“I hardly know myself.  I have a half-formed plan in my mind.  I may be able to carry it out, and I may not.  I don’t want to say anything until I look over the machinery, and see if all the parts which I need are here.  Please say nothing about it.”

“Bless my toothpick!  Of course, I’ll not,” promised Mr. Damon.

When the removal of most of the machinery of the wrecked airship had been completed, Mrs. Nestor exclaimed: 

“Well, since you are moving that out of harm’s way, don’t you think it would be a good idea to change our camp, also?  I’m sure I’ll never sleep a wink, thinking that part of the island may fall into the ocean at any moment in the night, and create a wave that may wash us all out to sea.  Can’t we move the camp, Mr. Swift?”

“No reason why we can’t,” answered the lad, smiling.  “I think it would be a good plan to take it farther back.  We are likely to be here some time, and, while we are about it, we might build more complete shelters, and have a few more comforts.”

The others agreed with this idea, so the little shacks that had been erected were taken down, and moved to higher ground, where a better outlook could be had of the surrounding ocean.  At the same time as safe a place as possible, considering the frequent earthquakes, was picked out—­a place where there were no overhanging rocks or cliffs.

Three huts were built, one for the two ladies, one for the men, and third where the cooking could be done.  This last also held the food supplies and stores, and Tom noted, with satisfaction, that there was still sufficient to eat to last over a week.  Mr. Fenwick had not stinted his kitchen stores.

This work done, Captain Mentor and Mate Fordam went to the highest part of the island, where they erected a signal, made from pieces of canvas that had been in the life boat.  The boat itself was brought around to the new camp, and at first it was hoped that it could be repaired, and used.  But too large a hole had been stove in the bottom, so it was broken up, and the planks used in making the shacks.

This work occupied the better part of two days, and during this time, there were no more earthquakes.  The castaways began to hope that the island would not be quiet for a while.  Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Nestor assumed charge of the “housekeeping” arrangements, and also the cooking, which relieved Tom from those duties.  The two ladies even instituted “wash-day,” and when a number of garments were hung on lines to dry, the camp looked like some summer colony of pleasure-seekers, out for a holiday.

In the meanwhile, Tom had spent most of his time among the machinery which had been taken from the airship.  He inspected it carefully, tested some of the apparatus, and made some calculations on a bit of paper.  He seemed greatly pleased over something, and one afternoon, when he was removing some of the guy and stay wires from the collapsed frame of the whizzer, he was approached by Mr. Barcoe Jenks.