It was a great relief to the boys to be able to stretch their legs on shore, and when a spot was cleared that all might lie down without fear of being disturbed by centipedes or similar disagreeable things, they began to think the situation was not as grave as it might have been.
A hearty meal of ship’s bread and canned meat was followed by a desire to sleep, and the entire party lay down to rest, for it was not necessary to stand watch.
Toward midnight the wind sprang up from the eastward, but only to die away again a few hours later, and Captain Mansfield said to the mate, in a tone of satisfaction, as the two arose just as day was breaking:
“If there were any vessels nearby last evening we should get a glimpse of a sail when the sun rises, for that breeze must have given them a slant toward this key.”
“By swarming up one of the largest trees we can have quite a range of vision, and something ought to be heaving in sight before night. I’ll stand the first trick.”
“With nothing else to—— Hark!”
As the captain spoke a creaking sound was heard, and he finished the sentence by saying, joyfully:
“It seems that we sha’n’t have long to wait. There is some kind of a craft becalmed within a quarter of a mile of the shore.”
“There can be no question about that. Shall we hail her?”
“It isn’t necessary. She can’t get away until the breeze springs up, and we may as well know who we are asking for assistance. I am not putting as much faith in my fellow-man as I was before our experience of yesterday.”