"Halloo!" he shouted in a friendly tone, and without replying Bob held up his hand in token that the hail had been heard.
"The brig has gone to pieces, an' we're here with no chance of leavin' the key," the man continued, much as if giving valuable information.
"Where's the boat? You came ashore in one, I reckon."
"Yes: but she went adrift during the gale."
"If you couldn't take better care of her there's no reason why you shouldn't stay there till the schooner from Nassau puts in here again!" Joe shouted angrily. "We're aground, and likely to remain so; but that's no reason why there should be any communication between us!"
"Will you send us some grub ashore?" the red-nosed man asked after a short pause, during which he stood as if trying to control his anger.
"Not so much as a biscuit if you were hungry; but that can't be, for it isn't likely you put off from the brig without provisions."
"All right!" the man cried with a threatening gesture. "You can do as you please an' we've got the same privilege, so it's a question as to who has the best end of the trade!"
"They thought we might be fools enough to take some grub ashore, when, all three of 'em were ready to seize the boat," Bob said, as the men disappeared in the thicket. "It's a case of standin' by with our weather-eyes liftin', for if their yawl has gone adrift they'll try hard to steal ours. I'll go on watch while the rest of you get breakfast, for the water around the bow ain't so deep but that they can wade out here;" and the old sailor seated himself on the starboard rail as Joe and the boys went into the forward cabin.