CHAPTER XVI
AN ALARMING THEORY
For a few seconds, following Tom's announcement to his twocompanions, neither Mr. Damon nor Mr. Fenwick spoke. They had arisenfrom the beach, where the shock of the earthquake had thrown them,and were now staring toward the other band of castaways, who, inturn were gazing toward our three friends. There was a violentagitation in the sea, caused by the fall of the great cliff, andimmense waves rushed up on shore, but all the islanders were beyondthe reach of the rollers.
"Is it--do I really--am I dreaming or not?" at length gasped Mr.Damon.
"Is this a mirage, or do we really see people, Tom?" inquired Mr.Fenwick.
"They are real enough people," replied the lad, himself somewhatdazed by the unexpected appearance of the other castaways.
"But how--why--how did they get here?" went on the inventor of theWHIZZER.
"As long as they're not cannibals, we're all right," murmured Mr.Damon. "They seem to be persons like ourselves, Tom."
"They are," agreed the lad, "and they appear to be in the same sortof trouble as ourselves. Let's go forward, and meet them."
The tremor of the earthquake had now subsided, and the little bandthat was gathered about a big fire of driftwood was calmer. Thosewho had fallen, or who had thrown themselves on the sand, arose, andbegan feeling of their arms and legs to see if they had sustainedany injuries. Others advanced toward our friends.
"Nine of them," murmured Tom, as he counted the little band ofcastaways, "and they don't seem to have been able to save much fromthe wreck of their craft, whatever it was." The beach all about themwas bare, save for a boat drawn up out of reach of high water.
"Do you suppose they are a party from some disabled airship, Tom,"asked Mr. Fenwick.
"Not from an airship," answered the lad. "Probably from some vesselthat was wrecked in the gale. But we will soon find out who theyare."
Tom led the way for his two friends. The fall of the cliff had madea rugged path around the base of it, over rocks, to where the otherpeople stood. Tom scrambled in and out among the boulders, in spiteof the pain it caused his wounded leg. He was anxious to know whothe other castaways were, and how they had come there.
Several of the larger party were now advancing to meet the lad andhis friends. Tom could see two women and seven men.
A moment later, when the lad had a good view of one of the ladiesand a gentleman, he could not repress a cry of astonishment. Then herubbed his eyes to make sure it was not some blur or defect ofvision. No, his first impression had been correct.
"Mr. Nestor!" cried Tom, recognizing the father of his girl friend."And Mrs. Nestor!" he added a moment later.
"Why--of all things--look--Amos--it's--it can't be possible--andyet--why, it's Tom Swift!" cried the lady.
"Tom--Tom Swift--here?" ejaculated the man at her side.
"Yes--Tom Swift--the young inventor--of Shopton--don't you know--thelad who saved Mary's life in the runaway--Tom Swift!"
"Tom Swift!" murmured Mr. Nestor. "Is it possible!"
"I'm Tom Swift, all right," answered the owner of that name, "buthow in the world did you get on this island, Mr. Nestor?"
"I might ask you the same thing, Tom. The yacht RESOLUTE, on whichwe were making a voyage to the West Indies, as guests of Mr. GeorgeHosbrook, was wrecked in the awful gale. We took to the boats andmanaged to reach this island. The yacht sunk, and we only had alittle food. We are almost starved! But how came you here?"
"Mr. Fenwick's airship was wrecked, and we dropped down here. What acoincidence! To think that I should meet you here! But if you'rehungry, it's the best thing in the world that we met you, for,though our airship was wrecked, we have a large supply of food. Comeover to our camp, and we'll give you all you want!"
Tom had rushed forward, and was shaking hands with Mary's parents,so unexpectedly met with, when Mr. Nestor called out:
"Come over here, Mr. Hosbrook. I want you to meet a friend of mine."
A moment later, the millionaire owner of the ill-fated RESOLUTE wasshaking hands with Tom.
"I can't understand it," Mr. Hosbrook said. "To think of meetingother people on this desolate island--this island of earthquakes."
"Oh, please don't speak of earthquakes!" cried Mrs. Nestor. "We arein mortal terror! There have been several since we landed in themost terrible storm day before yesterday. Isn't it awful! It is aregular earthquake island!"
"That's what I call it," spoke Tom, grimly.
The others of the larger party of refugees now came up. Besides Mr.and Mrs. Nestor, and Mr. Hosbrook, there was Mr. and Mrs. FloydAnderson, friends of the millionaire; Mr. Ralph Parker, who wasspoken of as a scientist, Mr. Barcoe Jenks, who seemed an odd sortof individual, always looking about suspiciously, Captain Mentor,who had been in command of the yacht, and Jake Fordam, the mate ofthe vessel.
"And are these all who were saved?" asked Tom, as he introduced histwo friends, and told briefly of their air voyage.
"No," answered Mr. Hosbrook, "two other boatloads, one containingmost of the crew, and the other containing some of my guests, gotaway before our boat left. I trust they have been rescued, but wehave heard nothing about them. However, our own lives may not longbe safe, if these earthquakes continue."
"But did I understand you to say, Mr. Swift, that you had food?" hewent on. "If you have, I will gladly pay you any price for some,especially for these two ladies, who must be faint. I have lost allmy ready cash, but if we ever reach civilization, I will--"
"Don't speak of such a thing as pay," interrupted Mr. Fenwick. "Allthat we have we'll gladly share with you. Come over to our camp. Wehave enough for all, and we can cook on our gasolene stove. Don'tspeak of pay, I beg of you."
"Ah--er, if Mr. Hosbrook has no money, perhaps I can offer anequivalent," broke in the man who had been introduced as BarcoeJenks. "I have--er--some securities--" He stopped and looked aboutindefinitely, as though he did not know exactly what to say, and hewas fumbling at a belt about his waist; a belt that might containtreasure.
"Don't speak of reimbursing us," went on Mr. Fenwick, with rather asuspicious glance at Mr. Jenks. "You are welcome to whatever wehave."
"Bless my topknot; certainly, yes!" joined in Mr. Damon, eagerly.
"Well, I--er--I only spoke of it," said Mr. Jenks, hesitatingly, andthen he turned away. Mr. Hosbrook looked sharply at him, but saidnothing.
"Suppose we go to our camp," proposed Tom. "We may be able to getyou up a good meal, before another earthquake comes."
"I wonder what makes so many of them?" asked Mrs. Nestor, with anervous shiver.
"Yes, indeed, they are terrifying! One never knows when to expectthem," added Mrs. Anderson.
"I have a theory about them," said Mr. Parker, the scientist, who,up to this time had spoken but little.
"A theory?" inquired Tom.
"Yes. This island is one of the smaller of the West Indies group. Itis little known, and has seldom been visited, I believe. But I amsure that what causes the earthquakes is that the whole island hasbeen undermined by the sea, and it is the wash of great submarinewaves and currents which cause the tremors."
"Undermined by the sea?" repeated Tom.
"Yes. It is being slowly washed away."
"Bless my soul! Washed away!" gasped Mr. Damon.
"And, in the course of a comparatively short time, it will sink,"went on the scientist, as cheerfully as though he was a professorpropounding some problem to his class.
"Sink!" ejaculated Mrs. Nestor. "The whole island undermined! Oh,what an alarming theory!"
"I wish I could hold to a different one, madam," was Mr. Parker'sanswer, "but I cannot. I think the island will sink after a few moreshocks."
"Then what good will my--" began Barcoe Jenks, but he stopped inconfusion, and again his hand went to his belt with a queer gesture.