Pirate's Promise by Bulla Clyde Robert

Author:Bulla, Clyde Robert [Bulla, Clyde Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2013-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

10. The Island

In the morning Tom saw the island. There was a beach of shining white sand. Beyond the beach was a bright green jungle. Birds flew in and out of the jungle and over the boats in the harbor. It was a beautiful sight.

But the town on the harbor was far from beautiful. It was a town of huts and tents. The huts were made of driftwood and palm leaves. The tents were made of old sails that flapped in the wind. There were broken bottles in the streets.

Tom went ashore with Benjy and Captain Land. Benjy carried a hammock, a water bottle, and the captain’s sea chest.

There were ragged, barefoot people on the wharf. Most of them were men, but a few were women and children.

“These people live here,” Benjy told Tom. “They hunt and fish and have gardens. On this island they can live without much work.”

“Where did they come from?” asked Tom.

“Many places,” said Benjy. “Some were shipwrecked here. Some came to be safe from the law.”

“Why doesn’t the law come here?” asked Tom.

Benjy told him, “Near our island the sea is not deep, and our ships are small and light. We can sail these waters. But the ships of the law are not small and light. They would be wrecked here.”

Captain Land led the way past the town and down the beach.

At the edge of the jungle they came to a small house. Vines had grown over it until it was almost hidden.

“It is the captain’s house. He sleeps here when we are on the island,” said Benjy. “It is good and strong, this house. I made it myself from an old wrecked ship.”

The door was open. Tom looked inside. There was only one room, and it was empty.

Benjy told Tom and the captain, “Do not go inside yet. There may be snakes or spiders with poison in their bites.”

He went into the house. With a palm branch he swept the walls and floor. He put up the hammock and set the sea chest beside it.

Afterward Tom went with him to find food and water. They went to a clearing in the jungle. There was a well in the clearing.

Benjy took the cover off the well. He let down the bottle and drew it up full of water.

Near the well Tom found a vine heavy with grapes.

“Pick some for our captain,” said Benjy, “while I find something more.”

He took the pistol out of his belt. He went on into the jungle.

Tom put two leaves together to make a basket. He filled it with grapes. Then he sat down on the well cover to wait for Benjy.

He thought of his sister, Dinah. He wondered how long it would be before they were together again. How surprised she would be, he thought, if she could see him here in this island jungle!

In a little while Benjy was back. He had shot a young goat. He carried it over his shoulder. Tom carried the water and the grapes.

As they came out of the jungle, someone called, “Halloo!”

They stopped and looked back.

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