"I didn't want to say anything before, but if
she hadn't come what would we have done for clothing and for eating?
We couldn't live on fish all the time, and one can do mighty little
hunting without a gun."
"We would have had to set traps, Tom, and dig pitfalls for larger
game. But I admit it would have been hard work, and I fancy a suit
of goatskins, like Robinson Crusoe wore, wouldn't be half as comfortable
as a suit of clothes such as I am wearing."
"If we could only float the schooner and sail away to some nearby port."
"There is no port' within three hundred miles of us, so the captain
says."
Soon the boys were halfway across the bay. But moving the big raft
was a laborious task, and they were glad enough to sit down and rest
for a few minutes.
"There is no use of our hurrying," said Tom. "Our time is our own in
this out-of-the-way place, and as we have next to nothing to do we
want to make what little work there is last us."
"Like a lazy man working by the day," laughed Sam. "I'm afraid I
can't work that way. When I have something to do I'm not content
until it is done."
"Are you hot, Sam? Here is something to cool you off."
As Tom spoke he playfully scooped up a handful of water and threw it
at his brother.
Soon the two boys were having lots of sport, throwing handfuls of
the salty water at each other. Then Sam made a motion as if he was
going to push Tom overboard with his paddle.
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