"Gee, I'd be satisfied with a--um--cow-shed!" Nevertheless, they made the return journey in better spirits, for they had walked the aches from their limbs and warmth into their bodies.

On the way Steve made them gather fagots of dead branches and they found a number of larger pieces of wood on the beach.

By the time they were once more "at home," as Perry put it, they had all the material for a fire save paper or some other form of kindling.

Steve experimented with twigs from the fir trees on the ledge, but they were too wet to burn.

No one had any paper, or if they had it was too damp.
"What would Robinson Crusoe have done ?" asked Steve, frowning thoughtfully.
Joe, who had seated himself tiredly on the wet sand and was digging his stockinged heels into it, sneered at Mr.Crusoe.