By-and-by the sky partially cleared, and though the wind still blew high they crept out from the shelter of a cave in which they had found refuge, and began seriously to consider their position.
It was some time, however, before the whole extent of their misfortune was fully realized by them.
But as the time went on, and the hurricane appeared to be again on the increase, causing them to seek for shelter once more in the cave, a hurricane such as no ship dare attempt to lie-to in, then indeed hope began to die out in their hearts, and they felt they were alone. They felt this still more when the sun went down, and pitch darkness almost immediately followed.
They dared even yet, however, to hope against hope; the ship would surely return and seek for and find them. It was gloomy enough in this cave certainly, with the wind tearing through the scrubby jungle and the cocoa-nut palms that covered the little island, and with the awful boom of the breakers on the circular reef of coral surrounding the lagoon, but then it was only for a night.
"Only for a night," said Frank.
"Yes, only for a night," reiterated Fred.
"If we had a light, though, it would be all the more cheerful."
"Yes, well I have matches, but there is nothing here to light."
"We'd better keep the matches," said Frank. "Are you sure you have them safe and dry?"
"But why so anxious, lad?"