“It blew and thundered and lightened and rained without stopping,” said Titty, “and Roger and I were baling Swallow and Peggy was baling Amazon .”
“Then the rain stopped, and for days and days we had nothing to eat and nothing to drink,” said Nancy.
“In Swallow we were going to draw lots who was to be eaten first,” said Titty.
“We were coming to that when we sighted land,” said Nancy.
“We sighted land too, just in time,” said Roger.
“There were great breakers on the beach,” said Nancy.
“We only saw the land when there was a flash of lightning,” said Titty. “Palm trees waving like anything.”
“There was lightning all the time,” said Nancy. “We ran on between the breakers. Our boats were capsized and we clung to them. They were thrown far up the beach by the waves. We were battered but saved.”
“So was the parrot,” said Titty. “And now we shall be here for twenty years. Every day we shall watch for a passing ship.”
“But how have we got a tent?” said Roger.
“Luckily there was one in one of the boats,” said Nancy. “I say, Peggy, what about a round of chocolate? There’s still a lot left.”
At last it began to grow light outside. For some time the thunder had been lagging after the lightning. After a flash it was a long time before the rumbling of the thunder began far away. The wind dropped. The noise of the rain on the tent grew less and less and came to an end. The dawn