryclearlyandwell, andthemenwholistenedtothemwereamazedattheadventuresthefourchildre nhadbeenthrough. "Well,youhavestumbledonanastonishingsecret,"saidonemanwhohadbeenli stening,"Weareproudofyou!Nowweshallbeabletospringarealsurpriseon ourenemy,andcleanupallthesubmarinesandseaplanesthathavebeenworryin

gourshippingforsometime.Wedidnotknowtheyhadabasesonearus.Nowon dertheyhavebeenabletodosuchdamage!" "Please,sir,whataboutmysisters?"askedTomanxiously."Willyougetthemaw aybeforeyoudoanything?" Themenlaughedheartily."Ofcourse!"saidone."Thatwillbeourfirstjob.Yo udon'treallysupposeweshouldforgetthosetwopluckylittlegirls,doyou?O hno--weshallsendyourfather'sseaplanetorescuemem--andafterthat--oho!A bigsurprisewillcometothoseislands!" Theboysgrinned."Mayweseethesurprise,sir?"askedAndy. "No,"saidtheman."Itwillbeabittoonoisy."HeturnedtoTom'sfatherand gavehimafewquickorders. "Comealong,"saidtheboy'sfather."YouandAndymustcomewithmetotheisla ndssothatyoumaytellmequicklywherethegirlsare.Wehavetogetthemoff beforeweattackmeenemy--andI'dliketodoitasquicklyaspossiblebefore anyoneknowswe'vediscoveredtheirsecret." Theboyswerethrilled!Togooffinthatwonderfulseaplaneagain--totheislan ds!Andtorescuethetwogirlsundertheverynosesoftheenemy!Whatfun! Theyallwentaboardthegreatseaplane.Theyrowedouttoitinalittleboata ndclimbeduptheladderovertheside,andintotheplane.Afewquickorders, andthegreatengineswerestartedup. R-r-r-r-r-r!R-r-r-r-r-r-r!R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!Theseaplaneskimmedoverthewat erforalittlewhileandthenrosefromthesurfaceasgracefullyasagull.It soaredupandround,andthenflewinastraightlinetowardsthefar-offislan ds. Theboysweretremblingwithexcitementandjoy.Theyhadhadmanyadventures,b utthislastone,therescueofthegirls,wasthefinestofthelot!Theylooke doutoverthesea,watchingforthefirstsignoftheislandstheynowknewso well. "Assoonaswesighttheislands,wearegoingcautiously,"saidTom'sfather." Wedon'twanttowarntheenemyifwecanhelpit!Yousaythereisagoodlandi ng-placeofftheshoreofthesecondisland,Andy.Well,youmustguideusthere whentheislandscomeinsight,andwe'lllandonthewater.ThenyouandToma ndacoupleofmencangettothefirstislandandtakeoffthegirls.Thenoff we'llgoagainandgivethesignalforthewarshipstogoand-surprisetheenemy !" "Warships!"criedtheboys."Isay!Whatashockfortheenemy!" "It'sashocktheydeserve,"saidTom'sfathergrimly."Wearesendingthreewar shipsandsomeaeroplanestodealwiththesubmarinesandseaplanes.So,yousee ,wewanttogetthegirlsoffasquicklyaspossible." "Oh,golly,wouldn'tIliketojointhefight!"groanedAndy."Oh,couldn'tI,s ir?" "No,"saidTom'sfather.Buthesmiledattheeagerboyandclappedhimonthes houlder."You'reagoodlad,Andy,"hesaid,"andI'mgladthatmythreechildre nhadyourhelpintheiramazingadventures!" Andywentredwithpleasure.HethoughtTom'sfatherwasafineman,dressedin hisgranduniform.Hewonderedwhathisownfatherwouldsaywhenheheardallt heiradventures--andinhissecretmindhefeltalittleuncomfortablebecauseh isfatherwouldhavetohearthenewsthathisfishing-boathadbeenlost. Theboyskeptawatchfortheislands--andassoonastheycaughtsightofthem, lyingflatinthesea,theybothshoutedloudly: "Theretheyare!" "Theislands,theislands!" "WhichisUKonethegirlsareon?"askedTom'sfathereagerly.Tomshowedhim. "Thefirstone,"hesaid."Andthenextoneiswherethefood-caveis,andthet hirdoneiswherethesubmarinesare.Idon'tknowanythingabouttheothersfur theroff.Wedidn'texplorethose." "Well,weshall,"saidtheboy'sfather,inagrimtone."Now,Tom,wearealmos tonthecoastotthesecondisland.Isthatthesmoothbitofwaterwecanland on,justdownthere?" "Yes!"criedbothboys,astheysawtheflatstretchofwaterthatlaybetweent

hereefofrocksandthecave-beach.Theseaplanecircledroundandflewdowngr acefully.Sheskimmedthewateralittle,likeaswallow,andthencametorest, bobbingupanddownasshelaythere. "Thetideisabittoodeepovertherocksthatleadtothefirstisland,"said Tomindisappointment."Wecan'tclimboverthemtorescuethegirlsyet." "We'lltakeaboat,then,"saidhisfather."Arethosethecavesyouhidin,Tom ?" "Yes--thatonejustthereistheonethatleadstothefood-cave,"saidTom."Li ketoseeit,Daddy?Youmightfindsomethingofimportancethere,perhaps." "Yes--wemightaswellhavealook,"saidtheboy'sfather.Soaboatshotofff romtheseaplanecarryingthetwoboys,Tom'sfather,andtwomen.Theylandedo nthebeachandwenttowardsthecave. Thegirlswerehidinginsidethechestwhentheyheardfootstepscomingupthep assage-waythatledfromtheshore-cavetotheRoundCave.Theylaytheretrembl ing,wonderingwhentheyweregoingtobediscovered. Tomledhisfatherintothecave."Look!"hesaid,"doyouseealltheseboxesa ndchests,Daddy?Theyareabsolutelyfulloffoodofallsorts.Icantellyou itcameinhandywhenweweresohungry.AtfirstIkeptalistofthethingswe took,thinkingthatwewouldpayforthemwhenwediscoveredtheowner,but---" Tomstopped.Aqueernoisewascomingfromabigchestnearby.Hestaredinsur prise. "What'sthatjnoise?"saidTom'sfatheratonce. "Idon'tknow,"saidTom."Listen!" Itwasthegirlsinsidethechest,ofcourse!TheyhadheardTom'svoice,andth eywerequitemadwithjoyandexcitement--buttheycouldn'tliftupthelidof thechestwhichtheyhadcarefullyshutdownoverthemselves!Ithadgotsotigh tlyfastenedthattheycouldnotpushitup,andthetwogirlswereshoutingand bangingonthelidtomakethemselvesheard. "There'ssomethinginthatchest,"saidTominatremblingvoice."Isittheene myplayingatrick?" "We'llsoonsee,"saidhisfather,inafiercevoice.Herappedoutanorderto thetwomenwithhim,andtheywentovertothechest.Theyrippedoffthelid-andeveryonestoodreadytofighttheenemy. Butitwastwosmall,excited,andmostuntidylittlegirlswhoroseupfromthe chest,shoutingloudly: "Tom!Andy!It'sus!Wehidherebecausewethoughtyouweretheenemy!" Theirfatherpickedthemoutofthechestandhuggedthem.Theywereassurprise dashewas!Theysimplycouldn'tbelievetheireyes! "Daddy!It'syou!Howeverdidyougethere?Oh,Tom!Andy!You'vecometorescue usjustintime.Oh,whatagoodthingyoucametothecave!" "Whyareyouhere?"askedtheboys. JillandMarytoldtheirtale,theirwordstumblingoveroneanother.Whentheir fatherheardthattheenemyguessedthattheboyshadleftonaraft,hehustle dthemalloutofthecaveveryquickly. "We'llgetbacktoourplane,"hesaid."Weshallgetintoaspotoftroubleif theenemyseeushere.Iftheyreallythinktheboyshavegonetotelltheirsec rettheywillbewatchingforus--thoughnotexpectingusquitesosoon.Comeal ong!" Theyallrowedofftotheseaplane.Thegirlswerethrilledtogetinsideit,an devenmpreexcitedwhenitroseintotheairandlefttheseafarbelow. "Good-bye,littleislands,"saidJill,watchingthemgetsmallerandsmalleras theplaneleftthembehind."We'vehadlotsofadventuresonyou--butI'mveryg ladtoleaveyou,allthesame!" Theboyswerelookingdownastheplaneflewswiftlyalong.SuddenlyTomgavea shout. "Warships!Look!Steamingbelowusattopspeed!Aretheygoingtotheislands?" "Theyare,"saidhisfather."Therewillbequitealotofnoiseroundaboutyou rislandsverysoon!And,look--hereareaeroplanes,too,tohelpthewarships." Aflightofaeroplanesflewneartheseaplane.Thechildrenfelttremendouslyex

cited.Whatapitytheyhadleftbeforethefunbegan! "Andnow,homewegotoyourmother,"saidthechildren'sfather,"andtoAndy's father.Bothwillbesoverygladtohaveyoubackagain." "Butwhatwillmyfathersayabouthislostfishing-boat?"wonderedpoorAndy." Whateverwillhesay?"

CHAPTER26 TheEndoftheAdventures THEseaplaneflewoverthewater,andatlastcametotheshoresofthelittlef ishing-villagewhereAndylived,andtheotherthreechildrenhadbeenstaying. Itglideddowntothewater,andrestedthere,itsgreatwingsspreadoutbeside it. Thelittlebeachwassooncrowdedwithpeople-fishermenandtheirwives,childre n,visitors--allshoutingandcheering.Thenewshadgoneroundthatthefoutmi ssingchildrenhadbeenfound! Aboatsetofftofetchthechildrenfromtheplane.ItwasrowedbyAndy'sfath er!HowAndyshoutedtoseehim! "Dad!We'rebackagain!" Thebeardedmanintheboatsmiledandwaved.Hehadbeenterriblyworriedabout Andyandthechildren--butnowhisheartwasglad.Theyweresafe! Thechildrentumbledintotheboat,alltalkingatonce.Andy'sfatherpattedhi sboyontheshoulderandsmiledathimoutofeyesasblueasAndy's.Neithero fthemsaidverymuch,buttheirhandspressedoneanotherjoyfully.Tom'sfathe rcamewiththem.Hehadtwodays'leave'andwasgoingtospenditwithhiswife andchildren. Thepeopleonthebeachcheeredandshouted.Thelittleboatgroundedandwaspu lleduptheshorebywillinghands.Everyonewantedtoshakehandsandsayhow gladtheyweretoseethechildrenback.Andthenthechildrensawttieirmother !Theyrushedtoherandhuggedherlikebears,shoutingandlaughing. "Now,now,givem$alookin,"saidtheirfather,smiling,andthewholefamily wentupthebeachtogether.Andywentoffwithhisfather.Hehadnomother,so hethoughttwiceasmuchofhisfather. Whatatalkingandchatteringtherewasthatevening!Thechildren'smothermade themallstripofftheirdirtyclothesandhaveagoodbathbeforetheydidany thing. "Idon'tknowyouwhenyoulooksodreadfullydirty!"shesaid."Putoncleancl othes,forgoodness'sake!" Soontheywereallcleananddressedinotherclothes.Itfeltnicetobetidya ndfreshagain.Theyhungroundtheirmotherandtriedtotellheralltheiradv enturesatonce. "Andywasmarvellous,"saidTom."Wecouldneverhavedonewhatwedidifithad n'tbeenforhim.Thegirlswereprettybravetoo--Iwasproudofthem." "AndoldTomdidn'tdosobadly--exceptthathelefthispreciouscamerabehind andgotusallintoafix!"saidJill."Hewasasbraveascouldbe." "Well,I'mproudofyouall,"saidtheirmother,huggingthem."Butoh,Iwasso awfuHyworriedwhenyoudidn'tcomeback.Jsentamessagetoyourfatherand hecameinhisseaplaneandhuntedforyoufordays.Hewouldn'tgiveuphunting --andit'sagoodthinghedidn't,forhefoundyoujustintimeIYouandAndy wouldnever,neverhavegothomeonthatlittleraft,youknow,Tom." "Wouldn'twe?"saidTom,surprised."Ithoughtwereallymight." "Idon'tthinkAndythoughttherewasmuchhope,"saidthechildren'sfather,"b utheknewitwasyouronlychance--andheknew,besides,thatitwashisdutyt otellsomeonethegreatsecretyouhaddiscovered.Itmeansalottoourcountr ytotnowthesecretofthosedesolatelittleislands." Therewasadullboomingsoundasthechildren'sfatherfinishedspeaking.Toml ookedathisfather. "Isthatguns?"heasked. "Yes.Itwillbetheendofthosehatefulsubmarines,"saidhisfathergravely.

"Therewillbenomoreofourshipssunkwithoutwarningbythatnestofsubmari nesIAndIratherthinkthatouraeroplaneswilldriveoffanyseaplanesround aboutthoseislands--thosethatarenotdestroyedwillflytotheirowncountry infear!Theyarenomatchforourpilots!" Thechildrenweresilentastheylistenedtothegunsboomingfarawayagain.Th eywereallimaginingtheislandsechoingto-theterrificsoundofgun-fire.Mar ybegantocry. Herfatherputhisarmroundher."Yes,Mary,"hesaid,"itissomethingtocry about,tothinkthatwehavetofightsomuchevilandwickedness.Itisrighra gainstwrongandwehavetobestrongandcourageouswhenwefightsuchapowerf ulandevilenemyasours.Butdryyoureyes--youareontherightsideandthat issomethingtobeproudof!" Andycametearinguptotfiecottage."Isay!"heyelled."Doyouheartheguns? Iguesstheyarewakinguptheislands!Whatashockfortheenemy!" "Andy,wasyourfatherangryabouthisfishing-boatbeinglost?"askedTom,who knewhowmuchAndywasdreadingwhathisfathermightsayaboutthat. "Hehasn'tsaidawordaboutit,"saidAndy."Notaword.He'sbeenfineabouti t.We'regoingtofishwithmyuncle,nowthatwe'velostourownboat.Maybeon edaywe'llsaveenoughmoneytogetaboatagain." "Iwouldn'tworryaboutthat,ifIwereyou,"saidTom'sfatherunexpectedly."I ratherthinkthereisasurprisecomingforyouto-morrow!" "Oh,what?"criedallthechildren,andAndystaredatTom'sfatherinsurprise. "Waitandsee,"wastheanswer.Sotheyhadtowait--andthenextdaythesurpri seairived! Andysawitfirst.Hewasonthebeach,mending"nets,andtheotherchildrenwe rehelpinghim.Andyhappenedtolookup--andhesawafishing-boatroundingthe cornerofthecliff. "Hallo!"saidAndy."Whoseboatisthat?Ihaven'tseenitbefore!Myword,what asmartone!Lookatitsredsail!" Thechildrenstoodupandwatchedthelittlefishing-boatdrawingintoshore.I twasarealbeauty,freshwithnewpaint,andwithitsredsailbillowingouti nthebreeze. Itcameintothebeachandamanjumpedout.Hesawthechildrenandhailedthe m."Hie,giveahandhere!" Theyrantohelp."Whoseboatisibis?"askedTom. "I'vegottofindtheowner,"saidtheman."It'sfortheboywhosenamehasbee ngiventotheboat." Thechildrenlookedatthenameontheboat.There,paintedboldly,wasAndy'so wnname--ANDY! "Andy!TheboatiscalledAndy!"squealedJill."Oh,Andy,doesthatmeanit'sf oryou?" Andystaredattheboatmaninastonishmentandjoy."Itcan'tbeforme!"hesai d. "Well,ifyou'reAndy,it'syours,"saidtheboatman."Iunderstandthatit'sa littlerewardfromtheGovernmentofourcountryforgoodservices;wasn'tityo uwhodiscoveredthesecretofthoseislands,andlostyourownboatindoingso ?" "Golly!"saidAndy,andcouldsaynomore.Hestoodandstaredatthelovelyboa tindelightandpride.Itwasthefinestinthebay.Itwasbeautifulallover. Never,nevercouldAndyeverhavesavedenoughmoneytobuyaboatlikethis! Theotherthreechildrenwerefullofjoy.TheyhadbeensosorryforAndywhen hisboathadbeenlost,fortheyknewthatheandhisfathergottheirlivingfr omfishing.AndnowAndyhadamuchbetterboat--theycouldn'tkeepbacktheirj oy.TheydancedandshoutedandclappedAndyonthebacktilltheboyalmostfel lover. "Youmustsharetheboatwithme,"saidAndy,suddenlyfindinghistongueagain. "Itshallbelongtoallofus!" "Well,wehavetogobacktoschoolagainsoon,"saidTom,rathersadly."Butwe 'retocomehereforholidaysalways,Andy--sowecanshareitthen.Can'twego outinitnow?"