“How could he when we used them this morning?” demanded Bee. “Don’t be a chump, old Hal! But say, Jack, we haven’t any bait. There was just a little left and I threw it away.”
“Mussels will do,” replied Jack. “Of course I don’t promise we’ll catch anything; sometimes you just simply can’t when you need to very badly; but we’ll have a try. And you don’t feel quite so hungry now if you know there’s a breakfast coming later.”
Bee sighed dolefully. “I’d swap that breakfast gladly for a light supper,” he said. “Let’s go to sleep, fellows. Maybe we can forget we’re starving to death.”
But they didn’t retire quite yet. The signal fire had to be replenished first and they all stumbled back to it over the rocks and threw more wood on, sending the crimson sparks flying far on the wind. Across the dark water the lights on Greenhaven Neck gleamed faintly and the white eye of the lighthouse seemed to follow them as they retraced their steps to the hut. They built up the fire at the doorway and then settled down for the night, lying side by side for warmth, against the more sheltered wall of the hut. For a while they talked, more and more drowsily every minute, with the sound of the waves and the whistle of the wind in their ears. But the day had been a busy one and all were thoroughly tired and presently one by one they dropped off to slumber.
CHAPTER XIV
Bill Glass To The Rescue
Hal rolled over, yawning, and then opened his eyes and looked about him blankly. Through a doorway a glare of blue sea and golden sunlight smote his eyes. Where was he? He sat up and stared. Then recollection returned and he reached over and stirred Bee into wakefulness.
“Where’s Jack?” he asked. “Wake up, you old lazy-bones! Where’s Jack got to?”