“There’s no use trying to make a fire with this wood,” yawned Bob. “I vote we go on board.”
Dan and Nelson agreed. Tom was silent, for after one disgusted look at the outside world he had turned over and promptly gone to sleep again.
“Let’s leave him,” whispered Dan.
“But we need the awning,” Nelson demurred. Dan chuckled.
“Sure, and we’ll take it. He’ll never wake up.”
So very quietly they gathered the things together and bore them to the landing. Two trips of the tender were sufficient, and on the second one they took the awning. Back at the edge of the woods, with the mist falling gently on his upturned face, slept Tom.
Barry seemed to appreciate the change of quarters as much as anyone and was soon curled up in a corner of Bob’s bunk. The dampness had got into their bones and all were stiff and full of queer little aches when they stretched their muscles.
“What we need,” said Nelson, “is some hot coffee and lots of it.”
“And right away quick,” added Dan.
So Bob got busy at the stove while the others put the awning back over the cockpit. While they were doing it they cast many amused glances across at the shore where Tom still slumbered under his gray blanket.