They hung a blanket across the window so as to guard against any more midnight intruders. Soon they were all asleep again. No more untoward incidents occurred, and at daybreak they were astir.
After breakfast they took the dory, in which Pompey and Noddy had landed, and rowed round to Raynor’s camp, which they found undisturbed. Looking seaward, they met with a surprise. They had fully expected to see that the Polly Ann had sunk. But she lay just as she had on the previous day. In fact, although the boys did not know it just then, the current had swung her hull upon a submerged reef which kept her from sinking any deeper.
It was not a long task to dismantle Raynor’s camp and set his dory afloat. The load of provisions, etc., was divided between the two boats.
“What’s the matter with paying a visit to the Polly Ann?� suggested Raynor when they had finished. “It’s odd that she’s still afloat.�
“We might get a chance to get some more grub,� added Noddy. “We need all we can get with three mouths to feed and no knowing how long we’ll be stuck in dis place.�
So it was arranged to row out to the stranded vessel. Once alongside, it did not take the boys long to discover the reason of the Polly Ann’s still being on the top of the water.
“If bad weather doesn’t come, she’ll stay here indefinitely,� declared Raynor. “We can visit her here every day and get what we want.�
“Dat’s so,� agreed Noddy, “it’s a lucky ting, dat reef wuz dere.�
They worked briskly and busily about the schooner and soon had the dories loaded as heavily as they dared. Another thing they noticed that pleased them. The drift ice was on the move.
On every side came sharp reports like pistol shots as it broke up and drifted, or else crashed together. But it was moving southward with a vast concerted motion that meant that ships could approach the island, and was a welcome sign to the beleagured adventurers.