When men are stranded on an island as our heroes were, it is always the first month or six weeks that seem the longest time. After this the Crusoe or Crusoes settle down more, and the time flies more quickly on.
As to reckoning the days, Fred and Frank were not reduced to the necessity of notching a tree, for one of them happened to possess a note-book with an almanack in it, and every noon one day was ticked off.
Of wild beasts the island possessed not a single specimen, but a curious kind of coney or cavy, they could not tell which, even after Cassia-bud one day succeeded in shooting one with a bow and arrow he had made. Cassia-bud roasted the beast and ate it for supper, for the lad had a wonderful appetite. Bob enjoyed the bones.
"Was it nice?" said Frank. "Did you enjoy it, Kashie?"
"Oh, sab, he just too awful jolly for anything!" replied the boy, licking his lips and rolling his eyes.
"Well, Kash, you must shoot some more you know, and then perhaps we'll all have a taste."
These creatures were to be found in very great abundance on one particularly rocky glen, where they had their burrows.
On the very next morning, after receiving his commission, Cassia-bud and Hurricane Bob both disappeared in the woods, and about noon emerged again, Bob carrying a coney that he himself had captured, and Cassia-bud carrying four.
"Bravo!" cried Fred, picking the lad up as soon as he had thrown down his burden; "now for a game of live-ball to make Kashie hungry."
"Play!" he shouted, pitching the little laughing black ball of a boy towards Quambo.