It was hard work to detach them from the seaweed and rocks, but the little party were literally laboring for life, and before an hour had passed a heavy load for each member was secured.
“There’s no need of taking more than we can lug comfortably,” Gil said, when the tide had covered the largest beds, “and now comes the question of how they may be carried to the place where we agreed to meet Jenkins.”
“I reckon my mate an’ me can rig up somethin’ that’ll answer for baskets,” one of the sailors replied, as he began gathering a quantity of vines, and in this labor Andy assisted without being especially requested so to do.
Under the skillful fingers of the three men the vines soon assumed shape, and the sun was yet above the horizon when five rude receptacles had been woven.
After these were filled with oysters it was found that each one had as much of a load as could comfortably be carried on his back, and, laden heavily, all hands started for the rendezvous, arriving there just as the mate returned, looking tired and disappointed.
“We’ve done our portion of the work,” Gil said, cheerily, “and what have you accomplished?”
“Nothin’, so far as a hidin’-place is concerned. It won’t do to go so far into the interior of the island that we stand a chance of gettin’ lost while tryin’ to find our way back to the beach, an’ I can’t find a spot where anything bigger than a rabbit could hide himself this side of the cave.”
“Did you see anything of the blacks?”
“Yes, the whole crowd are near the entrance, an’ from the appearance of things they have got over the scare we gave ’em.”
“How many are there?”