"Well," remarked Bumpus, complacently, "we are on the wreck of our noble
ship, and close enough to shore to salvage all our possessions; which I
consider the greatest of good luck. Who'll carry me on his shoulders,
now?"

Strange to say, nobody offered to undertake this task, where Bumpus
pretended to feel very much hurt, though in reality quite merry.

"I was afraid you'd all speak at once, and have a quarrel over the
honor; but looks now like I might have to do the grand wading act
myself, holding up my clothes-bag and blanket, to keep from getting the
same more soaked than they are now. If we could only make a raft like
old Robinson Crusoe did, it would be fine. Can we get this cabin roof
off, and would it float, do you think, Thad?"

"We'll wade!" replied the scout-master, grimly, and that settled it.

"The sooner the better," remarked Giraffe, "because night's going to
drop down on us right early to-day, and we ought to have a warm fire
started somehow, so's to dry us off," for Giraffe had the utmost faith
in a fire being able to do about nearly everything necessary to the good
cheer of mankind, because he fairly worshipped a jolly blaze.

Indeed, as most of them had commenced to shiver already, owing to their
wet condition, and the stress of excitement under which they had been
recently laboring, the thought of sitting before a comfortable fire did
seem to buoy up their spirits amazingly.

"Get ready to slip over, and go ashore!" ordered Thad, "I'll take the
anchor cable with me, and see that it's made fast to a rock or a tree.