Read "The Lakewood Boys in the South Sea Islands" by L.P. Wyman online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Before many hours had passed Bob was to learn that the Pacific did not always live up to its name. When he awoke the following morning, shortly before seven o'clock, his first impression was that it was very hot, much hotter than when he had gone to bed the night before. For some moments he lay dozing, feeling too enervated to spring from the bed as was his custom on waking. Then came a loud rap on the door, and, at his invitation, it opened quickly and his uncle entered.
"Not up yet? " he asked.
"Not, but I will be in a jiffy," Bob replied as he swung his feet to the floor.
"What's the hurry? " came in sleepy tones from Jack's bunk on the other side of the little room.
"Looks as though we were running into a storm and you'd better get your breakfast before we strike," his uncle told them.
"Don't hear any wind," Jack said as he jumped up.
"There isn't a breath of air stirring."
"Then what makes you think it's going to blow? " Bob asked.
"That's the way they start down here. Better get a hustle on. Breakfast's all ready."
"We'll be there in two shakes of a dog's tail," Bob told him as he turned and left the cabin.
"Gee, but it's hot," Jack declared pulling on his trowsers.
"Hotter'n love in haying time," Bob agreed. "But I suppose we've got to expect that sort of thing down here. We're pretty near the equator you know."
As they emerged on deck three minutes later, a peculiar sensation struck both at the same instant. As their uncle had said, not a breath of air seemed stirring and the surface of the sea was like that of a mill pond, not so much as a ripple breaking its smoothness. The sun was half obscured by a thin haze, while, apparently rising from the ocean in the west, a low lying, dirty looking tank of clouds, caught their attention.
"Looks as though there might be some wind in them," Bob said pointing to the west.
"Wouldn't wonder," Jack agreed, just as Captain Ole came around a corner of the wheel house.
"Is it going to blow, Captain? " Bob asked.
"Yep, it's going to blow all right and mighty soon too. Had your breakfast?"
"Not yet."
"Then get it as soon as you can. This boat'll be standing on her tail before long, and no knowing how long it'll be before you get another square meal."
"He looks a bit worried," Jack said, as they hurried toward the mess cabin.