Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-02

sun, for the clouds were now dispensing,
and the weather taking up.
But what will you do?" said the queen.
"You are quite as wet as | am"
"Oh, shall easily find rig-out. I can
don some sailors toys while mine dry"
Rig-out,' 'togsr repeated Nab, with a
puzzled look. ''You speak in riddles, Mr..
Erie. l don't understand"
"Of course you don't. l am always for
getting that you are not familiar with
modern colloquial English. Imean clothes,
garments"
"Good. 'Rig-out' Is expressive, think.
will go and rig myself out in Marian's
! toys. You will go and rig yourself out in
some other body's toys; and if after that
you viii kindly find some grub l shall be
| extremely obliged, for l feel awfully peck
/ ish. Is that the correct thing?"
''YOu could not express yourself more
correctly, Queen Nab, if you had been fin
| ished' in a London boarding-school," l an
swered, with bow.
She responded to the compliment with a
gratif1ed smile, and went away with Mari
an, while l betook myself to another part
of the ship.
I had no difficulty in finding what I
wanted in the way of clothes, and in the
way of food l was fortunate enough to I'M
earth several tins of preserved meat and
preserved vegetables, tin of biscuits, as
well as some cheese and salt beef. There
was tea, too, and told Buttercup Che could
hardly crawl, poor fellow, but / thought it
would do him more good than going to
bed) to light the galley fire and set the ket-
tie on; and half an hour later the queen and
l were eating as only people who have fast
ed twenty-four hours can eat.
| When we had taken the edge off our APP
| petites we took to discussing our plans.
! Nab had only a vague idea of the distance
/ from Swamp Island to Fairhaven. There
are few roads in the remoter parts Of Fair
! Island, and no mile-stones. She thought
it was about three days journey. The
best way would be to go by sea. AS, how
ever, we had, unfortunately, no boat, that
was out of the question. But once on the
! mainland we should fall in with villages
and plantations, where we could obtain
! shelter and help. Nab, being OF opinion
! that the channel which divided the two
! islands was but few miles away, pro-
| posed to set out at once. To this l demur-
red. 1t was now the hottest time of the
! day. We were all very tired; we neither
! knew exactly how far it was to the chan
mel, nor how far we should have to go on
the other side before reaching a settlement.
"Better stay all night where we are,'' I
! said, land start at sunrise in the morning;
| the more especially as the channel being
no doubt a tidal one, we may have to wait
some time before we are able to cross"
You are quite right. Let it be as you
say. We shall be all the better for a good
nights rest. At the same time, am very
anxious to get back to Fairhaven as soon
| as possible. They are sure to think L am
dead, and in that case there may be bad
] work"
''Bad work."
eyes, bad work-trouble. Amyas Fame
! is my natural successor, and in the ordin-
airy course of things should become pro-
tector in my stead. But the Council of
| Nine have right of veto, and they may
reject him in favor of my second cousin,
! Oliver Fame"
Il know him-he was among the shark
! fighters-a very fine young fellow. Still,
| don't quite understand why they should
! prefer him to the other"
HE is better liked than the other, and
/ think he is better man. | like Amyas,
he has many good qualities; but. to tell the
truth he does not inspire me with implicit
commence. tie Is alnDlJlOuS anu master
full, and, fear, not always sincere"
''I see You think that if the Council
preferred Oliver, Amyas would refuse to
accept their decision.''
81 think it is very likely"
"And then?'
''There might be trouble, confusion,
strife, perhaps blood-shed, all which my
return would of course prevent. While we
| were afioat did not think about it. My
mind was too full of other things; it never
| occurred to me that we should be cast
away so far from home, and in circum-
| stances which would make it appear that
we had persisted. But now I see clearly
that the consequences may be very serious.
Amyas has friends, and Oliver has friends.
and both are brave and impetuous. Yes,
| Mr. Erie, | am very anxious to get back"
| 81 can well believe it, end we must get
back with all possible speed. Butwe shall
gain rather than lose by delaying our de-
| parture until tomorrow morning. And
are you not taking the matter rather too
| seriously? We shall be back in two or
three days-at the outside in four-and In
that time no great harm can be done.
They will surely seek for us; because the
Diana has disappeared, it does not follow
that we are all drowned, and Amyas could
not decently-"
Here pulled up short, for a startling
suspicion had flashed suddenly into my
| mind, an idea to which I hesitated to give
utterance.
SWELL" said Nab, "what were you go
| ing to say?"
Nothing particular Only that 1 was
sure Amyas would not take any steps
would not attempt to assume the protec-
! torate till he had assured himself that
! you were not living"
''That is not what you were going to
! sayr' she exclaimed, imperiously. 'Ten
me at once; l insist on knowingP'
you cannot make man tell you his
| thoughts, Queen Nab" answered, quiet
/ ~. Suppose l admit that you are right,
/ that was going to say something else,
how are you to know that l am telling you
my real thoughts, after all? I may tell
! you something else"
But you will tell me your real thoughts,
| Mr.. Erle' You have right to be offend
/ ed. was too absolute; insisted when I
/ ought to have besought. Tell me frankly
! what was in your mind. You may be sure
| / shall not abuse your confidence, and IL
will give you mine"
| She spoke softly, almost caressingly; and
! when Nab lowered her voice, it was sin
! gularly sweet and musical. l had already
/ half resolved to "speak OUT" and even if
l had not, it would hardly have been pos
! sibIe to refuse request so graciously
made.
well, my thought was this-it came
! uubidden-take it for what it is worth;