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diff --git a/old/69570-0.txt b/old/69570-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index cc46001..0000000 --- a/old/69570-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2909 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Friends and cousins, by Abbie Farwell -Brown - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Friends and cousins - -Author: Abbie Farwell Brown - -Illustrator: Ethel C. Brown - -Release Date: December 18, 2022 [eBook #69570] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David E. Brown and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS AND COUSINS *** - - - - - -By Abbie Farwell Brown - - FRIENDS AND COUSINS. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.00. - - BROTHERS AND SISTERS. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.00. - - THE STAR JEWELS AND OTHER WONDERS. Illustrated. Square 12mo, $1.00. - - THE FLOWER PRINCESS. Illustrated. Sq. 12mo, $1.00. - - THE CURIOUS BOOK OF BIRDS. Illustrated. Square 12mo, $1.10, _net_. - Postpaid, $1.21. - - A POCKETFUL OF POSIES. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.00, _net_. Postpaid, - $1.09. - - IN THE DAYS OF GIANTS. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.10, _net_. Postpaid, - $1.21. _School edition_, 50 cents, _net_, postpaid. - - THE BOOK OF SAINTS AND FRIENDLY BEASTS. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.25. - _School Edition_, 50 cents, _net_, postpaid. - - THE LONESOMEST DOLL. Illustrated. Sq. 12mo, 85 cents, _net_. Postpaid, - 95 cents. - - HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - - - - -FRIENDS AND COUSINS - - - - -[Illustration: TOM BECOMES AN OUTLAW] - - - - - FRIENDS AND - COUSINS - - BY - ABBIE FARWELL BROWN - - ILLUSTRATED BY - ETHEL C. BROWN - - [Illustration] - - - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY - The Riverside Press, Cambridge - 1907 - - - - - COPYRIGHT 1907 BY ABBIE FARWELL BROWN - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - _Published September 1907_ - - - - -CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER PAGE - - I. The Wigwam 1 - - II. Indians 10 - - III. The Ants’ Fire-Escape 18 - - IV. Beech House 27 - - V. Mutiny 36 - - VI. The Pirate Cave 47 - - VII. The Pirate Hoard 62 - - VIII. Treasure Trove 72 - - IX. The Box of Candy 83 - - X. The Outlaw 91 - - XI. Gull Rock 99 - - XII. The Rescue 109 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - Tom becomes an Outlaw _Frontispiece_ (_page 94_) - - Kenneth and Rose see a Strange Face in the Wigwam 10 - - The Little Prouts came to make their First Call 28 - - The Pirates attack the Picnic Party 50 - - Tom, Charlie, and Kenneth dig for the Treasure 78 - - Rose and Sue cross upon the Slippery Stones 100 - - - - -FRIENDS AND COUSINS - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE WIGWAM - - -When, after a long winter in the city, Kenneth and Rose came back to -the Island which was their summer home, they were eager to see all -their favorite places. - -On the very first morning they both wanted to visit the bathing beach -and the Indian forest, the chasm and the pirate cave. They wanted to -know what new wonders had sprouted in the garden of live flowers, and -how much their little oak tree had grown. They wanted to see if there -were any deer tracks down by the spring, and if there was still a -wasp’s nest in a certain spot under the stone wall. Besides, there was -the beech tree, where Rose had her summer-house; and the theatre among -the rocks, where they used to speak pieces; and the post office in the -hollow pine,--and a hundred other places which they loved. It was very -hard to choose. But finally they decided that most they wanted to see -the wigwam in the forest. - -They had discovered the wigwam in the forest by accident one day last -summer, and they had seen it only that once; for the very next day -they went back to the city. What a pity they had not found it sooner! -Kenneth and Rose could hardly wait for summer to come so that they -could visit it again; it was such a lovely place in which to play -Indian hunter. - -This first morning was not a very good one for a walk in the woods. It -was gray and misty, threatening rain before night. But the children -were not going to postpone their plans on that account. Kenneth put on -his Indian suit, and took his bow and arrows. Rose wore her moccasins -and wampum belt. Kenneth was sure that he remembered the way to the -wigwam, although it was a long distance and he had gone but once. - -The forest came close to the back door of Sweetbrier Cottage, and the -children entered it by the same path up which the little Prouts came -every day to bring the milk. Presently they came to another path, -which branched to the right. This one was very narrow and indistinct, -difficult to follow even in bright sunlight, but Kenneth remembered it -well. - -Soon they were in the midst of the dim, gray-green forest. The trees -were so thick that there was little sunshine here, even on a pleasant -day. They trotted happily along, their feet crunching the dry twigs -and springing on the elastic moss. How good it seemed to feel the pine -needles under foot, instead of brick sidewalks and asphalt! - -The path grew fainter and fainter. It wavered and branched and strayed -off in every direction, as if it were not quite sure which way to go. -But Kenneth seemed to know where to turn, just as Indian hunters always -do. Rose thought him wonderful. She did not remember anything at all -except the greenness of the moss and ferns and the brownness of the -tree-trunks. On they went, farther and farther. - -“I think we are almost there now,” said Kenneth at last. “I remember -that old dead pine, don’t you, Rose?” - -“No,” said Rose honestly. “I don’t remember. But I do think we must be -almost there. It seems a long, long way.” - -But when they came into the open space beyond the pine tree, there was -no wigwam waiting them. Kenneth looked surprised. - -“Well, it must be just a little farther,” he said. And they trudged on. -It was growing darker and darker in the forest. A gray veil seemed to -be drawing around them, hiding the way. Rose shivered. - -“I wish I had worn my coat,” she said. “I think it is going to rain, -Kenneth. Don’t you think we had better go home?” - -“No, indeed!” cried Kenneth. “We are almost there now. Yes,--I remember -that oak tree with the big rock beside it. I am _sure_ we are there -now;” and he brushed eagerly through the bushes. - -But when they passed the oak tree, there was no wigwam. Rose shook her -curls uneasily. “I want to go home,” she said. “It isn’t nice in the -forest when there is no sunshine. The trees are full of gray smoke. I -wish we had waited for a sunny day.” - -“It isn’t smoke, it is fog,” said Kenneth. “I am sure that this _was_ -the place, but the wigwam is gone. Somebody must have pulled it down. -Perhaps the Indians themselves came back.” - -Rose looked over her shoulder anxiously. “Let’s go home,” she said. - -“Well, perhaps we had better,” agreed Kenneth. He remembered that -sometimes the Island fogs grew so thick that even the fishermen were -afraid of losing their way. - -They turned about and started towards the little thin path which they -had left a few minutes earlier. But where had the path gone? They could -not find it anywhere. The fog was creeping around them so that they -could see scarcely ten feet ahead. Kenneth took Rose by the hand, and -together they stumbled on over the moss and dead branches. But still -they found no path. Every few minutes they would stop and look about, -and then, fearing that they were going wrong, would start in another -direction. The fog grew thicker, and they could hardly see one another. -Kenneth’s cap was dewed with heavy drops, and Rose’s curls looked -almost as though she had been in bathing. - -She squeezed Kenneth’s hand tightly. “Are we lost, Kenneth?” she asked, -in a brave voice. - -“No, we aren’t lost,” he answered. “We know where we are,--right in the -middle of the forest. But I can’t remember the way home. Let us shout. -Perhaps some one will hear us and show us the way.” - -They shouted as loudly as they could,--“Hello! Hello! Hello-o-o!” again -and again; but nobody answered. There was not a sound in the forest; -only cold, damp, gray fog came sifting silently everywhere. - -“I wish we hadn’t come,” said Rose. “Shall we get home before night? I -shouldn’t like to sleep in the forest. There might be snakes.” - -Suddenly they ran into something like a wooden fence. “Hurrah!” cried -Kenneth. “Look, Rose, here is the wigwam now. I told you we were near -it all the time.” - -Kenneth was right. There they stood in the very door of the wigwam, -which had been hidden by the fog. - -They gave a shout of joy and went inside. Yes, there it stood, just as -they had left it a year ago. There was the piny roof, the pile of brush -for a sofa; the little heap of stones which had been their play stove; -the cupboard made of a hollow log. - -“Somebody has been in our house,” said Kenneth, like the Great Big Bear -in the story. “Here are some pieces of broken crockery.” - -“Somebody has been sitting on our sofa,” cried Rose, like the -Middle-sized Bear, “and she has left her shawl. See!”--she held up a -plaid shawl. “It is nice and warm. I am going to put it on.” - -“It is an Indian blanket,” said Kenneth. “And look! Somebody has been -into our cupboard and has left something to eat!” he cried, like the -Little Wee Bear. He held up a pail full of blueberries, big and ripe -and luscious. “Rose, it must be the Indians!” - -Both the children glanced at the door and shivered. Never had the -Indians seemed so near. It was very creepy here alone in the forest. -The fog might be hiding all sorts of dangers which they could not see. - -But soon Rose took courage. “I don’t believe it was Indians,” she said. -“Indians don’t leave things all ready for lost children. It must be the -fairies. I _knew_ there were fairies in this forest. I have told you -so, Kenneth, ever so many times. I am hungry and I am going to eat the -berries. If the fairies left them it will be perfectly safe.” - -“Pooh!” said Kenneth, who did not believe in fairies. But he decided -to help eat the berries. The two sat down on the pine-bough sofa and -began to dip out handful after handful. And the luncheon tasted so good -that they spoke hardly a word for five minutes. The wigwam was as quiet -as before they had come. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -INDIANS - - -Suddenly, outside the wigwam, a twig snapped. There was,--yes, there -certainly was a rustle in the bushes. Steps were creeping towards the -wigwam. It sounded like an Indian. Kenneth grabbed his bow and arrows. -Rose kept very still, but her fingers trembled. They both sat staring -at the door of the wigwam. - -Stealthily a face came peering around the side of the door--a dark, -reddish-brown face, with bright eyes. Then another face appeared; then -another. It seemed as if the fog were full of eager faces and shiny, -black eyes. - -“It is the Indians!” said Kenneth to himself. “At last they have really -come!” He lifted his bow and pointed the arrow at the face of the -tallest Indian. But just as he was about to let the arrow fly, the -head in the doorway moved and a voice cried,-- - -[Illustration: KENNETH AND ROSE SEE A STRANGE FACE IN THE WIGWAM] - -“Don’t shoot! I am a friend.” - -Kenneth’s arm dropped with surprise, and as it did so a figure stole -into the tent. Behind it, out of the fog, crept five other figures in -Indian file, each shorter than the one before it. They were none of -them big or terrible. The tallest was about Kenneth’s own height, and -the smallest was hardly more than a baby. Three of them were boys and -three were girls, and the little ones kept behind the others as if they -were afraid. - -“Ho!” said Kenneth. “I thought at first you were Indians!” and he began -to laugh. - -The biggest boy laughed, too. “No, we aren’t Indians,” he said shyly. -“We are Captain Prout’s children from the Cove. I am Tom and this is -Mary. That one with the freckles is Susan, and the three little ones -are Bill and Bob and Jane.” - -“The little Prouts!” exclaimed Rose; and they all looked at one another -curiously. Although Kenneth and Rose had been coming to the Island for -years, this was the first time that they had stood face to face with -their little neighbors who brought the milk every morning. The Prout -children had always been very shy. After they had stared for some time, -Kenneth remembered to be polite. - -“How do you do?” he said. “I am Kenneth Thornton, and this is my sister -Rose.” - -“Oh, we know who you are,” said Mary Prout, “and we knew you came -yesterday. We heard you yell for help just now, and we guessed where -we’d find you. We were right close by. We were coming back to get the -berries that Sue left here,”--she stopped abruptly, seeing the empty -pail which Rose was holding. - -“Oh, I am so sorry!” said Rose. “We have eaten all your lovely berries; -but we thought the fairies had brought them to us.” Then they all -laughed and felt better acquainted. “I suppose this is your shawl, -too?” asked Rose, pulling it off. - -“Yes,” said Mary, “but you are very welcome to it and the berries, too. -I am so glad we left them here!” - -“But how did you know about our wigwam?” said Kenneth. - -The little Prouts looked at one another and laughed. “Why, you see,” -said Tom, “we thought it was _our_ wigwam. We built it, you know”-- - -“_You_ built it!” interrupted Kenneth and Rose together. - -“We thought it was the Indians,” explained Kenneth. - -“What clever children you are!” said Rose admiringly. - -The little Prouts looked pleased and proud. The three smallest ones -stole out from behind Tom and Mary and Sue, and stood in a half circle -around Kenneth and Rose. - -“Then we had no right to come here at all,” said Kenneth, much -mortified. “We were very rude to walk into your house and eat up your -berries and wear your shawl. But we did not know. Come, Rose;” and he -started for the door. - -“Oh, _please_ don’t go!” begged Tom and Mary together. And Susan and -Bill and Bob and Jane said, “_Please_ don’t go!” - -“Won’t you stay and play Indian hunter, the way you did that day last -year?” said Tom eagerly. - -“Why, how did you know about that?” asked Kenneth, in surprise. “You -were not here.” - -“Yes, we were,” nodded Mary. “We were right over there behind the big -rock. We watched you all the time.” - -“Why didn’t you come and play with us?” said Rose. “It would have been -so much nicer with eight of us, instead of two.” - -The faces of the little Prouts lighted up joyously. “Oh, would you play -with us?” said Tommy. - -“We didn’t dare, then,” said Mary shyly. “But now it’s different.” - -Susan drew close to Rose and touched her hand gently. “We know about -‘Brothers and Sisters’ now,” she said. “You told in the letter when -you sent us the box of lovely Christmas things that we were all like -brothers and sisters together, because we had one Father. So we aren’t -going to be afraid of you any more. You were so kind to us!” - -“Oh, that’s all right,” said Kenneth awkwardly, for he hated to be -thanked. “We didn’t do anything. But it will be fine to have a big band -of Indians and Pirates. Shall we play Indian now?” - -“Yes!” they all cried, dancing up and down like real little Indians. -And so they played together. Tommy was the Indian chief, and Rose, -Bill, and little Jane were in his band. Kenneth was Hawkeye, the famous -Indian hunter, with Mary for his trusty guide, and Susan and Bob were -his scouts. - -All that morning the foggy forest rang with the sound of war whoops -and the shouts of victorious hunters, as the fights raged about the -wigwam. It was great fun. The Indian chief knew the woods so well -that he could find his way everywhere, even in the thick fog. Hawkeye -would have had a hard time trying to find him but for the service of -his brave scouts. As it was, they had some narrow escapes from being -scalped. But they finally captured Jane-Little-Injun as their prisoner. - -By this time they knew, because of their hungriness, that it must be -noon. So they called a parley with the Indians, and smoked a peace -pipe--Susan found one growing in the forest. - -“I suppose we must go home,” said Kenneth, with a sigh. Then his face -fell. The fog was thicker than ever, and he knew that he could never -find his way home. He hated to confess it to the Indian chief. But -Tommy Prout was a thoughtful Indian. - -“We have smoked the peace pipe,” he said. “Now we Indians will go with -Hawkeye and his braves and show you the quick trail home.” - -And back through the fog they went in Indian file, talking and -laughing and telling one another about things which were so different -in the city and on the Island; for the little Prouts were full of eager -questions about the city, which they had never seen, while Kenneth -and Rose were just as anxious to know what the Island was like in the -winter. - -When they reached the broad path by the back door, Tommy and the other -Prout children said good-by, and started back to the Cove, because it -was late, and their father and mother did not know where they were. - -“Good-by,” said Kenneth and Rose. - -“Don’t forget to come to-morrow to play with us again,” added Kenneth. - -“Be sure and bring your dolls,” said Rose to the little girls. “And -they shall all play with my Alice under the beech tree.” - -You can imagine whether or not the little Prouts promised to come. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE ANTS’ FIRE-ESCAPE - - -It was not quite bedtime; for they had tea early at the Island, so that -after the fire was lighted in the big chimney the children might have a -little hour with the grown-ups for a game or a story, or for whatever -pleasant thing might happen. - -Kenneth and Rose ran to get their fat cushions, and put them down in -the two corners of the hearth. Kenneth’s cushion was red, and he always -sat on the right hand of the fireplace. Rose’s cushion was blue, and -she sat on the left. - -Papa began to poke the fire to make it burn more brightly, for it was -not so big and bustling a blaze as usual. - -“Somebody forgot to fill the wood-box,” he said. “We need a nice crisp -birch log to make the fire crackle. Who wants to run out to the -wood-pile and bring one in?” - -“I do!” cried Kenneth, jumping up eagerly. - -“Oh, I do!” cried Rose, jumping up too. - -“Well, you may both go,” said Papa. “And between you I think you can -bring in a good big one. But mind not to trip over it.” - -Out they ran to the wood-pile, which was close behind the house on the -edge of the forest, where Rose suspected that the fairies lived, and -where Kenneth was sure that there were Indians. But neither Kenneth nor -Rose was afraid. They were very brave children, especially by daylight. - -“Here is a nice little log,” said Rose. - -“Oh, that isn’t half big enough,” cried Kenneth scornfully. “Let’s -carry this one, Rose. This is something like;” and he seized one of the -very largest logs in the wood-pile. - -“All right,” said Rose; and she bravely stretched her little arms -around the other end. They tugged and they tugged, and they grunted -and grunted, and they pulled and pulled; and finally, after pushing -and hauling and rolling and shoving it, they got the log up on to the -piazza, where it fell with a _bang!_ Out came their father and mother -to see what all the noise meant. - -“Mercy!” cried their mother. “How could you two children bring in such -an enormous log as that? Aren’t your poor little backs broken?” - -“I’m not so very small. I’m ten,” said Kenneth, drawing himself up. - -“And I am seven,” said Rose proudly. - -“Of course,” said their father; “it is good exercise for them, Mama, -and will make them big and strong. Don’t you remember the story about -the poor little girl who learned to carry a cow upstairs, and so the -Prince married her?” - -“Oh, how did she learn?” cried Rose eagerly. “Could I do it?” - -“Why, you see, she carried the little calf upstairs every day--every -day of its life. Of course it was growing all the time, so that before -she knew it, the calf had become a big cow, and the little girl was -carrying the cow upstairs as easily as you please. Then the Prince came -along and married her.” - -“That sounds like one of Aunt Clare’s stories,” said Rose. - -“What did he want to marry her for?” asked Kenneth. “Princes’ wives -don’t need to carry cows, do they?” - -“Well, I forget the rest of the story,” said Papa. “But there was a -reason; a very good reason indeed, if I could only remember it. There -always is a reason for things in fairy stories, isn’t there, Rosie?” - -“Yes, indeed!” said Rose. But Kenneth sniffed. - -Papa seized the big log in both arms as easily as the Princess did the -cow, carried it in and threw it on the fire, which spouted up with -a burst of sparks, like a fiery fountain. The bark began to crackle -deliciously. Rose and Kenneth cuddled down on their cushions, one on -each side of the fire, and watched the little tongues of flame lick the -old log greedily. They loved the fire. Usually it made somebody think -of a story. - -Suddenly Rose cried out “Oh!” so loudly that even Kenneth jumped. Rose -was pointing into the fire, and her forehead was puckered with distress. - -“Why, what is it, Rose?” asked her mother. - -“Oh, oh!” cried Rose again. “Oh, the poor little ants! Do look!” - -Sure enough! the old log must have been an ants’ house. The poor little -things were creeping out of the holes in it and scurrying wildly about -in every direction, seeking a way of escape from their dwelling, which -was growing hotter and hotter every minute. - -The foremost of them tried to climb down the andirons. But these were -too hot, and soon they went scurrying back again. They grew wilder and -wilder, wandering about crazily as if they did not know what to do. -Their home was surrounded by flame on every side. Some of them tried -to jump down. But Rose shuddered to see the poor things fall into the -fire or upon the hot hearth and shrivel up into sad little cinders. It -was too dreadful! - -“Oh, Mama and Papa, what shall we do?” she cried. “I cannot bear to see -them. It is just like a house full of people being burned, with nobody -to help. Kenneth, can’t we do something?” - -“Ding-dong! Call out the fire-engine!” roared Kenneth, jumping up and -galloping to the kitchen for a pail of water. Kenneth was always ready -for a new game. - -“Water will do no good. You cannot put out the fire without drowning -them,” called Kenneth’s father. “I am afraid the poor ants are doomed, -Rosie. It is like a crowded tenement house, isn’t it?” he said to -Mama. “The poor little creatures crowd together like people in the -upper-story windows, hoping for a ladder.” - -“That is what they need--a fire-escape,” cried Rose. “Oh, I must make a -fire-escape quickly!” - -She ran to the wood-box and seized a long, flat piece of wood. This -she took for her fire-escape, resting one end on the rug in front of -the hearth, and the other on top of the log which had now caught fire -and was blazing briskly. It made a nice little bridge from the burning -wood above the hot hearthstone. Almost immediately an ant spied the -fire-escape and started across it eagerly. Another followed him; then -another and another, until a constant procession was filing down the -bridge toward safety. - -“Hurrah!” cried Rose, as the first ant reached the rug; but she stopped -suddenly. “Look at him!” she cried. “He is going _back_!” - -Sure enough, back he was going,--back to the burning log. And all the -other ants were doing the same thing. One after another they returned -up the fire-escape, stopping to wave their feelers and make signs to -all the ants whom they met coming down. They must have told these last -something to make them change their minds; for every single one turned -about as soon as he was told. Presently it was plain what they meant. -The ants were coming out in crowds, and each was carrying something -white in its mouth. - -“The ant babies! They are trying to save the ant babies!” cried Rose. -And that is exactly what they were doing. Eagerly the children watched -the crowds running down the fire-escape with their precious burdens. -Faster and faster they came, and the hearthrug was black with them when -Papa took it up gently and carried it out to shake it over the piazza -railing. How glad the poor little ants must have been to feel the cool -grass under their feet! - -They were all saved at last, and it was high time, for the log was now -one mass of flame. - -“I think you should have a fireman’s medal for life-saving, Rose,” said -her mother. - -“Oh, _I_ ought not to have a medal,” said Rose modestly. “I only built -the fire-escape. But every one of those brave ants who came back into -the fire and saved the babies ought to have one.” - -“Yes, we should call them Heroes if they had been men,” said Papa. - -“They would rather have something sweet than a medal,” said Kenneth, -who knew a great deal about sweet things. - -“Sure enough!” cried Rose, clapping her hands. “Mama, may I scatter -some sugar out there in the grass where Papa shook the ants?” - -Her mother said that she might. So I dare say the rescued ants had a -jolly banquet that night to celebrate their wonderful escape. But I -suppose that the ant babies were too little to share in it. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -BEECH HOUSE - - -Bright and early the next morning a small procession came up the path -to Sweetbrier Cottage. It was the little Prouts, making their first -real visit to the Thornton children. Tom and Mary led the way. It was -the second time they had come that morning. Once, before daylight, they -had traveled over the same path to bring the milk for Kenneth’s and -Rose’s breakfast. But they did not mind an extra walk of a mile or two. -Behind Mary and Tom came Susan, holding little Jane by the hand, and -after them trotted Bill and Bob. The three girls carried each a doll, -dressed in her prettiest clothes. - -It was a great event for the little Prouts. They were rather frightened -when they found the piazza empty and no one anywhere to be seen. They -had hoped that Kenneth and Rose would be outside waiting for them. That -would have made them a little less bashful. They did not know what to -do next, so they gathered in a bunch and began to whisper. - -“You must knock on the door, Tom,” said Mary. - -“No, _you_ do it,” said Tom, hanging back. - -“Let’s all go together, then,” whispered Mary, looking timidly at the -front steps; for she remembered how once she had been frightened at -this same place by the ringing of a terrible bell. So all the little -Prouts took hold of hands and advanced in a crowd. But just as they -were going to mount the steps the door swung open, and out came Mrs. -Thornton with the baby in her arms. From the window she had seen the -little Prouts coming. She smiled at them kindly and said,-- - -“Good-morning, little neighbors. I am very glad to see you. I suppose -you are looking for Kenneth and Rose, aren’t you? Well, they are -expecting you, and they are waiting down under the beech tree. Come, -and I will show you the way.” - -[Illustration: THE LITTLE PROUTS COME TO MAKE THEIR FIRST CALL] - -They followed Mrs. Thornton down the green slope, around big rocks and -under the pine trees on top of the cliff, until they came to a huge -beech tree, the only one on the Island. - -“This is the place,” said Mrs. Thornton. The little Prouts could dimly -see somebody moving about beyond the green wall of leaves. But no one -came to meet them. “We must let them know that we are here,” explained -Mrs. Thornton, and she pulled down a branch of the beech tree which was -in front of her. On the end dangled a tin horn. - -“This is the way visitors do when they come to Beech House,” she said. -Then she blew a long blast on the horn. “Now a little one for the -baby,” she added, blowing again, very softly. “There, Tommy, now it is -your turn. You must each blow, so that they may know how many guests to -expect.” - -Tommy blew the horn so loudly that Mrs. Thornton jumped. Then Mary -blew, then Susan, and Bill, and Bob. Last of all, little Jane blew. But -she scarcely made any sound at all. - -When the echo of all these blowings had died away, Kenneth and Rose -lifted up the branch and looked out. - -“Welcome, eight strangers!” said Kenneth, bowing very low. - -“Welcome to Beech House,” said Rose, making a neat courtesy. Then they -led their visitors in,--all but Mrs. Thornton and the baby, who said -they must go back to the house. - -The little Prouts followed Kenneth and Rose into Beech House, and a -fine house it was! The great beech tree arched over like an enormous -umbrella. On every side the branches came down close to the ground, so -that the children were shut in by green walls, like a tent. This was -Rose’s summer-house, where her dolls lived. Kenneth often played here, -too. - -The little Prouts stared around them with grins of delight. Beech House -was all ready for a party. In the centre of the room stood a little -table, spread with a cloth and set with dishes for eight people. About -it were several little chairs. Over in the corner was another table, -even tinier, and set with still smaller dishes. At the head of this -table sat Alice, Rose’s best doll, and beside her was Matilda, with the -broken nose, whom Rose loved almost as dearly as she loved Alice. - -“We thought we would have a party,” said Kenneth, “because this is the -first time you ever came to see us.” - -“And, of course, the dolls had to have another party to welcome your -dolls,” added Rose. “Come, Alice, and greet your little new friends.” - -Rose brought Alice forward, and she shook hands with the three dolls -which Mary, Susan, and little Jane had brought. Now these were the -very same dolls which Rose had sent to the little Prouts in the -Christmas box, before she had ever spoken a word to Mary or Susan or -Jane. So Rose was really better acquainted with the dolls, and with -their dresses which she had made, than she was with the Prout girls -themselves. - -“How do you do? How do you do? How do you do?” said Alice three times -(in Rose’s voice). “Come and sit down at the table near my dear sister -Matilda, who has only one leg, so that she cannot rise to greet you -very conveniently.” - -Then the Teddy Bear was introduced. Rose loved him too, but in a -different way. He wore a red sweater and a tam-o’-shanter cap. He shook -hands with the Prout dolls very politely, and squeaked “How!” like an -Indian. The little Prouts had never before seen a Teddy Bear, and at -first they were afraid of him, because they thought he was alive. Rose -put Teddy at the foot of the table, as he was the only boy in the party. - -When Teddy and the five dolls were seated at their table, Rose and the -other little girls went back to where Kenneth was showing the boys his -camera and his tool-chest. - -“Let’s play Desert Island,” said Kenneth. “That is our favorite game. -I am Robinson Crusoe and Rose is my Man Friday. Let’s play you are the -Swiss Family Robinson, come to have dinner with us. One, two, three, -four, five, six,--yes, you are just the right number! You can be Mr. -and Mrs. Robinson and their four sons. Isn’t that splendid, Rose?” - -“Splendid!” echoed Rose, clapping her hands. “Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, -will you and your children please be seated?” - -There were only four chairs, and these were rather small ones. So -Kenneth and Tom, Mary and Rose, sat cross-legged on the ground. Their -chins came just above the edge of the table, which made everybody laugh. - -“Now, Man Friday,” said Robinson Crusoe, “bring on the banquet.” - -Friday ran to the little cupboard in the corner. It was such a cunning -little cupboard that Mary said: “Oh, how did you ever think of building -one like that? It is so easy, too!” - -“My Mama used to make them so when she was a little girl,” said Rose. -“She showed me how. See, it is just two bricks with a shingle laid -across; then two more bricks on top, and another shingle; and up, -up, up, as many shelves as you like. I have seven, and they are very -convenient.” - -“We must build one in the wigwam,” said Mary. - -“Yes; that must be your Swiss Family Robinson house, if this is our -Crusoe one,” said Kenneth. - -Then Man Friday served the party. There was bread and butter spread -with marmalade, and there were cookies and chocolate fudge, and -lemonade in a tall pitcher. It was a very jolly party. Every one was -happy. The Prouts laughed all the time. You see, it was their very -first party! - -When the Crusoe dinner was over, Kenneth had still more things to show -the Prout boys, and the girls were just as much interested. There was -the express wagon, in which the provisions had been drawn down from -Sweetbrier Cottage. But in places where the path was too narrow, they -had been obliged to carry it over the rocks in their arms. Rose told -how they had tipped over and wasted one whole pitcher of lemonade! - -Then there was the ring-toss game and the animal circus. How the little -Prouts did enjoy the jointed animals, and the clown, and the funny -things which Kenneth and Rose made them do! Fancy it! the little Prouts -had never seen a real circus! Kenneth and Rose could hardly believe how -any one could be so unfortunate. But the little Prouts said that they -had never been away from the Island, and of course the circus never -came to the Island, it was so far away from everywhere. - -Rose and Kenneth said to themselves that, after all, there are some -unfortunate things about living on an island. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -MUTINY - - -While the little ones were still playing with the clown, the elephant, -and the donkey, Mary and Tom went about Beech House looking at other -things. - -“What a queer flag!” cried Mary suddenly. “It is not a bit like the -Stars and Stripes.” She was pointing to something tied to a stick which -stood against the tree-trunk. It was a flag of black silk, and on it -was painted a skull with two bones crossed below it. - -“Why, don’t you know?” said Kenneth, “that is a pirate flag. We always -use it whenever we play pirates.” - -“What are pirates?” asked Mary. - -“Oh, pirates are sea-robbers,” explained Kenneth. “They used to sail -all around the world in fast ships, and they captured other sailors -and killed them. Then they took their treasures and buried them in -places where no one else could find them. Papa says that perhaps they -hid some of their treasure down here in Maine. Did you ever find any -pirate gold, Tom?” - -“No,” said Tom. “But I never looked for any. Perhaps if I had known I -might have found it. I’ll hunt for it some day.” - -“We’ll all hunt for it!” said Kenneth. - -“We played ‘Buried Treasure’ last summer,” said Rose. “Aunt Clare -showed me how. It is a very good game for a sandy beach, and I found -ten cents.” - -“Oh!” cried Susan Prout eagerly. Ten cents seemed to her a great deal -of money. - -“Pooh!” said Kenneth. “That was a silly game. We will go and find real -treasure,--gold and jewels and things like that. And we will be rich as -anything.” - -“Hurrah!” shouted Tom. Bill and Bob echoed, “Hurrah!” - -“First we’ll form a pirate band,” went on Kenneth. “Now there are so -many of us it will be jolly to play pirate. I’ll be Bloody Dick. Tom, -you can be Slippery Joe. We will think up names for all the little -ones,--and for the girls, too. The girls will have to play so that we -can have a good big band.” - -“Of course we shall play!” said Rose stoutly. “We shall be the best -pirates of all, shan’t we, Mary?” - -And Mary said, “Perhaps, when we know how.” - -“I say, Tom, you know where the pirate cave is, don’t you?” asked -Kenneth. - -“You mean the cave down by Black Rock?” asked Tom. “We don’t call it -that, though. We call it just ‘The Oven.’” - -“Pirate Cave is a much better name,” said Kenneth. “Well, Mama says -that we can have a picnic there some day. We children will all be -pirates, and the cave is our den. Papa and Mama and the baby will -be just ordinary sailors with a treasure,--that’s the luncheon, of -course. And we will capture them and take them to the cave. Then we -will have the picnic. Won’t that be fine?” - -“Fine!” cried Tom. “That will be a great game.” - -“We must all have black masks like this,” said Kenneth; and he clapped -to his face a bit of black cloth with two holes, through which his eyes -glowed fiercely. - -The littlest Prouts began to scream. “Stop that!” said Tom. “If you -are going to bawl you can’t be pirates. You will have to go with the -luncheon and be robbed.” - -Bill and Bob and Jane were silent immediately. They felt that it would -be terrible not to be pirates. - -“Yes, we must all have masks and swords, and red handkerchiefs tied -around our necks, and turbans, just like real pirates,” said Kenneth. -“See, I have a tin sword.” - -“I think I can make the masks,” said Mary, who had been examining -Kenneth’s. “I can sew a little, can’t you, Rose?” - -“Oh, yes,” said Rose, thinking of the dolls’ dresses which she had -made. “I can sew a great deal.” - -“And I can whittle,” said Tommy Prout. “I will make wooden swords for -all of us.” - -“So can I,” said Kenneth. “I have a jolly jack-knife--a real pirate -ripper!” and he flourished it in the air. - -“Who will be captain?” said Rose suddenly. “I suppose there has to be a -captain?” - -“Oh, yes,” said Kenneth. “Of course there must be a captain, to tell -everybody what to do.” - -“_You_ be captain, Kenneth,” said Rose, who admired her brother more -than anything in the world. Kenneth brandished his sword and cried -“Ho!” ferociously, as though he were indeed a pirate chief. - -“Tommy is the biggest,” said Susan jealously. - -“Yes, Tommy’s the biggest,” echoed Bill and Bob. - -“Well, I know the Island pretty well,” said Tom. “I can sail a boat, -too. I guess I’ll make a good pirate, though I never played the game -before.” - -“But the captain ought to know all about it,” said Kenneth uneasily. -“You know you had never heard about pirates until I told you.” - -“Well, I know _now_,” said Tommy, flushing; “so what’s the difference? -Do you want to be everything?” - -“No, I don’t!” retorted Kenneth. “Yesterday I let you be the Indian -chief.” - -“Yes, but you were Hawkeye, the famous hunter. That was just as good, -wasn’t it?” answered Tom. - -“Well, if any one else is the pirate chief, I shall not let him wear my -sword,” declared Kenneth. - -“Stingy!” said Susan. - -“I’ll whittle a better one!” Tom cried triumphantly. - -“I’m going home,” said Susan. “I shan’t play unless Tom is the chief.” - -“Go along, then!” said Rose, pouting. - -Little Jane began to cry. Bill and Bob doubled up their fists and -looked very fierce. - -“Oh, don’t let us quarrel!” said Mary, in distress. And, indeed, it -looked as though there was to be trouble in Beech House. - -“Let’s go home, Mary,” said Tom sullenly. “We aren’t wanted here any -longer.” - -Kenneth stood with arms folded, kicking the grass sulkily. Suddenly -there came a tremendous blow on the horn,--so loud that everybody -jumped, and Rose whispered in blood-curdling tones the awful word -“_Pirates!_” But Kenneth soon remembered who he was, and that Robinson -Crusoe was never afraid of anything, not even of cannibals. - -“What ho!” he called bravely. “What stranger seeks entrance to my -house?” and he strode to the door brandishing his sword. Suddenly he -gave a whoop of joy. - -“Charlie!” he cried. “Charlie Carroll! Where did you come from?” - -“It’s a surprise!” said another voice, and in came Kenneth with a boy -of about the same age, who was grinning all over his jolly freckled -face. Rose flew at him rapturously. - -“Cousin Charlie!” she squealed. “Oh, how nice!” - -“Hello, Rose!” the boy said. “Having a party?” - -“They are the little Prouts,” whispered Rose. “You remember, we told -you about them.” - -“He is my cousin, Charlie Carroll,” explained Kenneth to the Prout -children. “I say, Charlie, why didn’t you tell us you were coming? Are -you going to stay?” - -“Yes, I have come to stay four weeks,” said Charlie. “Aunt Mollie asked -me, and it was to be a secret.” - -“Oh, goodie, goodie!” cried Rose, hopping up and down. “What fine times -we shall have now!” - -“I came up on the boat last night with Aunt Clare,” said Charlie. -“Uncle Jack met us at the wharf this morning, and when Aunt Mollie -said you kids were all down here I ran away and came as softly as I -could so as to surprise you.” - -“Aunt Clare here, too! Oh, what fun!” cried Rose. - -“You came just in time to be a pirate,” said Kenneth. - -“Oh, yes! you will be a pirate too, won’t you, Charlie?” said Rose, -clapping her hands. - -“Pirates!” cried Charlie. “That sounds fine. I’ll be Bulldog Bill.” - -“Hurrah!” cheered Kenneth. “We are to have swords and masks, Charlie, -and capture a treasure and live in a cave.” - -“But we haven’t chosen a captain yet,” said Rose. “Kenneth and Tom both -want to be captain, and we nearly quarreled about it before you came.” - -The children suddenly looked very much ashamed. “I don’t want to be -captain, Tom,” said Kenneth. “You’ll do it better. Here, you can have -my sword.” - -“No,” said Tom, “I won’t take it. You be captain. You know all about -the game and I don’t.” - -Then Mary Prout had a great idea. “_You_ be pirate chief,” she said, -turning to Charlie. “That will settle the trouble.” - -“Oh, yes, that is a good idea!” cried Rose. “We will all do as you say, -Charlie.” - -“Oh, I have just come,” said Charlie. “I don’t want to be chief the -very first thing.” - -“I’ll agree,” said Kenneth. “What do you say, Tom?” - -“All right,” assented Tom. “I don’t care. He’ll make a good pirate, I -guess.” - -“Of course he will!” cried Rose promptly. “Charlie is great fun.” - -“Well, I’ll tell you,” said Charlie modestly. “I’ll be captain first, -so as to settle things easily. But after that we’ll take turns. Now -let’s plan what we will do first.” - -“All right!” they cried in chorus. Then they sat down on the grass and -told Charlie about the adventure which they had planned before he came. -And the new captain said it was a very good plan indeed, and that they -would carry it out at the first chance. - -So the tea-party ended happily after all, and a mutiny among the pirate -band was averted. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE PIRATE CAVE - - -One morning, a week after the tea-party, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton and Aunt -Clare went for a row on the water. They had two large baskets packed -full to overflowing with something precious. They also took a stone jug -and a coffee-pot. It looked like a picnic party. They were very merry, -as if they expected to have a pleasant time; and yet, it may be that -they had some idea of the danger into which they were about to run, for -they did not take the baby with them. - -There was no one in sight when they rowed away from the landing. This -was strange; for usually there were half a dozen children, more or -less, in that neighborhood. Quite recently stories had been told about -a band of pirates who had been seen prowling about the coast. Was it -possible that these ruffians had anything to do with the children’s -disappearance? Mr. and Mrs. Thornton seemed, however, to have forgotten -all about pirate stories, and they rowed merrily away. - -“Why, this might indeed be a desert island,” said Aunt Clare, as they -rounded point after point with no sign of a house or a human being. -They passed several little coves and cliffs, the bathing beach and the -chasm, and presently they came in sight of a larger cove with a flat, -stony beach. Beyond this a rock extended out into the water like a -platform. At the back rose a steep cliff, with a black cavity in the -centre. - -“There is the cave, up under that rock,” said Mr. Thornton, as the boat -grated on the beach. - -“Oh, what a splendid place for a picnic!” cried Aunt Clare, jumping out -lightly. “Do be careful not to upset those baskets; I am dreadfully -hungry already, and I don’t want to lose a mouthful of the delicious -luncheon which Mollie has prepared.” - -Mr. Thornton helped out his wife and pulled the empty boat up on the -beach, where the tide could not wash it away. “Now, then,” said he, -“I’ll take the pail of lobsters and one of the baskets. Mama, you -can take the other basket. Clare, will you carry the jug and the -coffee-pot, please? Forward, march! To the cave!” - -Aunt Clare began to hum a tune, and they all marched along in time -to it, carrying the luncheon carefully; but just as they were about -to enter the cave there came a terrible sound,--a chorus of screams -and shouts and shrill whistles,--and a band of fierce and desperate -ruffians came rushing out of the cave where they had been hidden, -surrounding the unfortunate picnickers. - -These desperadoes were very dreadful to look at. They wore black masks -covering all their faces except their eyes, and some of them had long, -black beards. They carried swords and pistols, which they brandished in -a very dangerous manner. One of them waved a fearful black flag, with -a skull and crossbones painted upon it. - -“Pirates!” gasped Aunt Clare. “We are lost!” - -“Pirates we are!” shouted the leader of the band, in a terrible voice. -“What are you doing near our cave? I am Bloody Dick, and you are our -prisoners. Hand over your treasure and come along to our captain, -Bulldog Bill. Then we’ll see what will happen to you next!” - -There was nothing to do but yield, for the pirates were eight to -three. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton quickly handed over their baskets and the -pail,--Aunt Clare groaned when she saw these treasures seized by the -pirates. Then, after a struggle, she herself was forced to give up the -jug and the coffee-pot. Bloody Dick and Slippery Joe, the biggest of -the band, tied the hands of the prisoners with a piece of rope, while -the others danced about shouting and screaming more like wild Indians -than like pirates. - -[Illustration: THE PIRATES ATTACK THE PICNIC PARTY] - -“Now come along!” growled Bloody Dick, “and step lively, or the Captain -will make you all walk the plank.” - -“What’s ‘walk the plank’?” whispered one of the pirates in pigtails to -another with long, yellow curls. - -“Charlie says that it is like the spring-board which the boys use in -swimming,” answered the curly pirate. “But that doesn’t sound very -terrible, does it?” - -“No,” said the pigtailed one. “But perhaps there is something more.” - -The procession marched up the rocks to the entrance of the cave, led by -Bloody Dick, who held the end of the rope which bound all the prisoners -together, while Slippery Joe guarded the rear. One by one the prisoners -were pushed in, bent almost double, for the opening was low. But once -inside, they found a high room, big enough to hold them all. It was -shadowy but not very dark, for besides the door there was a hole which -went up through the roof like a chimney. - -“Oh, what a fine cave!” cried Aunt Clare, forgetting that she was a -prisoner. - -“Sh!” warned Bloody Dick. Kenneth looked so fierce in a tarpaulin hat -and long rubber boots, with his belt stuck full of Fourth-of-July -pistols, that Aunt Clare almost trembled. “Silence, till our Captain -speaks!” he commanded. - -There was no captain in sight, but presently there was a sound of -scratching, puffing, snorting in the chimney. The pirate captain, like -Santa Claus, was coming down from the roof. - -There was a slip and a rattle of stones, and with a thump he tumbled -into the middle of the cave. It was not quite the entrance he had -planned, and the first word of the chief was an “Ow!” of pain. For a -minute he did not rise, but sat rubbing some injured spot upon his -person. Then he reached for his sword, which he had lost in the fall, -and sprang fiercely to his feet, a majestic figure (Charlie was a tall -boy for ten years). - -The pirate chief wore a great slouch hat pulled down over his mask, -below which hung a beard of curly black wool. A yellow handkerchief -was knotted about his throat. He wore a red sweater, with a skull and -crossbones on the breast, fringed leggings, and his belt bristled with -knives, daggers, and pistols, to say nothing of the huge tin sword -which he brandished fiercely. He truly was a terrible figure. Little -Jane trembled and clung close to Sue when he hissed through his teeth:-- - -“Well, my hearties, whom have we here? Bulldog Bill thirsts for -vengeance and for gold!” - -“Captain,” said Bloody Dick, “these are land-lubbers who were coming -to our cave. We have captured them and their treasure, which looks -valuable. What shall we do with them?” - -“Let the prisoners die,” said the captain, in a blood-curdling voice. -“Let them walk the plank; but we will keep the treasure.” - -With a scream Aunt Clare threw herself on her knees before the pirate -captain. “Oh, good Captain Bulldog,” she said, “spare us! we are so -young and innocent. One of us has a dear little baby at home who will -feel so sad to lose us! Take our treasure, if you will, but spare -our lives. Yonder coffee-pot is solid tin, and so are the knives and -spoons. Let such a prize content you!” - -Aunt Clare pretended to cry so pitifully that the three smallest -pirates began to boohoo with sympathy, until Slippery Dick whispered:-- - -“Sh! You kids! She’s only pretending. Don’t you know it’s all play?” - -Bulldog Bill listened to the prisoner’s words, but shook his head. “It -is not enough,” he said. “What will you do for us besides?” - -“We will be your slaves,” said Aunt Clare. “We will prepare your -dinner.” - -Still the captain shook his head. “Can’t you do something else?” he -asked. - -Aunt Clare had an idea. “I will tell you a story,” she said. - -“Ha! that is good!” exclaimed the captain. “You shall tell us a tale, -but it must be one that we have never heard before. If you do this we -will set you free.” - -“Give me time to think, and I will promise to tell you a tale which you -never heard before,” said Aunt Clare. - -“Very good,” growled Bulldog Bill. “Loose the prisoners’ bonds so that -they can prepare our meal. But guard them well so that they cannot -escape.” - -Bloody Dick and Slippery Joe untied the prisoners’ hands, while the -other pirates guarded the entrance of the cave. - -“Now, then,” said the pirate captain, “we are hungry. Let us dine at -once. Prisoners, prepare the food!” - -“It is too early for luncheon,” said Mrs. Thornton. But the pirates -began to clamor. Aunt Clare sided with them. - -“Let them have their way,” she begged. “Hungry pirates are very -dangerous! Besides, I confess that I am half starved myself.” - -“Well, then, we must have a fire,” said Mrs. Thornton. “Who will -gather wood for the fire?” - -“Let the four youngest pirates do that,” said the captain. So Jane, -Bill, Bob, and Rose went out to hunt for driftwood on the beach. -Presently they were running in and out like ants, bringing it by -armfuls. - -“We must have water,” said Mrs. Thornton. “Who will go to the spring -for it?” - -“Let me go,” said Sue. - -“No, the jug will be heavy. Let Slippery Joe fetch the water,” -commanded the captain. So Slippery Joe went forth. “We others will -examine the treasure,” said the captain. The remaining four, Charlie, -Kenneth, Mary, and Sue, sat down on the ground and began to unpack the -baskets which had come in the boat. And as they unwrapped one after -another of the good things, they smacked their lips and squealed with -delight. They were so interested in the treasure that they forgot all -about their prisoners. But suddenly they heard a shout from outside the -cave:-- - -“Catch him! He’s running away!” - -The pirates jumped to their feet. Mrs. Thornton was bending over the -fire, doing things with the coffee-pot, and Aunt Clare was taking the -lobsters to pieces. But Mr. Thornton had disappeared. - -Bulldog Bill and his men rushed to the door echoing the shout of -“Catch him! catch him!” When they were outside they saw the four other -pirates racing along the beach towards the spot where the runaway -was disappearing over the top of the cliff. The whole band started -in pursuit, leaving Mama and Aunt Clare quite alone; so that these -prisoners might have escaped, too, had they tried. But they were so -interested in preparing dinner that they forgot all about it. Just like -women! - -After a long time the pirates returned, flushed, panting, and tired, -but without their prisoner. - -“Papa ran so fast we could not catch him,” explained Rose to her Mama. -“He ran away into the woods, and we couldn’t find him. Oh, Mama! I’m -afraid now he won’t be here for dinner!” Rose looked distressed. - -“Silence, Burly Ben!” said the captain sternly. “This is no fit talk -for one of Bulldog Bill’s bloody band!--My! how good that cocoa smells! -Is dinner almost ready, Aunt Clare? I never was so hungry in my life. -Can’t I have just one little lobster claw to chew?” - -Aunt Clare had not spread the tablecloth in the cave, for that would -have been too dark and too crowded for every one to be comfortable. But -the flat rock out in front of the cave made a fine table, with room for -every one to sit cross-legged around it in pirate fashion. Each person -had a big, round scallop-shell for a plate, with a tin cup of cocoa -beside it, and such a lovely luncheon was spread on the white cloth as -the little Prouts at least had never before seen. They all sat down -together, prisoners and pirates, and the pirates forgot for a time that -they were anything but hungry girls and boys. - -“It is too bad that Papa isn’t here,” said Mrs. Thornton. - -“Too bad!” echoed Kenneth and Rose sorrowfully. - -But before many minutes they heard a sound of some one scrambling down -the cliff close by, and presently Mr. Thornton himself crept sheepishly -up to the group. - -“Please, Mr. Pirate Captain,” he said, “may I come back to dinner? When -I ran away I forgot about Aunt Clare’s story. I don’t mind starving to -death, as I came very near doing on this desert island, but I could not -bear to lose the story. Let me dine and hear the tale, then I will walk -the plank gladly.” - -“Have you any ransom?” asked the pirate chief, taking a huge bite of -sandwich. - -Mr. Thornton slapped his pockets doubtfully. Then his face brightened. -“Yes! I do happen to have one bit of treasure about me which you -did not take away,” he said. “You forgot, I think, to go through my -pockets.” - -He drew out a bag of peanuts and handed it to Bulldog Bill, then seized -a sandwich in each hand. “Fair exchange!” he cried. The children set up -a shout of delight. - -“It is a good treasure,” said Bulldog Bill approvingly, as he helped -himself. - -“I would have starved rather than eat them,” said Mr. Thornton, with -a sad voice. “I bought them as a present for my innocent children at -home. But since I have fallen into the power of this pirate crew you -must do with them as you think best.” - -Now the pirates knew what it was best to do with peanuts; and they -did it. When every one had eaten all he possibly could, the captain -suddenly remembered that he was a pirate. He put on his tarpaulin hat, -and seizing his sword, said sternly to Aunt Clare:-- - -“It is now time for the story. Prisoner, begin; but beware how you tell -us one which we have heard before. If it is a chestnut you shall die.” - -“Fierce Captain,” said Aunt Clare, “did you ever hear the tale called -‘The Pirate Hoard’?” - -“No,” said Captain Bulldog, “I never did. Has any one here ever heard -this tale?” And every one answered, “No!” - -“I thought not,” said Aunt Clare. - -“Very good,” said the captain; “go on with the story.” - -And this is the story which Aunt Clare told. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE PIRATE HOARD - - -This is a story of Captain Kidd, who was, you know, the greatest pirate -of them all in old times. - -One day this terrible fellow was cruising about in these very waters, -with a ship full of gold and jewels and precious things which he -had stolen. You see, he wanted to find a new place in which to bury -this particular treasure. He was always hiding things. He buried his -different hoards all along the coast from Maine to Mexico, just as -squirrels hide their nuts wherever it is convenient. You can scarcely -find any place, however tiny, which has not a story that Captain Kidd’s -treasure is buried somewhere near. Like the squirrels, Captain Kidd -often went away and forgot about his treasure, and never returned to -dig it up. - -Well, Captain Kidd was cruising along this coast, with his ship full -of treasure. He had been enjoying great luck on his last voyage. That -means, of course, that a great many other people had been most unlucky. -In those days about the unluckiest thing that could happen to anybody -was to meet Captain Kidd on the high seas. Pirates were such greedy, -cruel fellows,--I beg your pardon! I forgot that nearly every one here -is a pirate. How careless of me! - -Captain Kidd was a long way from shore when he ran into a fog,--a -thick Maine fog; the kind that Islanders know so well. It was so thick -that one could scarcely see a ship’s length ahead. All of a sudden the -pirate lookout called to the captain:-- - -“Sail ahead!” and sure enough! out of the fog loomed a sailing vessel, -so near that the two bowsprits were almost touching. - -Now, this stranger was a fishing-boat named the Mary Ann. She was a -Maine fishing-boat, like your father’s, Tom Prout, and she was on her -way home from the Banks with a cargo of fish. The captain, whose name -was Tobey, was frightened out of his wits when he saw the black flag -flying at the mast of Captain Kidd’s vessel. Of course, he knew what -this meant. If he were captured by the pirate ship he should never see -his home and dear little children again. So he put about, and the Mary -Ann scuttled away for dear life, without stopping to say “Howdy.” - -When Captain Kidd saw the other boat go about, he grinned a dreadful -grin and said,-- - -“Oho! You are running away, are you? Well, that must mean that you have -some precious treasure aboard. Let’s after them, my hearties, and give -them a chase.” - -You see, he was greedy as well as cruel. Already he had more treasure -than he knew what to do with, but he longed for more. This was just -like a pirate--I beg your pardon, Captain Bulldog! I forgot again. - -Now began an exciting chase through the fog. The little Mary Ann was -a fast boat, and for a time she kept ahead of the pirate ship, which -could barely see her scudding like a sea-gull through the fog. But -finally poor Captain Tobey saw that the pirate ship was gaining on him, -and his heart sank. Alas! what could he do? He thought of his children -at home, and the tears filled his eyes. - -Suddenly he had an idea! He knew every rock and shoal in the bay, which -was full of rocks and shoals. He remembered that there must be a reef -close by, a reef which came almost to the surface of the sea. Until -one was quite close he would not see it, hidden by this fog. Captain -Tobey steered straight for the place where he knew that reef must be, -straight to a froth of white foam. - -The pirate ship followed where he led and came on, gaining every -minute. Now Captain Tobey held his breath. They were in the waves -that broke upon the reef! But the Mary Ann went safely over without -touching, because she was so small. And the big vessel flying the black -flag came close after her. - -_Crash! Smash!_ “Hurrah!” came a shout from the Mary Ann. “Hurrah! -Good-by!” The pirate ship was stuck fast on the reef, and the waves -were beating her to pieces. But Captain Tobey did not wait to see what -happened. He was too eager to get home to his wife and babies. The Mary -Ann disappeared silently through the fog, scudding towards a harbor -miles away. - -But there was excitement indeed on board the pirate ship. The pirates -went running to and fro, shouting and waving their arms, crazy with -fear. They tumbled into the long boats as fast as they could, without -thinking anything about their treasure, only of their precious lives. -But Captain Kidd was different. He cared more for his treasure than for -anything. - -“The mate and I will shift for ourselves!” he shouted. “Leave my boat!” -He knew he could not save everything, there was such a vast deal of -gold and silver and heavy plate in the ship. But he ran to his own -cabin and brought out a little wooden box bound in iron. It was full -of the most precious treasure of all,--diamonds and rubies, sapphires -and emeralds, and precious stones of every color. - -With this chest under his cloak he got into the boat, and his mate, -One-Eyed Pete, rowed him away. The fog was so thick that they soon lost -sight of the other boat. A storm was rising; the wind blew so loud -and the waves roared so terribly that they could not hear any answer -to their calls. They had to be very careful of the rocks and reefs on -which the waves broke fiercely, and they rowed on and on for hours -before they found a place where they could land. - -But at last they came to a safer shore, with an inlet and a smooth -beach. They landed, and soon discovered that this was a very little -desert island. - -“This will be just the place to bury the treasure,” said Captain Kidd. -“Let us do so before we meet any one who may try to take it from us.” - -“Right, Captain,” growled One-Eyed Pete. - -So they dug a hole in the ground and buried the treasure, heaping a -little mound over it. They knew that they should remember the spot, -because there was close beside it a great big rock split open and lying -in two pieces side by side, like a huge book spread flat upon its back. - -Captain Kidd wrote down in his note-book a description of the place, -and, as well as he knew, how they had come there. He drew besides a -picture of the fog as a sample, so that he should recognize it again. -For he said,--“I never saw such fog before, in all my life!” Which -proves that all this must have happened close by where we are now. - -Then One-Eyed Pete said,--“Cap’n, a terrible storm is coming on, and -I think this here island is a poor place to be on; for the waves will -roll right over it. Let’s row to the mainland, which can’t be far away.” - -So they rowed away again, and after a long time spent in trying to find -a landing-place, they came to a harbor and a village. They pretended -that they were shipwrecked sailors, so the good people took them in and -gave them food. What would they have thought had they known it was the -wicked Captain Kidd who was visiting them! - -The storm lasted several days, but when it was over Captain Kidd said -“good-by” politely, and with One-Eyed Pete went out on the first -fishing-boat that left the harbor. Nobody discovered who they were. -They exchanged passage into the first vessel they met, and were soon -far over the seas. - -After that Captain Kidd lived to have many wild adventures, and he -forgot all about his treasure in the little iron-bound box on the -desert Island. No one ever heard of the other pirates, who must have -been drowned in the storm that night. The pirate ship went to pieces, -and some bits of the treasure were washed ashore with its timbers, and -the fishermen’s children found them on the beach. But it is not known -that any one ever found the captain’s jewels, and I dare say the box -is there to this day. Just think, if only one could find it! - - * * * * * - -Aunt Clare ended her story with a sigh, echoed by all the little girls. -“I wish I had some diamonds now,” said Rose wistfully. - -“Oh, so do I,--and rubies!” cried Mary. - -“Is that all?” asked Kenneth and Charlie, in one breath. - -“Is it true?” demanded Tom eagerly. - -“’Course it is true,” cried Charlie. “Didn’t you ever hear of Captain -Kidd?” - -“I don’t know for certain that it is all true,” said Aunt Clare, “but -it _might_ be. There were pirates who buried their treasure in desert -islands. Why, I’ve heard the fishermen of this very place tell that -there was treasure buried around here somewhere. No one knows where.” - -“It might be this very same treasure!” cried Kenneth, “mightn’t it, -Aunt Clare?” - -“I suppose it might,” she answered, laughing. - -The boys exchanged eager looks. They did not say anything about it -then, but they each knew that they were resolved to find that pirate -treasure if it was anywhere near the Island. - -As for the little girls, they were helping to pack up the lunch -baskets; for the released prisoners were now ready to go home, and some -of the pirates were going with them. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -TREASURE TROVE - - -One morning, about a week later, three of the pirates--Tom, Charlie, -and Kenneth--got into a dory and rowed away from the harbor. It was -Tom’s own boat, of which he was very proud. He had spent all his life -near and in and on the water, and he was a splendid boatman. Mr. -Thornton was not afraid to let the children go with him in his dory, -but he made them promise that never more than two should go with Tom at -one time. - -The pirates had with them in the boat three spades; they looked very -sly, as though they were upon a secret errand. Tom was the leader in -this adventure, and he seemed to know just where to go. They rowed -around the Point and then straight out into the bay towards a little -rocky island, beyond the other islands. They followed the shore of it -until they came to an inlet with a smooth beach beyond. - -“This is the place,” said Tom, jumping out and pulling up the boat. -“Come on, fellows!” - -He raced up the beach followed by the other two, and climbed a bank. -At the top was a spring of cool, clear water under a tree, and close -beside it was a huge rock. - -“Look at that!” cried Tom, pointing at the rock. “What do you think of -that?” - -The rock was split into two flat pieces, each almost square, which lay -side by side. It looked like a great book spread open. - -“It is the very rock that Aunt Clare told about in the story!” cried -Charlie. - -“Where is the mound?” asked Kenneth eagerly. “Oh, I see! This must be -it.” - -Sure enough! Close beside the rock and near the spring the ground -swelled into a mound covered with grass. - -“Of course this must be the place,” said Charlie excitedly. “How did -you ever find it, Tom?” - -“Well, when she was telling the story I remembered this island, and I -thought it was just the place that the pirates would have come to first -when they drifted in from sea; so I rowed over to look at it. I found -the cove was just as she had said, and sure enough! there was the rock -like a big book, and the mound. I knew this must be the place. I wanted -to begin to dig right away, but I thought it wouldn’t be fair without -you fellows, ’cause you were the ones to tell me about pirates first.” - -“Let’s begin to dig now,” said Kenneth eagerly. - -“Let’s!” cried Charlie. So they ran down to the dory and got their -spades. Then they all fell to work. - -The mound was not hard like ordinary earth. When they had gone through -the sod their spades struck something queer. Charlie took some of it -up in his hand. “Why, it’s broken shells,” he said. - -“Clam shells!” exclaimed Kenneth, picking up two which were still -unbroken. “The pirates must have had clams for their dinner, and have -piled the shells on top of their treasure. Oh, hurry! this _proves_ -there is something here, doesn’t it?” - -Eagerly they set to work again. It was amazing to see what a number of -shells there were in that mound. It was made of nothing else. Down, -down they dug until they had a hole as large as Tom’s body. But still -there was no sign of any treasure. Their spades tossed up broken shells -and nothing more. - -“My! Those two pirates must have had a big clambake all by themselves,” -said Charlie, pausing to wipe his streaming forehead. - -“I suppose Captain Kidd was an awful eater,” said Kenneth. “But I say, -how could they finish so many clams?” - -“Huh! I could eat half a barrel of steamed clams any day,” protested -Tom. “Those two pirates were regular cannibals, I expect. Besides, -they were eating on purpose to have shells enough to cover the -treasure, don’t you see?” - -Once more they fell to work, and they dug for ten minutes without a -word. But presently, with a sigh, they all three stopped again. It was -a hot day and this was hard work. - -“If we find the treasure we must give some to the girls,” said Kenneth. - -“Of course,” agreed Tom. “They are pirates, too. The band will all have -to share.” - -“Let’s give each of the others three diamonds and three rubies and -three sapphires and three emeralds,” said Charlie, with sudden -inspiration. - -“All right,” agreed Tom and Kenneth. “And we’ll divide the rest equally -among us three,” added Kenneth. - -Then they began work again. But still there was no sign of that -iron-bound box. Their arms were growing very tired. They were almost -ready to give it up. Suddenly Kenneth stooped and picked up something. - -“Hello!” he said. “What’s this?” - -It was a small pointed stone, flat on both sides. The other two boys -examined it eagerly. “Why, it looks like an Indian arrowhead,” said -Charlie; “but how came it here?” - -“Perhaps the pirates used bows and arrows too,” suggested Tom. - -“That’s it!” cried Kenneth. “I’m almost sure they did. I remember once -seeing an old picture of men fighting with bows and arrows, and they -were not Indians. They must have been pirates. Hurrah! I guess we are -near the treasure now!” - -They dug down with new energy, tossing up the shell-earth like beavers. -Presently Charlie stooped. “I’ve found something too,” he said; “but I -don’t know what it is.” It was a curious round stone, hollow and smooth -in the middle. - -In a few minutes Tom stooped also. “Here’s something else,” he said, -pulling out a very long, three-sided stone roughly sharpened on one -edge. “What do you suppose this is?” - -“Maybe it is an anchor,” suggested Kenneth. But it did not look much -like an anchor. They worked for another ten minutes, then they stopped, -for nothing else came to light. - -“I don’t think these are much,” said Charlie, kicking the stone things -with his foot. “I don’t believe there is anything else here. These old -shells go down and down,--to China, I guess. The pirates couldn’t have -eaten so many clams, you know. Let’s give it up.” - -“Yes, let’s,” agreed Kenneth, tossing away his spade and sitting down -to rest. “I’m tired and I’m not going to dig any more.” - -“Oh, come! Don’t give up so soon!” begged Tom. “I’m going to work -awhile longer.” - -Charlie looked at his watch. “It is noon already,” he said. “I’m -hungry, and Aunt Mollie doesn’t like us to be late for dinner. Let’s -go home. There isn’t anything here but old stone things, and they are -no good.” - -[Illustration: TOM, CHARLIE, AND KENNETH DIG FOR THE TREASURE] - -“The pirates left them,” said Tom doggedly. “I’m going to work a little -longer. Say, will you fellows dig for ten minutes more? Then if we -don’t find anything I’ll agree to give it up.” - -“All right,” said the other two. - -Once more they set to work with tired arms. They dug and they dug -through the dust of broken clam shells, of which there seemed to be no -end. But still there was no sign of the iron-bound box. It was very -discouraging. All they found was a few more arrowheads and some knobby -stones with grooves about the top. They were hardly worth picking up, -it seemed. The boys tossed them aside in a little heap with the other -stone things. Then they threw down their spades, rubbing their aching -backs and arms. All these pains for nothing! - -“It’s no use,” said Charlie. “There can’t be anything here. We shall -have to give it up.” - -“It is long after dinner time. Perhaps we shan’t get any, and they will -scold us,” said Kenneth ruefully. - -“Huh! Only a lot of old stone things!” growled Tom, kicking the heap -spitefully. “They aren’t worth taking home, are they?” - -“Oh, yes! We must show them all to father. Perhaps he can tell us what -they are,” said Kenneth. - -“Well, come on, then,” urged Charlie. “I wish we had gone an hour ago. -I hate cold dinners. Oh, what a wasted morning!” - -Tom lingered wistfully. “It looks just like a treasure place,” he said, -“and I felt somehow as if we should find it here. There must be some -mistake.” - -“Oh, come on, Tom!” called the others impatiently; and he hurried down -to the beach where they had carried the stone things. Soon they were -rowing back to their own island. But they were very silent and sulky -all the way. Their treasure hunt had not been a success, and they were -hungry and cross. Tom was the gloomiest of the three. He felt that -they blamed him for their disappointment. But it had mattered most to -him. - -“I wanted to take home a handful of diamonds to Mary,” he said to -himself. “How pleased she would be! Then we would all be rich. But I -would give the handsomest diamond of all to Rose.” - -Mr. Thornton was on the beach looking for them when they came in. He -had been greatly worried because they had been gone so long; but he did -not scold them when they told him what they had been doing. - -“Tom thought that he had found Captain Kidd’s hiding-place, Papa,” said -Kenneth wearily. “It looked just like the mound that Aunt Clare told us -about; but there wasn’t any treasure at all, only some old stone things -in a heap of shells.” - -“Stone things in a shell-heap?” asked Mr. Thornton, pricking up his -ears. “What do you mean by that?” - -“We brought these home, Uncle Jack,” said Charlie, pulling out the -stone things from under the seat of the dory. - -“Hello! Some good Indian arrowheads and sinkers; a stone mortar for -grinding corn; and this,--why! this is as fine an Indian plow as I ever -saw. Which of you found this, boys?” cried Mr. Thornton excitedly. - -“Tom found that,” said Kenneth without envy. - -“Well, Tom, I must buy this of you. Boys, you have found a treasure -indeed, though it is not the kind you were looking for. You must have -come upon an Indian shell-mound, and I dare say there are still more -things there to be discovered. But come now, you must be half starved. -I know Mama and Aunt Clare are very anxious,--I dare say Tom’s mother -is not the worrying kind. Let’s all go home and have some cold dinner. -Then we will look at your treasures again. Tom, you ought to be proud -of your morning’s work! I wish I had discovered that shell-mound -myself!” - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE BOX OF CANDY - - -Although the boys had been disappointed in the kind of treasure which -they had found, the Indian relics proved a real treasure, after all. -The next day Mr. Thornton went over to the island with them, and they -brought back a few more stone things from the mound, but nothing so -fine as Tom’s plow. However, Mr. Thornton said that there might be -other interesting things there which they could dig up when they chose. - -Mr. Thornton was so pleased with the boys’ discovery that he paid -Kenneth and Charlie each two dollars for their share of the treasure. -But he gave Tom five dollars to pay for his plow and for first -discovering the mound, which had once been an Indian picnic-place. He -said these relics should be used to start an Island museum, to match -the Island library. And perhaps some day they would find other things -to make the collection more complete. - -Tom felt very rich indeed. He had never owned so much money in all his -life, and he could not decide what to do with it. There are so many -things which one can do with five dollars, especially if one is a boy. -But he resolved not to be in a hurry to spend it. - -There was a famous professor staying at the hotel on the other end of -the Island, and one day Mr. Thornton said to Kenneth and Charlie:-- - -“Boys, I want to take your Indian relics over to the hotel and show -them to the Professor. I should like to know what he thinks of them. -Shall we get Tom and row around there?” - -Of course, the boys were delighted to go. They had not been to the -hotel that summer, and usually there were some interesting puppies in -the stable. They found Tom and his dory, and presently they were on -their way. When they reached the hotel Mr. Thornton went to find the -Professor, while the boys started to look for the puppies. But as they -went past the piazza they heard the hotel keeper talking to a group of -ladies. - -“No, there is not a mosquito on the Island,” he asserted. “That is one -of the things of which we are most proud. I will give a five-pound box -of the very best candy to any one who will find a mosquito on this -Island.” - -The three boys smacked their lips. “Did you hear that? Um! I’d like -that box of candy,” sighed Charlie. “I haven’t had any for weeks.” - -“Five pounds of candy all at once!” cried Tom. “I never had so much in -all my life.” - -“Oh, I have,” said Kenneth, “at Christmas time. My! Isn’t it good! I -wish I could find that mosquito; but I suppose no one will. There isn’t -one on the Island, is there, Tom? You ought to know.” - -“No,” said Tom. “I never saw one here. I am sure there isn’t one”--He -stopped short with a sudden wicked idea. “There might be, though,” he -added under his breath. - -“I couldn’t buy five pounds of very best candy with my two dollars, -could I, Charlie?” asked Kenneth. - -“No; but Tom could with his five, if he wanted to spend the money so,” -said Charlie. - -“I don’t want to spend the money so,” said Tom almost crossly. But how -he did long for that candy! The boys did not understand what made him -act so queer. He paid very little attention to the five lovely puppies -in the stable. Even when Mr. Thornton came with the Professor, who -told them how proud they ought to feel because they had found such an -interesting shell-mound, praising Tom especially, he did not seem to -care. All the way home he spoke scarcely a word. He was thinking of -something very different from what the others were saying. - -When they reached the Cove the boys asked Tom to come and play pirate -after dinner. But Tom said:-- - -“No, I’m going to be busy this afternoon.” - -“Are you going to hunt for more treasure?” asked Mr. Thornton, -laughing. Tom looked queer, but shook his head. - -“No,” he said. “I’ve--I’ve got an errand to attend to.” And that was -all he had to say. - -After dinner Tom rowed away all alone out into the bay, and he was gone -until supper time. When he came back he pulled his boat up on the beach -and fumbled in his pocket. He was looking for something so very small -that at first he thought he had lost it. But no,--there it was, all -right. It was a tiny pill box. Tom took off the cover and looked in, -grinning to himself. He seemed pleased with his day’s work. - -At the supper table Tom’s mother suddenly bent forward and looked at -his face sharply. “Why, Tom!” she said. “Where have you been to get all -bitten up so? You are covered with mosquito bites! You never got them -around here. You must have been over to Mouse Island. There are lots -of mosquitoes in the swamp there.” - -Tom turned very red. “Yes, I rowed over to Mouse--this morning. There -were two young fish-hawks in the nest on the old pine tree,” he said -briefly. - -“Did the other boys go with you?” asked his mother. - -“No; I went all alone,” he answered, bending his face low over his -plate. And then the children began to chatter about something else, for -which Tom was glad. - -The next morning Tom took his dory and rowed around the Island to the -hotel. When he came up to the piazza he found Mr. Smith, the hotel man, -talking to a group of ladies, just as he had been doing the day before. -Tom took off his cap politely, and said:-- - -“Good-morning, sir. I’d like to speak with you.” - -“Hello!” said Mr. Smith. “You are one of the Island boys, aren’t you? -Well, what do you want with me, my hearty?” - -Tom drew something out of his pocket and handed it to Mr. Smith. - -“What’s this? A pill box!” said Mr. Smith, greatly puzzled. “I don’t -want any pills!” All the ladies smiled. - -“There’s a mosquito inside, sir,” said Tom. “I heard what you said -yesterday: that you’d give a box of candy to any one who would bring -you a mosquito; so I found one for you. He’s dead, sir,” he added -reassuringly, as Mr. Smith hesitated about taking off the cover of the -pill box. - -There was a chorus of laughs at the expression on Mr. Smith’s face; -but finally he decided to smile. “Well, I am surprised and shocked,” -he said. “I could have declared solemnly that there was not a wicked -mosquito on this island. But I will wager that this is the only one.” - -“Better not make any more rash offers, Mr. Smith,” said one of the -girls. “You may have to pay for more candy than you bargain for. We -will all set out to hunt.” - -“No, I don’t repeat my offer,” said Mr. Smith hastily. “But I suppose I -must pay my debt to our friend here. You come around to-morrow morning, -Sonny,” he said to Tom, “and get your candy. I’ll send to the city for -it by Captain Sackett.” - -“Smart boy, isn’t he?” said one lady to another, as Tom went away. “He -has such an honest face.” - -Tom heard her words, and his ears turned red. But as he rowed home he -thought triumphantly, “How good that candy will be!” and he smacked his -lips. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE OUTLAW - - -Yes, it was fine candy! Tom thought he had never tasted anything half -so good, as he took the first nibble. For Mr. Smith kept his promise, -and the candy came safely in Captain Sackett’s care. Five pounds in a -beautiful pink box tied with gold string! - -Tom was eager to share it with his brothers and sisters and with the -other pirates; for he was a generous boy. - -“I’ll give them a surprise!” he said, chuckling to himself as he rowed -home from the hotel. He knew where he should find the band, for Mary -had said that they were all going that morning to play in the pirate -cave. So he did not go straight home, but rowed on around the Point. He -beached his boat before any one heard him, and ran up towards the cave, -giving a loud war-whoop. - -“Hello! where is everybody?” he cried. - -The pirates came running from every direction. “Here’s Tom!” cried -Mary. “Oh, Tom! Where have you been?” - -“Welcome, Slippery Joe,” said the chief. “Have you had an adventure?” - -“I have captured some treasure,” said Tom, grinning. “Look here!” and -he held up the box of candy. - -“Candy!” A shout of joy arose, and the pirates surrounded him eagerly. - -“It’s share alike,” said Tom. “I have eaten only one piece so far.” - -“Oh, Tom! how good of you!” cried Rose. “It is real city candy and must -have cost a lot of money. Did you buy it with your five dollars?” - -“I know! I know!” shouted Kenneth. “He found the mosquito; didn’t you, -Tom?” - -Tom nodded. “Yes, I found him and got the prize.” - -“What do you mean about a mosquito?” “Tell us about it!” begged -the pirates. So they all sat down in a circle, each one munching a -delicious bit of candy, while Tom told about Mr. Smith’s offer, which -Charlie and Kenneth knew already. - -“I believed that there wasn’t any use in trying,” said Kenneth. “You -thought yourself that there wasn’t a single mosquito on the Island; -didn’t you, Tom?” - -“I know I thought so,” began Tom, “but”--He was interrupted by Susan. - -“Oh, I know where he found it!” she said. “He went over to Mouse Island -the other day. There are lots of mosquitoes there. He was all covered -with bites when he came back.” - -“Oh, but that wasn’t fair!” cried Rose; “that was cheating. Oh, Tom!” -She put back the piece of candy which she had taken as the box was -passed around the circle for the second time. - -There was a long silence. Tom turned red and looked sulky. “What’s the -use of being fussy? I’m a pirate, anyway,” he said. “Aren’t we all -pirates?” - -Charlie and Kenneth looked at each other, then Charlie spoke like the -chief of the band: “That wasn’t playing, Tom,” he said; “that was a -_real_ lie. We aren’t going to play that way, if I am captain. We -aren’t going to tell any lies. Here! take your old candy. We don’t want -any of it. Put it back!” he commanded the others. And reluctantly they -all did as Rose had done. - -“Ho! all right!” said Tom, jumping to his feet angrily. “If you don’t -want any, I guess I can manage to worry it down. But you are awful -sillies. I won’t belong to your old band!” and he flounced out of the -cave with the box of candy under his arm. So Tom became an outlaw. - -Tom munched away at his candy all by himself, and tried to pretend -that he enjoyed it very much. But somehow it was not as good as he had -expected. The emptier the box became the less he cared for the candy, -which was a very odd thing. Usually, as every one knows, unless one -gobbles it all at once like a little pig, the candy grows better and -better, until when there are only a few pieces left it is so perfectly -delicious that one cannot bear to think of its disappearing altogether. -Before the box was half finished Tom was heartily tired of it. When -the last piece was gone he took the box out in his dory, threw it -overboard, and smashed it viciously with his oar. - -“I don’t want to see any more candy as long as I live!” he said. But -this was a week later. - -All this time Tom had been an outlaw. He would not play with the other -children, not even with his brothers and sisters; for he thought that -they were all in league against him. He thought they were all disloyal. -He had meant to be generous, and share his candy with them; but they -had looked at it in a different way. How silly it was to pretend that -he was not playing pirate fairly! Why, pirates did much worse things -than that! He had never thought till now that it was mean to tell a -lie; but when he remembered how shocked Rose had looked, Tom turned -very red. That was hardest of all to bear,--that Rose should think him -mean. - -Tom wondered if any one would tell his father and mother. But no -one did. The pirate captain had made his band promise not to be -“telltales.” Tom did not know this, however, and at every meal-time he -eyed his brothers and sisters suspiciously, waiting to see what would -happen. - -His mother said sometimes, “How queer you act nowadays, Tom! What is -the matter with you?” - -“Nothing,” Tom would answer sulkily; and as soon as he could leave the -table he would go off by himself. - -The pirate band was sadly broken. Mary felt so sorry about Tom, who -would not let her talk to him, that she stayed at home and cried a good -deal. Except Sue, the other little Prouts would not go anywhere without -Mary. Sue was the only one who went to Sweetbrier Cottage. But Charlie -and Kenneth said it was no fun playing pirate without more boys. So -they went off by themselves, while Sue and Rose played dolls in Beech -House. Nobody was so happy as before that unlucky mosquito had spoiled -everything. - -All this while Tom had plenty of time to think. Somehow things looked -different to him now. Gradually he had been making up his mind. - -One day he got into his dory and rowed around the Island to the end -where the hotel stood. As usual there was a crowd upon the piazza, with -Mr. Smith in the midst. Tom thought it was the largest crowd he had -ever seen. He hung back and hesitated at first, but finally he screwed -up his courage. He went straight to the hotel man and stood twirling -his cap uneasily. Then he spoke quickly:-- - -“I have come to tell you, sir, that I didn’t play fair about that -mosquito. I knew what you said was true, and that there wasn’t one on -the Island; so I went over to Mouse, where there are a plenty, and -I caught one there. It was a lie, and I am sorry. I have just five -dollars,--I guess that will pay for the candy. Here it is, sir.” And -he thrust into the hand of the amazed Mr. Smith the bill which Mr. -Thornton had given him to pay for his share in the pirate treasure. - -“Hold on! Stop!” cried Mr. Smith, as Tom darted away. But he soon saw -that it was no use for a little fat man like him to try to catch Tom, -who had the start. So he sat down again, shaking his head. - -“I don’t even know his name!” he said, looking helplessly at the -bill in his hand. “But this relieves my mind very much. I am greatly -pleased, ladies, that you have this assurance that our Island is -without mosquitoes.” - -“He was a brave boy to confess before us all,” said one of the ladies. -“I like his face. I wish we knew who he is.” - -“So do I,” said Mr. Smith. “I must find out.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -GULL ROCK - - -Susan and Rose were tired of playing dolls in Beech House all by -themselves. - -“Let’s not play this any more,” said Rose. “Sue, let us go and look for -that treasure, the _real_ treasure, which the boys could not find.” - -“All right,” said Sue. “Let’s!” - -They ran along the cliff until they came to the bathing beach, then -they climbed down to the sand. - -“I know where I think the treasure is,” said Rose. “I think it is out -there on that great big pile of rock where the gulls are. I have always -wanted to go out on those rocks, but sometimes one can’t go, because -there is water all around them. See, we could go now.” - -“Yes,” said Susan. “I never was out there either. Let’s go!” - -This stony point, of which Rose spoke, was called Gull Rock. It rose -gray and jagged out of the sea, looking like a castle of stone. It was -a favorite resting-place of the sea-gulls. Great flocks of them wheeled -and screamed around the rocks and settled on them in gray clouds. There -was a narrow pathway of stones which led out to Gull Rock, and on each -side of the path the waves lapped gently. The tide was coming in. - -“Let’s take off our shoes and stockings,” said Rose. So they did. “Now, -follow my leader!” Rose cried; and with much squealing and giggling the -little girls began to hop from stone to stone along the narrow path. It -was very exciting! They kept tumbling down, for the rocks were wet and -slippery, and in some places were covered with seaweed, which as every -one knows is the slitheriest kind of thing under foot! Sometimes their -feet went _splash!_ into the pools of water which stood here and there -on the path. But they did not mind that, because their feet were bare. - -[Illustration: ROSE AND SUE CROSS UPON THE SLIPPERY STONES] - -At last they came to Gull Rock. They climbed up to the top. My! how -surprised the sea-gulls were when the two little heads appeared above -the edge of the rock, and how fast they flapped away, chattering and -screaming hard things about these uninvited guests! - -“It was too bad to disturb them,” said Rose, who always meant to be -polite to animals and birds. “But I did so want to see what was on -these rocks. Come, Sue; let us climb down on that other side.” - -This was the side farthest away from the bathing beach, looking -straight out to sea. They scrambled down towards the water, and finally -they came to a great hole like a well, that seemed to go down forever. - -“Oh, look!” cried Rose. “I do believe there might be a treasure hidden -in the bottom of this hole. Doesn’t it look mysterious, Sue?” - -“Oh, yes!” said Sue. She did not know what “mysterious” meant, but she -thought it had something to do with treasures. - -“Look, there are cracks in the side, like steps,” said Rose. “Let’s go -down.” - -“Oh, do you dare?” cried Sue. “There might be something awful at the -bottom.” - -“Pooh!” said Rose. “I am not afraid. I am going down.” And she began to -descend, fitting her bare toes into the cracks of the rocks. Sue was -afraid, but she followed, for she did not dare be left behind. - -They went down for what seemed a long way, when suddenly there was a -funny noise below them. “_Chug!_” went something; and it sounded like a -growl. Sue gave a loud scream. - -“Oh!” she cried. “There _is_ something down there!” And she began -to scramble up. Now Rose did not mind the “chug” so much as she did -the scream. Rose hated screams. When Sue cried “oh!” so suddenly, it -startled Rose. She jumped; her foot slipped out of its crack, and she -fell. - -Down she tumbled, bumping herself on the rocks as she went. She came -flat on the bottom of the hole with her foot doubled under her, and -she gave a cry of pain. - -“Oh! what is it?” called Sue, in a shaking voice from above. “Is the -creature eating you up?” - -“Oh, no!” moaned Rose. “It is my foot, my foot! It hurts me. I can’t -stand up on it. Oh! oh!” Rose was a brave little girl and she never -cried unless she was badly hurt. But now the pain was terrible. - -“Oh, if there isn’t any awful creature there, I will come down and help -you,” said Sue. Presently she, too, came slipping into the bottom of -the hole. But she fell without hurting herself. There was plenty of -room for her beside Rose. She found that they were in a little cave. -But it was not a nice one like the pirate cave. It was damp and wet and -slimy, very cold, with the disagreeable smell of decaying seaweed. - -Sue looked around fearfully and shivered. “It is a horrid place,” she -said. “I am afraid to stay here. Let’s go out quickly.” - -She helped Rose to her feet; but when she tried to step poor Rose -screamed with pain and fell back in a heap. - -“I can’t walk,” she wailed. “My foot is broken, I think. See, it is all -swelled up!” - -Sure enough. The poor foot was turning the most dreadful color, a mixed -purple and green, and it was twice as big as it ought to be. Rose had -twisted her ankle badly. - -“Oh, what shall we do?” said Sue. “How will you ever get out?” - -Just then “chug!” came that same queer sound. This time both Rose and -Sue screamed and looked with wide eyes down into the farther corner of -the cave, which was narrow and dark. They expected to see some creature -come creeping out; but nothing appeared. - -“What do you suppose it is?” whispered Sue. - -“I don’t know,” said Rose. “But it is dreadful. I want to go home.” - -“What shall we do?” wailed Susan, beginning to cry. - -“Don’t do that!” said Rose. “It will not do any good, you know. Oh, of -course, you will have to go home and get somebody to come and help me.” -She shuddered to think of being left alone. “Go quickly, Sue. And oh, -do come back as soon as you can!” - -“I will,” said Sue; and she began to climb out of the hole. Rose’s -heart sank as she heard the sound of Sue’s feet growing fainter and -fainter, and she almost called her back; but she bit her lips and tried -to be brave. When Sue called down “Good-by!” she felt her heart grow -very cold indeed. It sounded so far away. Every one was so far away, -and she was alone in that dreadful place with no one to help! - -Just then _chug!_ came that sound again. What could it be? There surely -was something in the cave beside herself. Rose stared fearfully into -the dark corner, but still she saw nothing. She waited nervously for -the noise to come again. There it was, louder than ever,--_chug!_ And -this time a little splash of water spurted out of the darkness. Was -some animal splashing there?--Why, no! Of course, it was a little -wave coming in from the sea. There must be a crack in the bottom of -the cave. Well, that was not so bad. Rose almost laughed to think how -frightened she had been. But her foot gave a twinge of pain and she -cried “Ow!” instead. - -Rose wondered how long she would have to stay there. It would take some -time, she knew, for Susan to run home and bring her father back. But -already it seemed as if she had waited for hours. - -_Chug!_ came the noise again, very fiercely. This time a spout of water -spattered across the cave into Rose’s lap. She did not like this, and -painfully drew herself as close as she could against the wall of the -cave, so that the next wave should not reach her. But it did reach her. -In a few minutes there came another _chug!_ very loud indeed, and with -it there was a bang which seemed to shake the rock itself. In a second -a jet of water burst out of the darkness, spattering Rose from head -to foot. She screamed, for now she knew what it meant. The tide was -rising, and the waves were rushing into the crack at the bottom of the -cave. By and by it would be full of water, and then what would become -of her? - -There came another _chug!_ and a bang on the wall outside, and she -heard a big wave burst over the rock. A second later the spout of water -leaped at her, bigger than ever, and at the same time a little stream -began to trickle down into the hole from above. The waves were dashing -across Gull Rock, and soon the cave would be flooded! - -Poor Rose was now thoroughly frightened. Once more she tried to rise -and pull herself up the well. But it was of no use. She could not stand -on her foot, and she sank back with a moan. - -Another wave dashed against the rock, and when it trickled away it left -Rose drenched and gasping for breath. What should she do? She knew that -if something did not happen to help her in a few minutes, she should -be drowned. Oh, why did not Sue hurry? Why did not Papa come? - -“Papa! Papa!” she cried. “Oh, help, help!--I must scream as loud as I -can,” she thought. “Sue does not know. She will not think there is any -danger yet. Perhaps if they hear me they will hurry.--Oh, help! help!” -she cried, at the top of her lungs. - -And then something happened! - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE RESCUE - - -That same morning Mr. Smith, the hotel man, drove up to Sweetbrier -Cottage. He found Mr. Thornton sitting on the front steps sharpening -his knife. - -“Good-morning, Sir,” said Mr. Smith. “Do you happen to know a boy named -Tom?” - -“Tom Prout? Yes, I do,” said Mr. Thornton. - -“Well, I want to see him,” said Mr. Smith. “I have a five-dollar bill -that belongs to him.” - -“A five-dollar bill!” exclaimed Mr. Thornton in surprise. “What do you -mean?” Then Mr. Smith told him the story of the mosquito and the box of -candy. - -“What do you think of that?” said Mr. Smith, when he had finished. - -“I think that Tom was a brave boy to confess before all those people,” -answered Mr. Thornton. “He did wrong, of course, but he made up for it -as well as he could. Tom means to be a good boy, Mr. Smith.” - -“I am sure of it,” agreed Mr. Smith warmly, “and I want to give him a -chance to make up for that candy without paying me a cent. I guess he -will want all his money by and by for school or for something else. I -should be glad to help him earn something at the hotel.” - -“Tom would like that, I know,” said Mr. Thornton, much pleased. “He is -very handy with boats. I trust my children out with him every day.” - -“Is that so?” cried Mr. Smith. “The very thing! I’ll get him to row the -ladies back and forth from the yacht. I’d like to see Tom.” - -“I think we shall find him playing with the other children,” said Mr. -Thornton. “Will you come with me?” (You see, Mr. Thornton did not know -that Tom was an outlaw.) - -The two men went along the cliff to Beech House. It was empty except -for the dolls and the Teddy Bear which Rose and Susan had left there -when they went to look for the treasure. Then they went on until they -came to the pirate cave. But Kenneth and Charlie were playing there -alone. - -“Where is Tom?” asked Mr. Thornton. “This gentleman wants to see him.” - -“I don’t know,” said Kenneth. - -“He doesn’t play with us any more,” added Charlie. - -“Why not?” asked Mr. Thornton. But the boys looked at each other and -were silent. They were not going to tell tales. - -“We know all about the unlucky mosquito,” said Mr. Thornton. “Tom was -sorry, and told Mr. Smith the whole story himself. He gave his five -dollars to pay for the candy.” - -“Did he do that?” said Charlie, his face brightening. - -“Hurrah for Tom!” cried Kenneth. “I knew he was all right.--Hello! -there he goes now in his dory. Tom! oh, Tom!” - -Kenneth waved his hat and shouted, but Tom did not seem to hear. He was -at some distance out in the bay, rowing towards the bathing beach. They -all shouted and waved, and finally Tom seemed to hear, for he looked -around; but he did not show any intention of rowing towards the cave. -Perhaps he still felt like an outlaw. - -“He rows well,” said Mr. Smith, as Tom disappeared around the Point. - -“He knows more about boats than a good many men ever learn,” said Mr. -Thornton. “I wonder where he is going.” - -“We don’t seem likely to catch him this morning,” said Mr. Smith; “but -if you see him, I wish you would ask him to come over and talk with me -to-morrow. Hello! what’s this?” - -Down the cliff scrambled Susan, panting and disheveled. As she ran she -shouted something which they could not understand. But when she came -nearer they made out the word “Rose! Rose!” - -In an instant Mr. Thornton jumped to his feet and ran to meet her. -“What is the matter?” he cried, turning pale. “What has happened to -Rose?” - -Presently Sue recovered enough breath to speak brokenly. “She--she -fell!” gasped Sue. “She broke her foot, I guess. She--can’t walk. -We--were looking--for the treasure--in the cave--out on the -rocks--beyond the bathing beach.” - -“My poor little Rose!” gasped Mr. Thornton; and he started on the -run, followed by the others. They all ran as fast as they could, but -it was a long way. Poor Sue had found it so when she stumbled along -going in the other direction. Now she toiled back again far behind -the others,--behind even Mr. Smith, who was short and fat and grew -very red as he ran. He had to stop often and mop his forehead with his -handkerchief; but Mr. Thornton never stopped until he came to the -bathing beach. Kenneth and Charlie were close behind him. They heard -him give a loud cry when he looked across the beach to Gull Rock, where -Sue had said Rose was. In a minute they saw the reason. - -Gull Rock was now an island! - -A wide bay of water stretched between the rock and the shore, with only -a few stones poking up here and there on what had been the pathway -by which Rose and Sue had crossed. It was nearly high tide. As they -looked, a great wave rolled in and covered Gull Rock with spray. - -“Look at that!” cried Mr. Thornton. “My little Rose is out there! Oh, I -must go to her!” And he dashed into the water and began to wade along -the rocks of the hidden pathway. But the stones were slippery and he -kept stumbling. - -“You can’t do it!” yelled Mr. Smith. “We must get a boat.” - -“There is no boat within half a mile,” cried Mr. Thornton, in despair. -“I must try to reach her in this way.” Just then another great wave -came rolling in. It broke against Mr. Thornton’s knees. He lost his -footing and tottered. The pool into which he fell was over his head, -and he would have drowned if he had not known how to swim. The water -was growing deeper all the time. “I must swim over,” thought Mr. -Thornton. “But even if I get there safely I don’t see how I can climb -up onto those steep rocks. However, I must try.” - -Just as he was about to strike out into deep water, there came a shout -from Mr. Smith and the boys on the shore. “Tom! Tom!” they cried. -“Hurrah for Tom!” - -“Papa! Papa! come ashore!” cried Kenneth. “Tom has Rose in his boat!” - -Sure enough! Tom’s dory was just rounding Gull Rock, coming fast -towards shore, and in the stern sat Rose, very pale but safe. - -You see, Tom was just passing Gull Rock in his dory when Rose gave that -last cry for help. He had heard it, but at first he thought her little -shrill voice was only a sea-gull screaming on the rock. But when he -heard it a second time cry,--“Help! oh, help!” he pricked up his ears. -No sea-gull ever spoke words so plainly as that. Tom shouted, “Hullo -there!” in answer, and in a moment he heard a voice cry, “Tom! Tom! -come quickly!” - -“That is Rose’s voice!” thought Tom, surprised almost out of his wits. -He rowed as close to the rock as he dared, on account of the surf. “Is -that you, Rose?” he shouted. “Where are you?” - -“I’m down in a dreadful cave, Tom,” said Rose very faintly. “My foot is -broken, and the water is coming in. Oh, come quickly, Tom, or I shall -be drowned!” - -“I guess that’s so,” thought Tom, with a sudden idea, as a great wave -broke over Gull Rock. “She is down in the Punch Bowl! It’s almost high -tide. Oh, I must be quick or we’ll both be drowned.” - -Tom had no thought of being afraid. Rose must be saved if he could do -it. Now he had a chance to prove what a good boatman he was. He rowed -as fast as possible around Gull Rock to a place where he thought he -could land. It was on the sheltered side of the rock, where the waves -did not break quite so heavily; but it was difficult enough. He drew up -his boat and fastened it securely. Then he hurried to the Punch Bowl, -which was the fisherman’s name for that dangerous cave. - -Tom knew it well. When he came to the hole he shouted down anxiously. -Rose answered, so he knew that she was still safe. Down he climbed, -nimbly as a monkey. At the bottom he found the poor little girl in a -pool of water. - -“Oh, Tom!” she cried. “I am so glad! Do you think you can get me out?” - -“’Course I’ll get you out!” said Tom, feeling very big. Just then a -great wave came sweeping in and nearly drowned them both. “We must -hurry,” sputtered Tom; “there’s no time to spare. Come, Rose, you must -try as hard as you can.” Rose tried as hard as she could. Tom lifted -and pulled and pushed, and somehow or other he managed to help her out -of that dreadful hole. Then he half carried, half dragged her over the -rocks to his dory. Just as they were about to push off there came the -biggest wave of all. It broke completely over the rock, filled the boat -half full of water, and knocked both the children off their feet. But -they clung together and were not swept into the sea. - -“If we had been in the cave when that wave broke,” said Tom solemnly, -“we should both have been drowned. Let’s get away before another of -those big fellows comes.” - -He emptied the water out of the boat, lifted Rose in, and pushed off -with all his might. The next big wave leaped after them, burying Gull -Rock under a heap of foam. But the children had escaped. The boat was -moving through quieter waters towards the bathing beach. - -They heard a shout from the shore, and looking up saw the crowd of -anxious watchers. There were Kenneth and Charlie dancing up and down -and shouting, “Hurrah!” There was Mr. Smith, first fluttering his -handkerchief, then using it to wipe his eyes. There was Mr. Thornton up -to his waist in the water, waving his arms and calling,-- - -“Rose! Rose! Are you safe?” - -“Yes, I’m safe, Papa!” cried Rose. “Tom has saved me.” - -In a few minutes Rose was in her father’s arms, and he was hugging -and kissing her, calling her by all her pet baby names. Mr. Smith was -shaking hands with Tom, who looked dazed. - -“I’m proud to know you, Tom,” he said. “You are a regular sea-dog, -my boy. We must have you over to the hotel to help us with the boats -there.” - -“Tom, my lad,” said Mr. Thornton, as he started to carry Rose up to -the cottage, where her sprained ankle could be cared for, “I’ll never -forget this. Boys,” he added, turning to Charlie and Kenneth, who -stood eagerly looking on, “if you want to see what a real hero looks -like, there he is. You had better write it down in your pirate log-book -that one of your band saved a little girl’s life. That is something for -you to boast of, indeed.” - -“I must go home and get dry,” muttered Tom, turning away much -embarrassed. After all, he was an outlaw, and he knew that Mr. Smith -understood why, though Mr. Thornton might not. Tom did not belong to -the pirate band any more. But when he turned shamefacedly away, Kenneth -and Charlie came running up, and each seized him by the hand. - -“Tom, old fellow, we are proud of you!” said Kenneth heartily. - -“Tom,” said Charlie, taking something out of his pocket, “here is my -pirate knife. You have got to be captain now. You are the best of us -all, as Uncle Jack says.” - -“Hurrah!” shouted Kenneth, dancing up and down. “We have a real live -hero for our captain, and we will do great things!” - -“Oh, pshaw!” said Tom, turning red but looking pleased. He saw that -they no longer thought him an outlaw. “I don’t want to be captain,” he -protested. - -“You must, you must!” cried Charlie and Kenneth. “Mustn’t he, Mr. -Smith?” - -“Sure,” said Mr. Smith, “I think he will make a fine captain. But I -say, Captain, I hope you will find time to do a little un-piratical -work for me, as a plain sailor. I want you to help with the boats -at the hotel. Perhaps it isn’t as exciting as pirating or catching -mosquitoes,” he added, with a twinkle, “but I think you will find that -it pays better.” - -“Oh, I want to earn some money,” said Tom. “Some day I want to go to -school in the city.” - -“But if you go to Mr. Smith’s you won’t have time to play with us,” -said Charlie; and Kenneth added, “Then you won’t be our pirate captain, -Tom?” - -“Oh, yes he will,” said Mr. Smith. “I’ll only keep him a few hours -every day, when the ladies want to go sailing. Tom, will you be my -sailor man?” - -“Thank you, everybody,” said Tom, grinning. “I will be both, if you -want me to. I’ll be a pirate captain and an honest sailor.” - -“Here’s a little advance wages to begin with,” said Mr. Smith, handing -Tom the famous five-dollar bill. Tom flushed. - -“Thank you, sir,” he said. “But would you mind waiting until I have -earned it? I want to start square this time.” - -“Good for you, Tom!” said Mr. Smith approvingly. “I see that we shall -be great friends.” - -And Mr. Smith proved to be a true prophet. - - - - - The Riverside Press - CAMBRIDGE · MASSACHUSETTS - U · S · A - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDS AND COUSINS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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