"I don't think it is
good to eat."
"Save the skin," said Dora. "That will surely make an elegant rug."
"Leave the carcass until morning," said Captain Blossom. "We must
get some more sleep if we want to go to work to-morrow."
"To-day, you mean," said Tom, looking at his watch. "It is already
three o'clock."
A camp-fire was lit and then all but Jerry retired, it being agreed
that the old sailor was to turn in once more when the others arose
for breakfast. All but Dick slept soundly, but even the eldest Rover
was benefited by the additional rest.
The first work in the morning was to skin the wild beast. This was
rather a difficult task since no one had had any experience, outside
of the Rover boys, on small game. Old Jerry said he would try a steak
cut from the best part of the the animal, but when he did he said it
was too tough to eat. Then the carcass was dragged away and flung
into a hole between the rocks.
After breakfast, the men and boys began in earnest to place the stores
brought to the beach in the cave. It was hard work getting the boxes
and barrels up the incline to the mouth of the cave, and the work
took until the middle of the afternoon. Once at the entrance, the
stores were speedily shifted to the chamber previously mentioned,
and covered again with the tarpaulin. With the stores were placed a
cask of fresh water, some dry pine torches and a box of matches.
Captain Blossom left a gun and some ammunition in the cave, and the
Rover boys added two pistols and a couple of swords taken from the ship.
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