It was only a small island after all. They searched about and called and shouted, but no sound or sight of human life could be discovered; so they returned together towards the little cove, and prepared to make the best of it.
"Get on board, Frank, and light the lamp, and boil some water for tea. Toddie and I will go and gather dulse."
"All right, Captain Fred," said Frank, who really appeared now to be enamoured of their romantic situation.
When Toddie and Tippie and Fred got back from the beach it was nearly dark; but the little cabin seemed quite cosy, and after some delicious tea, and the rest of the pie, they all felt as happy as happy could be.
They had books in the cabin, and so Fred volunteered to read a story, after talking for some hours. The story was one of their favourites—Sinbad the Sailor.
It must have been long past nine when Toddie began to nod; so Fred put her to sleep with Tip on the little sofa, and covered her over with a plaid.
By this time the wind had quite gone down; so after a turn on deck, as Fred phrased it, the boys went below and turned in all standing. More of Fred's phraseology, meaning that they lay down on the floor with their clothes on. And the sun had risen, and was shining yellow into the cabin before they ever moved again.
CHAPTER X.
ON THE DESERT ISLAND—TODDIE'S ADVENTURE ON THE
CLIFF—THE BONFIRE.
What a gladsome, joyous morning! And how brimful of health and happiness were those two lads, Fred and Frank! Both seemed to wake at once; then they looked in each other's faces, blinked a little in that yellow ray of sunshine, then burst out laughing.