ng. The goods must be stowed
where they won't be destroyed, an' there's plenty to keep us busy for
the rest of this day."

"When do you think the other boats should arrive?" Neal asked.

Jake realized fully how slight were the chances that either of the
crafts would come to that exact spot, even if they were all afloat; but
he had no idea of adding to his companions' grief, therefore he
replied:

"It may be forty-eight hours. You see some or all of them might have put
out a sea anchor when it blew so hard, for they carried heavier loads
than we did, and while layin' still we hummed right along, consequently
its difficult tellin' when to expect 'em."

"Of course they are bound to land here?"

Jake hesitated only for an instant before he decided that under the
circumstances a lie was absolutely necessary, and then replied
positively:

"Of course. Where else would they come?"

"I was afraid there might have been some little difference in the
steering."

"We all were obliged to keep dead before the wind, therefore ought to
come out pretty nigh alike."

This reply appeared to satisfy Neal, and he set about cheering Teddy,
who finally arose to his feet and signified his willingness to do
whatever Jake should propose as necessary.

The engineer made many suggestions which he would not have thought of
had he been alone, or in the company of those who did not need such a
tonic.

All the goods were first carried from the beach to the edge of the thick
forest a hundred yards away, and over the collection was constructed a
shelter to protect it from the dew. The fragments of the boat were
carefully gathered up and deposited in the same place.

Then a quantity of such pieces of dead branches and decaying wood as
could be found near at hand was stacked close by the beach, to serve as
a signal in case a vessel or the boats should heave in sight.

When this had been done it was noon, and Jake set about preparing as
elaborate a meal as their store of provisions would permit, saying as he
summoned them to the repast:

"Now boys, I want you to fill yourselves up so's to be ready for hard
work in case anything is to be done when the others get here. Afterwards
we'll take a snooze, which is the proper thing to do at the middle of
the day in a hot climate, and then there must be some exploring, for we
want to find out if we are really on the island of Cuba."

The boys' hunger was very much greater than their grief, and wi