"Water," he answered, moving towards the cave. "The bowl is half of a
paw-paw, which, next to that spring itself, is the welcomest thing I've
discovered."
She was glad to note bananas among his several fruits, but she made no
further observations. More and more her sense of constraint increased,
as she clearly foresaw her dependence upon and intimate association
with this man, who had overstepped the bounds of honor to his friend,
and to whom she had spoken in such anger.
Breakfast was soon begun. Elaine consumed all she could relish of the
fruits, although neither the loco (loquet, a yellowish sort of plum),
the guava--green and full of seeds--nor the custard apple, which was
somewhat sickishly sweet, appealed irresistibly to her fancy.
She drank from a leaf, curled up to form a cup, and found the water
decidedly refreshing and agreeable, despite the fact it was slightly
flavored by the juices of the paw-paw shell in which it had been served.
Grenville leaned back, when his appetite was thoroughly appeased, and
began to empty his pockets. He produced the remains of his broken
knife, a few loose coins, a ring of keys, a pig-skin purse with several
pieces of gold as its contents, the stub of a pencil, and his watch,
which, by great good fortune, was waterproof, and still in good running
condition, despite its several immersions.
Elaine was watching his movements, puzzled to guess his intent.
"Taking stock," he said, presently, "by way of facing the situation and
formulating plans.... These trifling chattels are all I possess in the
world--our world, at least--with which to begin certain labors. You
probably haven't even hairpins."
Elaine had coiled her hair upon a twig. She shook her head, and
faintly resented his allusion to the island as a sort of partnership
property.
Grenville began to segregate his belongings.
"Money, keys, pencil, and watch--all mere encumbrances, absolutely
worthless. One broken knife--invaluable. We shall require, as soon as
possible, water-jugs, basins, cooking utensils, something to make a
fire, implements to chop our fuel, some primitive weapons, and tools
with which to fashion a boat. I must lose no time in exploring beyond
the spring. I have found nothing yet that will especially lend itself
to our uses."
Elaine's brown eyes were very wide. "You expect to remain here long
enough to build a boat, when the raft---- I know it can't be rowed, of
course, but--couldn't you try a sail?"
"We couldn't sail it in its present form," he answered, "even if we
knew which direction to take when we started. With a small, swift boat
we might venture a few explorations from the island as a base."
She was silent for a moment, and grave.
"You haven't much faith, then, in hailing some passing steamer?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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