This in fact was the spring of
the year, when all things put forth new life; and we knew that the time
was now come when we could once more range the woods and till the soil,
and this made the boys leap for joy.
Some planks had been blown off the roof of The Nest, and the rain had
got in here and there; so our first job was to mend our house, and make
it fit to sleep in.
This done, Jack, Fritz, and I set out to Tent House. We found it in a
sad state. The storm had thrown down the tent, blown off some of the
sail cloth, and let in the rain on our casks, some of which held a
store of food. Our boat was still safe, but the raft of tubs had broken
Lip, and what there was left of it lay in splints on the shore.
Our loss in the storm had been so great that I felt we ought at once to
seek for some place on the rocks where we could put what was left.
We went all round the cliffs, in the hope that we might find a cave,
but in vain.
"There is no way but to hew one out of the rock", said Fritz, or we
must not be beat."
"Well said, Fritz," said Jack; "we have each an axe. Why not try this
cliff at once?"
I gave them leave to try, and we soon set to work at the rock. From
this spot we had a good view of the whole bay, and could see both banks
of the stream.
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