[CHAPTER XIII.]
AN ISLAND LIFE.
Tom was awakened by the sun streaming down into his face. It came through the vent-hole in the roof. At first he could not recall for the life of him where he was, and for a time thought that the vent hole was the port hole of his cabin, oddly misplaced by some accident to the roof. But he soon realized all that had happened, and aroused the others, who at first were equally confused.
"The steward has called for breakfast!" said Tom laughing.
"Humph! And where is the breakfast coming from?" grunted Sandy, looking at the remains of the fried fish and thinking of the scant store of crackers and tinned beef that remained.
The others did not reply to this, and Tom devoted himself to dressing. As he had taken off only his outer garments, this did not take long. Shoving open the door he looked outside.
"Gee whiz, fellows, a dandy day!" he exclaimed. "Clear as a bell and the sea is quite calm."
In a few minutes the others joined Tom at the door. They stood looking about a while, when suddenly a loud splash not far off made them all exclaim.
"What was that?" asked Jack.
"Don't know. Sounded like somebody throwing a big rock into the water," was Tom's reply.