CHAPTER IX
EXCITING EXPERIENCES WITH THE BOATS
During the nine months' life on the island all had the best of health. The Professor grew strong, and he declared that his constitution was more robust than it had been for years. They lived in the open much of the time; their fare was plain and mostly devoid of sweets; the store of honey which had been several times replenished, was the stock article in the absence of sugar.
It was, therefore, a matter of surprise that Harry should complain of having a tired and uncomfortable feeling, and would frequently lie down during the day while in the workshop. The Professor was always at his side during these periods, and while he had no instruments to enable him to determine whether there was a high fever present, the flushed face of his patient showed unmistakable symptoms.
"Do you think he has a very severe fever?" was George's inquiry, as the Professor left Harry.
"It seems so, and in order to determine whether there is any change we must at once set to work making a thermometer."
"We have neither mercury nor glass, and even if we had, how can we make a tube for it?"
"That being the case, we must make a substitute for both."
"But we must have something which will expand."
"We can use iron for that. Get a piece of small steel bar, say two inches long, and bend it in the form of a C. In the meantime I will make a base to hold the thermometer."