“This is certainly a beautiful place,” murmured Dora, as she gazed around.  “Were it not for the folks at home worrying about us, I could spend quite some time here and enjoy it.”

“Well, as our situation cannot be helped, let us make the best of it,” said Dick cheerfully.  “There is no use in being downhearted when we ought to be glad that we were saved.”

Close to the rocks they found several trees growing in something of two circles, and they decided that these trees should form the corner posts of a double house or cabin.

“If we had an ax we might cut down some wood, but as it is we will have to use strong vines and cover the huts with palm leaves,” said Captain Jerry.

The boys were soon at work, cutting the vines and gathering the palm leaves, and the girls assisted as well as they were able in fastening up the vine-ropes and binding in the leaves.  It was slow work, yet by nightfall one half the house was complete and the other had the roof covered.

“Now, if rain comes, we can keep fairly dry,” said Tom.

It rained the very next day and they were glad enough to crowd into the completed part, while the rain came down in torrents.  When the worst of the downpour was over the wind arose and it kept blowing fiercely all of the afternoon and the night.

“We can be thankful we are sheltered by the hill,” said Sam.  “Were we on the other side of the island, the wind would knock the hut flat and drench us in no time.”

The storm kept all awake until early morning and when it went down they were glad to sink to rest.  All slept soundly and it was not until ten o’clock, when the sun was struggling through the clouds, that Tom arose, to find the others still slumbering.

“I’ll let them sleep,” he said to himself “They need it and there is no need for them get to up.”

Stretching himself, he walked quietly from the hut and down to the beach.  His first thought was to try to collect some wood, more or less dry, and start a fire.

Gazing across the bay to one of the other islands, he saw a sight which filled him with astonishment.  There, on the beach of the island, lay the wreck of the Golden Wave.

CHAPTER XV

ANOTHER CASTAWAY BROUGHT TO LIGHT

“The Golden Wave!  Hurrah!”

Tom could not resist setting up a shout when he saw the familiar hull of the schooner, resting quietly on the beach of an island on the other side of the bay.

The cry awoke Sam, Dick, and old Jerry, and they came running out to learn what it meant.

“The schooner!” came from Sam.  “How did that get there?”

“The storm must have driven her off the rocks and into this bay,” answered Dick.  “She didn’t go down, after all.”

“It’s a fine thing for us,” put in Captain Jerry, his broad face beaming with pleasure.  “Now we can have all the provisions we want, and clothing and guns, and if we can anchor the wreck in some way, we can live on her just as comfortably as in a house at home.”