We're quite a party of castaways now." "How did you find Bob ?" asked the first mate, for his boat had been near when the boy fell overboard.
"Oh, Bob discovered the island for us," replied the commander, and he explained the various happenings.
Shore was soon reached, and then Mr.Carr and Ned, neither of whom had been able to eat much because of the necessity of bailing to keep from sinking, were given a good meal.
The two latest arrivals looked with interest on what had already been done to form a camp.

When their wet trousers were hung up to dry in the hot sun, they rested in the shade of the tent and Bob explained his adventures on first reaching the island.
"Have you any idea where we are, captain ?" asked Mr.Carr, after a mutual exchange of experiences.
"Only a slight one.

I'm going to take an observation this noon.
Fortunately, my chronometer did not stop and I can get the correct reckoning." But the captain was disappointed.

At noon the sun was hidden under a dense bank of clouds, and, as "dead reckoning" would have been of no avail, since they had no previous record to go by, he had to postpone matters.
However, there was plenty to do.

When the tide went out late that afternoon they saw that it would be possible to get most of the things from the wrecked boat.