“Now, we’ll have to hustle around and find some wood,” said Jack. “We can get some small stuff under the trees, I guess. Dead branches do pretty well. And there’s plenty of stuff on the beach, only it won’t be very dry probably. You fellows scurry around in the grove and I’ll go down to the beach.”
Afterwards they took the hatchet and cut sweet-fern, which Hal discovered quite a patch of at the back of the island, and sheep-laurel and spread it on the ground in the tent. On this they put their blankets, and, although now and then a sharp twig promised some discomfort, they decided that it would prove better than sleeping next to the ground. “And, anyway,” said Bee, who had never run across sweet-fern before, “it smells dandy; even better than sweet-grass.”
After arranging the provisions near the door of the tent there seemed nothing left to do save wait for supper. It was only a few minutes past five and even Hal had to acknowledge that it was still too early to start the fire. Jack suggested that they might collect more wood and save themselves trouble another day, but that idea didn’t seem to appeal to the others. Hal asked Bee why he didn’t do a little digging for the treasure and get up an appetite. He even offered to accompany Bee and look on. But Bee said there was no use digging until he had decided where to dig. So they concluded to take a walk over the island instead.
“Keep your eyes open, fellows,” advised Bee. “We might find the place where Old Verny had his cabin.”
But although they made a complete circuit of the island they discovered nothing more exciting or useful than a horseshoe crab which Bee marvelled at and treasured. From the northwest side of the hill they could follow the winding of Clam River for nearly two miles and Jack pointed out where, far up the little tidal stream, the old bridge used to stand. Far off, backed by a low wall of trees, ran the railway embankment. Farther southward Greenhaven was visible, the sun dyeing the white houses on the hill with rosy light as it sank into the west. Between the town and the island was a well-nigh untenanted expanse of marsh and meadow which, near the shore, merged into the gleaming sand dunes. One or two weather-beaten cabins dotted the area, but they were a good way off and served only to accentuate the loneliness that, with the approach of evening, seemed to envelop Nobody’s Island. Hal gave a little shiver as he turned away.
“Come on and let’s light the fire and have some supper,” he said. “This place will get on my nerves in a minute.”
“It does seem a long way off from everything, doesn’t it?” agreed Bee. “That sunset is wonderful, though.”
“I’d rather see a sirloin steak,” muttered Hal.