He fell to examining the footmarks again. They were very large and made with heavy, clumsy boots to judge by their appearance.
“The man who made these tracks must be a big fellow, more than a match for me in physical strength,� reflected Raynor.
He decided not to penetrate into the interior of the island but to set up a camp where he had landed, at all events, for the present. He had a half formed plan in his mind, too, of rowing out to the Polly Ann and getting more provisions before she finally sank. He had brought some canvas along to make a tent and he constructed quite a snug shelter by turning the boat upside down and supporting it on stones. This made a water-tight roof over which he threw the canvas. Next he collected wood and built a fire. It was not till that moment that he recollected that he would have to go to the other side of the island for water.
He did not much like the task. He might encounter the man of the island and be attacked by him. Still he thought an encounter was bound to occur before long, if he remained. So, cutting a stout club from the bushes, and taking up a bucket he had brought, he set out for the spring.
By this time it was growing dusk, so much longer than he realized had his preparations taken him. He started off, walking briskly, and had almost reached the part of the island where he knew the spring was located, when he gave a violent start.
Ahead of him, standing on a rock as if gazing at something, was the figure of a man!
CHAPTER XXIII: AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.
The man had his back turned to him. But at the sight of him, Raynor gave such a start that he dropped his bucket. It fell on the rocks with a loud clatter.
At the sound the man on the rocks turned suddenly. Then he uttered a loud yell and leaped from the boulder. To Raynor’s amazement he began running at top speed away from him.
“Hanged if he isn’t more scared of me than I am of him,� thought the boy in astonishment. All his fear of the unknown man vanished now.