CHAPTER XVIII

THE NEW DECK HAND

Having said so much, Peter Slade seemed more inclined to talk, one reason being that he wanted to get at the bottom of the mystery which had brought Tad Sobber and his uncle to that part of the globe. Tad had hinted of great wealth, and of getting the best of the Rovers and some other people, but had not gone into any details.

Peter said he had come to Nassau to join his mother, who was stopping there for her health. His father was coming on later, and then the family was going across the ocean.

"I know there is something up between your crowd and the Merrick crowd," said the youth. "You are both after something, ain't you?"

"Yes," answered Tom.

"What?"

"I can't tell you that, Slade. It's something quite valuable, though."

"Well, I guess Sobber's uncle will get ahead of you."

"Perhaps so. What is the name of the tramp steamer he is looking for?"

"The _Josephine_."

"Was she to be here?"

"They hoped she would be."

"Were they going to hire her?" asked Sam.

"I suppose so."

"Then Merrick had money."

"Yes, he had some, and that Spaniard had some, too."

A little more conversation followed, and then the Rover boys asked Slade where he was going to stop, and said they might see him later.

"This is mighty interesting," remarked Tom, as he and his brother hurried to their hotel. "We must tell father of this without delay."

But Mr. Rover could not be found until that evening, when the party came back from the visit to the flower gardens. He listened with deep interest to what was said, and then went off on a hunt for Sid Merrick and the tramp steamer _Josephine_ without delay. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What brought Tad and his uncle?
2. What had Tad alluded to?
3. and?
4. Who was there for his mom?
5. Was his father there?
6. Was he going to be
7. Is Tom open with Slade about his intentions?
8. Who had money?
9. and?
10. Was Mr. Rover around at the time?
Answer: 1. A mystery
2. Great wealth
3. And of getting the best of the Rovers and some other people
4. Peter
5. No
6. Yes
7. No
8. Merrick
9. And Spaniard had some, too
10. No

Michelle Obama has just started a campaign against childhood obesity with the admission that she put her girls Malia and Sasha on a diet because they were getting fat. Clearly, childhood obesity must be solved urgently. But is it a good idea for mothers to put their daughters on diets? Studies show that the more children diet, the more likely they are to become obese as adults. Research also shows that girls are highly influenced by their mothers when it comes to eating habits and body image. This was the case for Carly, 40, who blames her mother for her lifelong struggle with weight. "My mother was on a diet the whole time I was growing up," she says. "And she put me on my first diet when I was 10. I lost puppy fat, gained her approval and never ate normally again." America's First Lady clearly has a vital healthy eating message to convey. But could this be damaging for Malia and Sasha? Could they develop eating disorders because of it? "It's wrong just to blame mothers for their daughters' eating disorders," says Susan Ringwood, chief executive of the eating disorders charity. "There is a genetic component to eating disorders." However, "We do know that parents have a very strong influence over a child's eating. It's important to realize that you are your daughter's role model. Girls idolize their mothers." says Ringwood. "No food should ever be 'good 'or' bad'," Ringwood says. Instead, "You have to make it clear that food is a sociable, healthy and fun part of life, not something to be feared." "Talk to her about body image," Ringwood says. "Talk about how curves are an important and exciting part of being a woman. Show her that anorexic ) fashion models are not sexy, but ill. The pressure on girls today is immense," she says. Never forget that you are the authoritative voice, too. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who are Michelle Obama's girls?
2. Were they getting heavy?
3. What do the studies show about diets
4. Who is susan ringwood?
5. Do girls idolize their mothers?
6. Is there a genetic component to eating disorders
7. Should food be" good or bad"?
8. Should food be feared?
9. What is the pressure on girls today?
10. How old is Carly?
11. Who does she blame?
12. Who has an eating message?
13. When did Carly go on her first diet?
14. What did she lose?
15. Is it wrong just to blame mothers?
Answer: 1. Malia and Sasha
2. yes
3. they show that the more children diet, the more likely they are to become obese
4. chief executive of the eating disorders charity
5. yes
6. yes
7. no
8. no
9. immense
10. 40
11. her mother
12. America's First Lady
13. when she was 10
14. puppy fat
15. yes

CHAPTER XXVIIBEHIND THE CURTAIN OF VINES

An hour went by and during that time Dave drew Phil to one side and related the particulars concerning the doings of Merwell and Jasniff, according to the story told by the former of the two evil-disposed youths.

"I think Link feels pretty sore," he continued. "So there won't be any use in rubbing it in."

"What do you intend to do with him, Dave?"

"I don't know yet. We'll talk it over later on. The thing to do now is to locate Jasniff and get the rest of the jewels. Don't forget that he has the finest of the diamonds. That is one thing that made Link soreJasniff taking the lion's share."

"Well, that was the way Jasniff always did, even at school. Now you've got back I'm willing to start the search for him any time you say," continued the shipowner's son.

"We'll wait a while and see if Roger and Captain Sanders return," answered our hero.

He was glad to rest, and threw himself on a bed of moss the sailors had collected. Merwell sat against a tree, tired out, but too much worried to sleep. Evidently he was trying to decide on what to do next and wondering how he was to get out of the awful situation in which he found himself.

Presently a shout was heard, and Roger burst into view, followed an instant later by Billy Dill.

"Hello, Dave!" cried the senator's son. "Got back, have you?" And then he stared at Merwell. "Oh, are you here, too?" What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What was Dave talking about to Phil?
2. What were thing going to get from Jasniff?
3. Who is it that feels pretty sore about the situation?
4. What is one of the reasons for this?
5. What was it the sailors collected that was rested on?
6. How burst into sight have a shout was heard?
7. who followed after that?
8. Which one is the shipowner's sone?
9. Who were they waiting for to see if they returned.
10. What did the senator's some say to dave?
11. Did he say anything else?
Answer:
1. doings of Merwell and Jasniff
2. jewels
3. Link does
4. Jasniff took more diamonds
5. a bed of moss
6. Roger burst into view
7. Billy Dill
8. I think Dave is.
9. Roger and Captain Sanders
10. Hello, Dave!
11. Got back, have you?