"Ah, boys, I've got it now!" exclaimed Jack, rising and cutting a
branch from a neighbouring bush, which he stripped of its leaves. "I
recollect seeing this done once at home. Hand me the bit of whip-cord."
With the cord and branch Jack soon formed a bow. Then he cut a piece,
about three inches long, off the end of a dead branch, which he pointed
at the two ends. Round this he passed the cord of the bow, and placed
one end against his chest, which was protected from its point by a chip
of wood; the other point he placed against the bit of tinder, and then
began to saw vigorously with the bow, just as a blacksmith does with
his drill while boring a hole in a piece of iron. In a few seconds the
tinder begun to smoke; in less than a minute it caught fire; and in
less than a quarter of an hour we were drinking our lemonade and eating
cocoa-nuts round a fire that would have roasted an entire sheep, while
the smoke, flames, and sparks flew up among the broad leaves of the
overhanging palm trees, and cast a warm glow upon our leafy bower.
That night the starry sky looked down through the gently rustling trees
upon our slumbers, and the distant roaring of the surf upon the coral
reef was our lullaby.
Chapter V
Morning, and cogitations connected therewith--We luxuriate in
the sea, try our diving powers, and make enchanting excursions among
the coral groves at the bottom of the ocean--The wonders of the deep
enlarged upon.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45