"Ze ship ees gone," said Peglace sadly. "We air like zat man, what-you-call-heem, Crusoe Robinson, hey?" And he shook his head.
"Well, I hope we don't have to stay as long on this island as Robinson Crusoe remained on that other," remarked Sam. "Tom, I'm going for a walk on shore."
"Can I go with you?" put in Josiah Crabtree humbly. "I am tired of this ship's deck."
"All right, come on."
"I will remain with Mrs. Stanhope," said Tom. "Don't go too far, Sam."
Sam and the former teacher of Putnam Hall were soon over the side. The boy came down the plank easily enough, but Crabtree slipped and went into the water and mud up to his knees.
"Ugh! I am always unfortunate!" he spluttered. "However, since the weather is warm, I don't think I'll suffer much."
At a short distance up the beach there was a headland, covered with tall trees. Sam decided to make his way to this.
"I'm going to climb the tallest of the trees and look around," he said.
"You can go along, if you wish."
"I will go, but I cannot climb the tree," answered Crabtree.