"Ah!" said my great-uncle. "Doubtless that is so. Well, if they must remain ashore a time, is it not in their own interest to erect themselves some shelter from the elements?"
Flint stared at him curiously.
"Ye've an idea in the back o' your head, Murray. Out with it!"
"We have often said that some day we should build ourselves a fort on the island," answered my great-uncle.
"We ha'."
"I came upon the ideal spot this afternoon—a sand hillock overgrown with fine pines and oaks eastward of the swamps. It hath the airs from the ocean, a good prospect of the anchorage and the nearer waters, and there is a spring at the very top."
"And I'm to do the work!" snarled Flint.
"Your men are to do the work," corrected Murray. "I should gladly assist them in it but for the fact that my own crew will be occupied aboardship during the duration of our stay. We of the Royal James, I may point out, are laboring in the common interest no less than your people will be if they undertake the construction of the fort."
"Blast me for a —— —— fool if I care two —— —— —— for the common interest!" cried Flint. "But 'tis true there is need of the fort, and if the men will bide ashore they should ha' a roof to their heads and a better place to camp than down here in the river vapors. I'll see what's to be done, Murray. Not tonight—there's no man of us, except Long John, curse him! can put two thoughts together. But in the morning 'twill be different. We'll fetch off a boatload o' axes and shovels, and I'll turn 'em to. I think it can be done. —— me, it must be done! I can't lose three men a day for the next six months!"
"You'll not regret it," replied my great-uncle. "I shall be glad to lend you aught I possess in the way of tools or advice."