The mussels were well roasted; but, lacking salt, they were not as palatable as the fish.
“These go a long way ahead of nothin’,” Ned said grimly, “but fall mightily short of some grub I’ve tasted in my day. After the shanty is built I shan’t have anything to do but hunt ’round for provisions, an’ it’ll be queer if I can’t manage to catch one or two of these birds.”
He was rapidly getting rid of that terrible feeling of utter desolation which had at first come upon him, and appeared as well able as any boy could have been to provide against want.
The remainder of the day was spent in house-building, and a slow task it proved to be. He had no other tool than the pocket knife, and it was not particularly well adapted to the hewing of trees.
He contrived to lop off some of the small limbs and break down saplings enough to make the roof of his shanty; but before anything more could be done night had come.
Again he slept under the rubber coat, and despite the fact of the noon-day nap his slumber was long and profound.
He was awake by sunrise, however, and fully determined to have something to show for this day’s labor.
In order to economize time he made a breakfast of roasted mussels, and then began to work with a will on the building.
Before the sun set again he had put up a dwelling which pleased him very much, save as to size.
It was not more than six feet square and about five high, but it would serve to shelter him from the rain, although a heavy wind might level it in short order.
To four small trees which grew at nearly equal distance from each other he had lashed the main timbers of the building, using creeping vines for ropes, and placing them at as high a point as it would be convenient to work.
Across these were tied other poles about four inches apart, and over them were laid the broad leaves of what appeared to be a species of banana plant, the whole being bound down with vines.
The sides and one end of the shanty were inclosed in leaves, and while the wind was not too boisterous he had a very comfortable dwelling.
On this night Ned slept for the first time in his life beneath his own roof, and there was such a sense of satisfaction and proprietorship in the fact that he almost forgot his desolate condition.