Lost at Sea

Contents

CAST OFF

THE STORM

LOST!

LAND HO!

THE HUNT FOR FOOD AND WATER

THE SACRIFICE

LIFE ON AN ISLAND

THE GREAT ESCAPE

TIMMY TAKES COMMAND

WATER PROBLEMS

RUN IN WITH THE NATIVES

A ROOF FOUND

QUICKSAND!

ALCHAD AND THE NATIVE BOYS

WINTER PREPARATIONS

TIMMY AND ALCHAD

THE STAMPEDE

GLENN’S WARNING

ICEBREAKER

RUSTY’S MUTINY

THE TRAGIC HUNT FOR A THIEF

RUSTY ASSUMES TOTAL COMMAND

THE ARROW INCIDENT

A DIFFERENT GROUP OF NATIVES

WAR OF THE TRIBES

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

KIDNAPPED

JOSH IN COMMAND

CAPTURED

ESCAPE

RESCUE 9:11

UNDER SEA BATTLE

JOSH AND JAKAR

DARWIN

ON THE RIVER, THROUGH THE RAPIDS, DOWN THE WATERFALL!

STRANDED

RESCUED

ARRIVAL IN HONOLULU

A DAY IN HAWAII

HOME AT LAST

HOMECOMING MEAL

FIRST NIGHT HOME

ADJUSTING

AFTERMATH

CAST OFF

Hey Brian, yelled Josh, a tall 13 year old white boy with brown hair, running to catch him. Brian turned around. My mom said that it’s okay for me to go as long as you have me home by 8:30 pm.

Don’t worry, said Brian. The trip takes about eight hours. Meet me at the beach at 8:00 tomorrow morning.

OK, said Josh. Who all’s going?

Brian thought for a moment. Timmy as first mate, Rusty, Glenn, Chris, Michael, Thomas, Jeff, and Darwin all agreed to go.

10 people, exclaimed Josh.

My dad’s boat can hold 15 people, replied Brian.

But aren’t Jeff and Darwin a little young? They’re only ten, said Josh.

Jeff’s very mature for his age, and you couldn’t pry Darwin away from an adventure like this! Besides, their parents said that they could go, said Brian, shrugging. He thought for a moment and then added, There were supposed to be two more, but Charles is out of town, and Dennis is sick.

Josh was saddened that Charles Andreas, his best friend, could not come along on the trip.

Well, it should still be a nice boating trip, said Josh.

Brian nodded in agreement.

No one knew what dangers would await the unfortunate adventurers.

When Josh arrived the next morning he saw the ship. It had four sails and one oar one each side. It had a lower deck in the middle and high decks on each end. On the top front deck was the steering wheel. Behind it was a padded swivel chair nailed to the floor.

My dad calls it the Drifter, said Brian. Brian’s dad had retired from the navy.

Brian had his captain’s hat and binoculars (which he called his spy glass). He lowered a plank and said, All aboard.

Josh was first with Darwin behind him. Brian went to the lower deck and opened a door. Inside was a large room underneath.

It’s a storage hold, said Brian. We can keep food and a bunch of other stuff in there. See those barrels? They hold water in case of an emergency. One barrel is full now. There’s also a large, fully stocked first aid kit.

Chris, called a voice.

Oh-no, groaned Michael.

It was Chris’s little brother, Freddy; the brattiest brat in town. His best friend, William was with him. William was known as the town wimp. Josh wasn’t sure why. He didn’t really know William. Both boys had snow-white blond hair; though Freddy’s hair was curly.

Take me with you, begged Freddy.

No! said Chris. Go home!

No! said Freddy.

Go home, commanded Chris. You and William go home!

I’ll play your keyboards, said Freddy.

Chris’s keyboards were his most prized possession. He definitely didn’t want his little brother around them. Chris looked at Brian who sighed.

Okay fine, said Chris, wearily.

Everyone groaned.

And William, too, said Freddy.

Does William’s mom know about this? asked Brian.

William, without a word, handed Brian a note from his mom that asked Brian for permission to have William accompany Freddy on the trip.

All right, said Brian, at last. But you both have to do exactly what I tell you to, and when I tell you to do it!

Josh sighed. He wasn’t looking forward to having Freddy along. Again, he didn’t know much about William.

How did your mom find out about the trip, anyway, Timmy asked William.

I told her, said Freddy, quite pleased with himself.

Josh sat on the floor of the Drifter as it moved into the Pacific Ocean. Brian, the oldest at 14 years old, was sitting in the command chair on the top front deck steering. Timmy and Rusty were rowing.

The wind’s picking up, called Darwin. Darwin a white boy with black hair and green eyes, was a super-hyperactive little guy and was by nature a happy-go lucky kid. He also had some of the sharpest ears in town.

All right, stop rowing, said Brian.

So the wind pushed the Drifter down the ocean bank.

At 12:00 noon the Drifter was right on schedule. The boys went to the lower deck to eat lunch. Everyone had packed their own lunch, and several of them had packed rather large lunches in case some of the kids became hungry later.

Put what we don’t eat back into the storage hold, said Brian.

Josh was hungry and enjoyed the meal. There was plenty left over, of course, so the kids put the leftovers into the storage hold.

The journey down the ocean bank was to go about 20 miles past the town limits. That’s where the town’s only river emptied into the Pacific Ocean. The Drifter would have to sail up the river to get back home. The only alternative was to try to go against the tide to go back the way that they had come, but that was unnecessary. The river was definitely the way to go.

Can you get us down the river? asked Jeff, a white boy with dark brown hair who was both mature and smart.

Sure, replied Brian. With the steering wheel, it’ll be no problem!

THE STORM

Approaching the river in ten minutes, called Brian.

It was 1:30 according to Josh’s waterproof watch.

We’re right on schedule, said Timmy.

Brian’s schedule said that they would come to the mouth of the river at around 1:45. The Drifter was right on schedule.

Isn’t it dark for 1:30 pm? asked Rusty, a tough 13 year old red-haired boy with normal size, but abnormal strength. He was smart, but he also had a bad temper.

He’s right, said Thomas, quietly. He was an 11 year old blond boy who had an infectious smile and a helpful attitude.

Everyone looked up. Indeed he was.

That looks like storm clouds, said Timmy, stating the obvious. Timmy, a 13 year old blond kid with questionable intelligence, usually did that, which didn’t help him shed his reputation.

We’d better turn around, said Michael, a 12 year old black kid with a bad temper who was Rusty’s best friend.

It’d take us longer to go against the wind, said Brian. At least on the river we’ll be moving with the current.

Then we might as well finish, concluded Chris. Chris was a 12 year old blond boy who was tall for his age. He was brave, but not as tough as he thought himself to be.

Brian nodded. Besides, turning around would make us run head on into the storm, he said.

Then the wind started to blow the Drifter faster. The waves got higher and stronger.

Get the sails down, yelled Jeff.

And hurry, added Thomas.

Glenn, Chris and Michael ran over to the sails, but before they could do anything Brian stopped them.

They don’t come down, said Brian, calmly.

Michael, however, went hysterical. They don’t come down! he yelled. What kind of boat is this, Brian?

Homemade, replied Darwin.

Brian didn’t answer.

Josh was scared. Suppose the Drifter ran aground and broke apart? They could all drown!

Can we land? asked Glenn, a 13 year old black kid who was small for his age, but was smart, brave, and tough.

The wind won’t let us without crashing the boat, said Brian, still calm. We’ll have to rough it.

There was a flash in the sky.

Lightning, cried Jeff.

I wanna go home, cried Freddy.

Shut up, yelled Chris, angrily.

KA-BOOM!

At the sound of the thunder, Jeff and Thomas hit the deck, Freddy started to wail, and William let out the loudest ear-piercing scream that drowned out everything for a moment. William was shaking terribly.

Josh’s fear rose. Suppose lightning struck the sails which were stuck up there? Suppose lightning struck the Drifter itself?

I wish I wasn’t such a pessimist, thought Josh.

A wave crashed into the Drifter rocking it and swaying it. Josh lost his balance. Wave after wave crashed into the boat, tumbling its passengers. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed.

Everyone down, ordered Brian.

Brian, you missed the river, cried Timmy, in a panic. You missed the turn!

Brian, fighting hard with the wheel, replied calmly, but sharply, I’m trying to get us there, but I don’t want to crash doing it! Let me handle that! You make sure that everyone’s down and safe!

Aye skipper, replied Timmy, chagrined.

I hear something, said Darwin, about ten seconds later. He turned around. Here comes a gigantic one! he yelled.

Josh turned around. Heading straight for them was a humongous wave! William drowned out the sound of the wave with his subsequent scream.

Quickly, everyone into the storage hold, shouted Brian, with authority.

Everyone quickly ran to the storage hold on the lower deck. Josh was one of the first ones in. Brian came in last.

About two seconds after Brian shut the door the wave struck the Drifter. The ship went into a spin. Josh was flying all over the place. People were screaming and crying. Josh’s last memory was of himself tumbling in a circle spinning up and down and around and around and upside down. He was screaming, but he wasn’t sure if any noise was coming out.

When Josh came to he was lying face down in the storage hold. It took a full minute for him to collect his thoughts. Josh looked around, but he didn’t see anyone. He went outside onto the deck. Everyone looked at him. They seemed worried.

It’s about time you woke up, said Jeff. You’ve been out for quite awhile.

Josh looked at him and asked, What’s wrong?

We’re dead meat, said