“Are you sure you are not hurt, lad?” asked the captain.

“Not hurt in the least,” answered Dick, and all were thankful that this was so.

The animal was dragged close to the cabin.  It measured about five feet in length, regardless of the tail, and was of a dull yellowish color.  Its teeth were long and sharp, and its face had a fierce, blood-thirsty look about it that made all the girls shiver.

“I must confess that I am surprised to find such a beast on these islands,” said Captain Blossom.  “Usually they are to be found only on the mainland or on large islands.”

“What I am wondering is, are there any more around?” came from Sam.

“If there are, we’ll have to be careful how we move around,” put in old Jerry.  “I don’t want any of ’em to leap out at me from behind a rock.”

“We’ll have to be on the watch,” said Tom.  “I’m sure I don’t want to furnish any tropical tiger cat with a square meal.”

“Oh, Tom, how awful to even mention it!” cried Nellie.

“I think I know a way to keep ’em away from the house at night,” said old Jerry.

“How?” questioned several.

“Keep a camp-fire burning close to the door.  All wild animals hate a fire.”

“Jerry is right,” said Captain Blossom.  “We’ll do it after this.”

“What shall we do with the beast?” asked Dick.  “I don’t think it is good to eat.”

“Save the skin,” said Dora.  “That will surely make an elegant rug.”

“Leave the carcass until morning,” said Captain Blossom.  “We must get some more sleep if we want to go to work to-morrow.”

“To-day, you mean,” said Tom, looking at his watch.  “It is already three o’clock.”

A camp-fire was lit and then all but Jerry retired, it being agreed that the old sailor was to turn in once more when the others arose for breakfast.  All but Dick slept soundly, but even the eldest Rover was benefited by the additional rest.

The first work in the morning was to skin the wild beast.  This was rather a difficult task since no one had had any experience, outside of the Rover boys, on small game.  Old Jerry said he would try a steak cut from the best part of the the animal, but when he did he said it was too tough to eat.  Then the carcass was dragged away and flung into a hole between the rocks.

After breakfast, the men and boys began in earnest to place the stores brought to the beach in the cave.  It was hard work getting the boxes and barrels up the incline to the mouth of the cave, and the work took until the middle of the afternoon.  Once at the entrance, the stores were speedily shifted to the chamber previously mentioned, and covered again with the tarpaulin.  With the stores were placed a cask of fresh water, some dry pine torches and a box of matches.  Captain Blossom left a gun and some ammunition in the cave, and the Rover boys added two pistols and a couple of swords taken from the ship.