“And it’s soft,” announced Jim who had poked it with a bit of driftwood.
“Must be some sort of sponge, I guess,” said Tom. “Let’s pull it ashore and look at it.”
Bringing sticks from the fringe of brush along the beach, the boys tried to drag the stuff ashore, but it broke or pulled apart easily and the sticks could get no hold on it.
“Funny stuff,” remarked Tom, as he stooped to examine a small lump he had dragged up with his stick. “Something like water-soaked bread. Hello! Hasn’t it got a funny smell.”
“And here’s a piece of horn or something in it,” exclaimed Jim. “Say, let’s take this piece back and ask Cap’n Pem about it. They must have some coconuts down by now.”
Picking up the small piece of the material which had so aroused their curiosity, they made their way back over the rocks and found the old whaleman snoring.
“Oh, Cap’n Pem!” cried Tom, poking their friend gently in the ribs. “Look here, what’s this stuff?”
“Lemme be!” ejaculated the old man. “Derned ef ye ain’t a nuisance. Why can’t ye ’muse yersel’s? What ye want, anyhow?”
“We want to know what this is,” explained Tom, holding out the lump of greasy, gray stuff they had found. “There’s a big pile of it yonder and we never saw anything like it.”
Impatiently Pem raised his head, glanced at the object Tom held out, and the next instant leaped to his feet as if a bomb had exploded under him.