On the end of each inner nut were three small dark dots, and, being softer than the rest of the shell, these places were easily pierced by a sort of drill blade, or punch, in Will’s knife.
“Now, if you have a cup I’ll pour the milk out for you,” he said to Bunny, for he had first opened the nut of the little boy.
There were cups in the lunch basket, and into one of these was soon gurgling the white, sweet milky fluid—the milk of the cocoanut, than which there is no better drink.
Bunny and Sue much enjoyed theirs. Other nuts were gathered and opened, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, as well as the sailors, drinking the milk.
Then Bunny and Sue played on the sand, finding pretty shells and pebbles and now and then a bit of coral. The two sailors strolled down the sands while Mr. and Mrs. Brown rested under the shade of the cocoanut palm trees.
They could look off to the Beacon which was still aground on the sand-bar, no effort having as yet been made to pull her off into deep water.
Almost before the children realized it noon had come, and Mrs. Brown set out a lunch from the well-filled basket. Some was given the sailors, who took their portions down near the rowboat, pulled up on the beach.
“That steward gave us enough for several meals,” said Mrs. Brown. “We shall have to take a great deal of it back with us. There is no use leaving it here on the island. No one lives here.”
THE BOAT WAS ROWED AROUND TO A LITTLE BAY.