Take it from me!"
"And yet he raves about his clean hands, the dirty scoundrel!" cried
Harry. "Why, if we were only afloat, we'd make him walk a plank!"
"That reminds me," Tom put in. "The Fortuna lies on the beach unless
she's worked herself loose, and it may be some job to get her off."
"Suppose you stay here and mount guard over the prisoner," suggested
Jack, "while we go back and look after the vessel. We'll return when
we've gotten everything ship shape and Bristol fashion."
"Suits me fine!" declared Tom. "And I hope this angelic prisoner tries
to escape while you're gone! That would be fine!"
"Tom, you're bloodthirsty, I believe!" laughed Jack indulgently. "I know
the provocation is severe, but remember that you're a Boy Scout."
"You wouldn't leave me on this island, would you?" inquired Wyckoff when
the boys had departed for the boat. "That would be cruel."
"But you marooned Frank here, didn't you?" asked Tom angrily. "Why would
it be any worse for you than for him? Tell me that."
"I told the men to leave him provisions and matches. I have no matches
nor provisions. I cannot make a fire with sticks, as he did," replied
the prisoner in an humble and whining tone intended to placate.
"Well," Tom considered, "we might leave you some matches and some grub.
You could find plenty of wood hereabouts, couldn't you?"
"There's plenty of wood here if one could work it up," replied Wyckoff.
"The storms have washed ashore thousands of pieces of planks and timbers
of all sorts.
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