"Well, Aladdin, or not Aladdin, I move now that we move up the hillside and take formal possession of the Portuguese old fort."
"I second the moving motion," said Conal.
So Duncan and Conal became the carriers; Frank, with Vike, remaining below on guard until everything was taken up.
It took them the whole of that day, and the next as well, to settle down in their new quarters, and to make everything snug and comfortable.
To their great delight, at the foot of a rock not far off they found a small well with a spring of the coldest water, bubbling up through the rocks.
It was partly no doubt on account of this very well, that the former inhabitants of the fort had chosen this spot as their habitat.
One room, and one only, of the ruin was roofed, and this they commenced to overhaul and thoroughly clear and clean.
They shuddered somewhat, however, when they came across human bones, and these had been charred by fire, and so told a terrible tale.
But Duncan and his comrades were not to be daunted, and determined to make this their living-room, for no matter how hard the rain might fall, their stores would be dry and safe.
Besides the door, there was one opening which had been a window.
It was at first proposed to barricade it up, but this would have prevented ventilation, and shown fear also.
"Erect two skulls. There they are all ready to hand."
The terrible relics were fastened to short poles, and one was stuck at each side of the window outside.
For a time, at all events, the boys might well consider themselves safe, for superstition is far more deep and rife in heathen lands than it is in Christian, and that is saying a good deal.
"I do think all this is rather jolly than otherwise," said Frank a morning or two after they had got nicely settled, as he termed it, "and I wouldn't mind living here for some time."
"I'm afraid we'll have to, Frank," said Duncan, laughing.
"Bar the vicinity of that ugly king, and his crowd," Conal put in.
"But you must admit, captain, that there is a spice of romance in this mode of life, and I wouldn't mind much what happened to me, if there was a ground-work of romance in it."
Frank was reminded of these remarks by his fellows some time after this, and after a thrilling adventure, in which he happened to be first-person-singular.