Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14
The

"a LN o. Il don't any custom house or
~ - cabs hotel runners" she
claimed Then she looked the
0k9 side. "How in the world go
ing to get down? I'm just aching to
stand that sand and walk in among the trees! It's
the most wonderful thing that ever happened"
Before going down, I'm going up said Barrston,
and he looked up the top of the foremost in front of
them IL believe all over the island from there
Perhaps / hotel golf links or something.
He took off his white flannel coat sprang down to the
deck, and climbed carefully up the rigging.
"Be CAREFUL" she cautioned.
He made his to the crOWSneSt, then partly up
the topmast, scanned the view in all directions, slid
back the crowsnes drew out pocket knife, cut the
sail free and let it slide down to the deck and then de-
scended
Its bully little island he reported, "about FIVE
miles long, two three miles WIDE several hills, all
heavily forested nice beach all around andhe season
hasn't opened yet there's not sign OF human crea-
ture. We're Robinson Crusoes and Swiss Family Rob-
insons all right and if find those two literary
gems in the ships library shall know just what to
do" Then he continued seriously, looking his
companion frankly the eyes, :" want to tell you just
how feel about the whole situation. don't know how
it has happened that you and find ourselves alone
an ocean steamship which is buried safely in thick
forest in the center of the South Pacific Ocean 1t
stuns try to think about it; SO am not going to-
Here and want you to feel that you are per-
fectly safe. am going to be father and mother and
brother and Aunt Jane and Cousin Henry and the whole
family to you and take just as good care OF you as
whole bunch of relatives could. We have tine little
ship lots of food and clothes and comforts we are snug
ly harbored where storms elephants or tigers or
grasshoppers cant reach there aren't any savages
and the climate is delightful Come, he said smiling
and holding out his hand, "are you game!"
She looked trustngly up at him and put her hand IN
his Thank you,' she said simply i think am
game"
Then they descended to the deck together
All ashore that's going ashore he sang out cheerlly
RUT how?n she asked, looking the rail- down the
= smooth metal side of the ship to the narrow water
way.
q haven't the fantest idea; but I'll find out. Wait
e. r>1no
way"
He descended to the lower deck, found the doors in
the side through which the gangway was thrust and
after fumbing the bolts got the doors OPEN lhen
noticing that of the smaller eboats swung from its
davits just above it, he returned to the upper deck
and made minute study of the ropes that held it. Then
he loosened them at end and lowered the boat till
it tilted about fortyhve degrees, then fastened them
then lowered the other end of the boat corespondng
then lowered it by the first rope, and 50 on and zig
Jagged it downward till it lay alongside IN the water
Then he descended to the lower deck dropped into the
boat, took off the canvas covering and found oars
anchors life preservers and the usual emergency equip
ent slowed snugly away He then loosened OF the
ropes holding it to the davts and the stream lmned1
datey and obgingly swung the bow out from the ship
and stranded it at the edge OF the stream barrston
stepped ashore with the painter and secured 1t there
Miss Forrest watching him above clapped her hands
Gould Mr. Swiss Robinson have done better?" he
asked gaily
"Bravo!h she cried "Are you ready for now"
"Wait moment" he answered, and scrambled
aboard again. to his cabin and returned with two
repeating rifles, two revovers and two belts with mol
sters.
Il always believe in dressing the part" he explained
at would be horribly bad form to explore unlnhablt
ed island without lot of guns and things Can you
gum"
yes indeed! considered quite shot on fathers
ranch in California she replied strapping on one OF
the belts and thrusng the revolver into the holster
He tossed the rifles his shoulder, and thus together
they stepped out from the ship upon the sand They
first looked out the ocean, then at the ship only
the of which reached to the harbor water then
turned and walked up the bank OF the stream beneath