“Yes, I think I remember reading somewhere that Captain Flint, a famous sea-rover, called his ship by that name,” chimed in Frank.
“Wall, them fellers from the Mermaid, however they got here, done what they could for the fellow,” commented Ben Stubbs.
“Just the same they only found him when it was too late to do anything for him but bury him,” commented Frank.
It was a good morning’s work transporting the packing cases containing the sections of the air-ship across the island and when it was completed all hands were glad to sit down and partake of a lunch of reef oysters, pilot bread, fried bacon washed down with tablet lemonade prepared by Pork Chops. Lathrop was so far recovered as to be able to drink some oyster broth and after he had taken the nourishment he declared that he felt strong enough to be moved.
The boys had reached the decision that it would be a good plan to transport the entire camp to the clearing and occupy the dead sailor’s house as a more comfortable permanent camp than they could erect themselves. The rest of the day was devoted to putting this idea into execution and carrying Lathrop, in a sort of stretcher made out of one of the canoe-tents and two long branches across the island. The canoes were then poled round the island to a little bay with a shelving beach that cut into the land opposite the new camp which by unanimous consent had been christened Walrus Camp. The little craft were dragged up to a point above tide-water, for the waters about the island were still tidal. That evening, when the lamp was lit and the mouldering house of the maroon neatly swept out and the boys’ possessions all put in place, the young adventurers declared it was as comfortable a dwelling as one could find.
As for Pork Chops, he was fairly delighted with the place.
“Dis am as framjous as any palace I ever did done see,” he exclaimed, rubbing his hands in satisfaction.
“What palaces have you ever seen?” asked Frank quizzingly of the old man.
Pork Chops, with a look of great superiority, replied:
“Ah’s seen palaces an’ palaces. Moren’ you could shak’ a stick at,” he replied indignantly.