<h2><SPAN name="xi" id="xi"></SPAN>CHAPTER ELEVEN<br/> <small>WITA-TONKAN LEFT IN CHARGE</small></h2>
<p class="noi"><span class="dropcap">A</span>T breakfast, Sunday morning, Mrs. Remington
announced a startling piece of news.</p>
<p>“Friends, children, and Sagamore-in-the-making! I
have to surprise you! Aunt Edith and I are going to
Boston on a visit. While I am away you girls are to
stay with Aunt Flo-Flo at Rosemary. Anna and
Teddy are going to Isola Bella, and you boys are to
remain with Fred in charge of the Island. How do
you like the plan?”</p>
<p>A mixed chorus arose: “Oh, don’t go!” and “Fine!
fine!” “We’ll be good!” and “How long will you
stay?”</p>
<p>Mrs. Remington laughed but waited to hear from
Fred. He rose and keeping an eagle eye on his
future vassals, proclaimed: “Order shall be kept, or I,
Wita-tonkan, will perish in the attempt! Wough! a
Black Bear has spoken!”</p>
<p>“When you are in charge, you can really earn your
title of ‘Island Chief,’ Fred,” remarked Elizabeth.</p>
<p>“When are we going to Mrs. Charlton’s?” asked
Trixie.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</SPAN></span>
“I suppose you girls can wait and see me off. You
can pack your suit-cases for a week or ten days and
the Captain can set you ashore at the Rosemary landing
after leaving me at the steamer wharf. We are
going by the Boston boat you know—it is much
cooler.”</p>
<p>What a bustle there was during the two days that
ensued.</p>
<p>On Monday, Aunt Flo-Flo and Mrs. Charlton came
in the Orion to visit the Islanders.</p>
<p>“I thought it best to come over and take an inventory
of my ready-made family,” laughed Aunt
Flo-Flo.</p>
<p>“Oh, we’ll be good as saints if you’ll only take us
on enough motor-trips to last a month!” exclaimed
Elizabeth.</p>
<p>“Maybe the boys would like to sail over for a day’s
trip, too,” suggested Aunt Edith, but the boys had
disappeared from the porch. Fred had given them
the high sign for a pow-wow to be held in his tee-pee
immediately!</p>
<p>That evening the girls begged to be told what was
the cause of the serious and animated pow-wow. Portentous
looks were all the answer returned while Mrs.
Remington remained in the room.</p>
<p>“Say, who wants to walk to the south end of the
island and watch the tide come in in the moonlight?”
asked Fred, when it was found that his mother expected
to remain in the room.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</SPAN></span>
Every one declared they wanted to see such a
sight, and soon the room was vacated and quiet—Mrs.
Remington being occupied with her written
orders for Mose during her absence.</p>
<p>Once down upon the little beach, Fred announced
that he and the others planned to do lots of things
that his mother wanted done. Such as blasting out
a big rock in the middle of Treasure Cove, raising
a big new flag-pole, and making a pebble walk around
the little log-cabin which was Mrs. Remington’s
sanctuary when she was driven to retirement from the
“madding crowd.”</p>
<p>“She will love that!” exclaimed Elizabeth.</p>
<p>“Oh we intend doing lots of other things, too,”
bragged Billy.</p>
<p>“We’re going to cook our own meals over a camp-fire!”
declared Dudley.</p>
<p>“That’s to save Mose the work while you girls are
away!” added Paul.</p>
<p>“Listen to him! Why, you boys eat twice as much
as all of the Islanders together!” scorned Edith.</p>
<p>“Besides, I don’t believe you younger boys can
cook a thing!” came from Elizabeth, doubtfully.</p>
<p>“I wouldn’t want to eat the stuff you cook!” said
Trixie.</p>
<p>“Fred and Bill know a lot about camp-cooking and
they are going to show Paul and me,” admitted
Dudley.</p>
<p>The idea of having the boys do something to surprise<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</SPAN></span>
and please Mrs. Remington upon her return,
made Trixie and her girls wish to do something for
Mrs. Charlton. So a conference was held in Elizabeth’s
room to which Anna was invited.</p>
<p>“What <em>do</em> you s’pose Aunt Edith would like most?”
asked Elizabeth after all were seated.</p>
<p>“I know!” cried practical little Edith.</p>
<p>“What?”</p>
<p>“Her flower beds weeded and all that wild grass
dug out of the paths.”</p>
<p>“Oh!” was the disappointed reception of the commonplace
proposition.</p>
<p>“I can wear old gloves, you know,” ventured Trixie.</p>
<p>Her hearers laughed as Trixie’s nails still showed
the result of the earnest efforts of a city polish, of
which she was quite proud.</p>
<p>“Well, we may consider Edith’s plan as a side-work,”
grudged Elizabeth, when no other inspiration
seemed on tap.</p>
<p>Mrs. Remington was not permitted to forget her
promise to take everybody on the Medric for a last
farewell to her at the Camp Grounds where the Boston
boat stopped for passengers. Whether it was the
farewell, the sail, or the fun on the mainland that was
the inducement, she wisely refrained from questioning.</p>
<p>“What if it rains!” wondered Edith.</p>
<p>“Oh, we can wear clothes that won’t be damaged
by a drop of rain,” said Elizabeth.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</SPAN></span>
“Trixie can wear her checked skirt if it’s rain you
want,” plagued Billy.</p>
<p>“Now then, I’ll wear it just for spite!” retorted
Trixie. “I’ll prove to you by the sunshine that the
checks are not a rain jinx!”</p>
<p>Tuesday dawned clear and sunny, therefore proving
Trixie’s statement to be true. The merry party set
out directly after lunch as Mrs. Remington remarked
that the Boston boat was very early at odd times—especially
so, if one happened to be a little late.</p>
<p>The Medric’s engine helped her “buck” the tide
while Bill remarked, “We sure have got a favourable
puff!”</p>
<p>It was almost low water when they reached the
wharf and the Medric had to be anchored off the landing
while her passengers were set ashore in the tender.</p>
<p>The moment feet were on <em>terra firma</em>, the owners
started for the post office and general store where
candy and cake were sold; but, on the way a tin-typer’s
caravan was found resting by the side of the
main road from the wharf, and the diversion was invaded
and well patronised that day.</p>
<p>The meagre delights of the Camp Ground were soon
exhausted and time hung heavily upon the hands of
the active Islanders. Then Mrs. Remington announced
that the Boston steamer would be an hour
late that day.</p>
<p>“Oh, why did we leave our happy home?” wailed
Billy.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</SPAN></span>
“Think of all the fun we are missing!” added Paul.</p>
<p>“There are certain joys in a lingering farewell but
I say that some of them are drawn out much too
long!” remarked Fred.</p>
<p>“How! how!” laughed the other boys, and Mrs.
Remington joined even at the expense of her own
feelings.</p>
<p>“The question still remains before us—what to do
with this extra hour the gods bestowed?” mourned
Elizabeth, who had had visions of Rosemary in the
sunset glow.</p>
<p>“I’ll run over and ask that jitney man who is
watching us as if we were outlaws,” said Fred, starting
off across the road.</p>
<p>The man was very communicative for he had nothing
else to do at the time.</p>
<p>“Thar’s a merry-go-round back over that hill—it
was runnin’ all mornin’ an’ I guess it’s thar still.”</p>
<p>“Just the thing!” replied Fred, thanking him.</p>
<p>The suggestion met with instant acceptance and
every one started for the hill designated. But a disappointment
awaited them. The merry-go-round was
deserted with the sole exception of a small tow-headed
boy.</p>
<p>However Fred was equal to the emergency. “‘Come
one, come all, these steeds shall run around this track
’til set of sun,’” shouted he, beckoning wildly.</p>
<p>But Mrs. Remington would not allow him to tamper
with the engine or carousel, so she questioned the<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</SPAN></span>
small boy who turned out to be the proprietor’s son.</p>
<p>“Now, you run and find your Daddy and tell him
we want two dollars’ worth of rides!” promised Mrs.
Remington.</p>
<p>At the munificent offer the bare-footed urchin
showed a swift and dusty pair of heels to the would-be
riders, and soon returned with both father and
grandfather—the latter being the patriarch of the
money-till.</p>
<p>“Isn’t this fun! I’ve always wanted to ride on a
merry-go-round!” cried Trixie.</p>
<p>“Maybe you won’t think it fun after a ride!” said
Paul.</p>
<p>“You just watch me and see!” boasted Trixie, smiling.</p>
<p>“I’m going to climb on the animals while we’re
waiting for the man to start up the engine,” proposed
Billy.</p>
<p>“Me for the lion!” shouted Dudley, as he mounted
the king of beasts.</p>
<p>“Paul, let’s ride the white horses side by side and
pretend we’re running a race,” suggested Trixie.</p>
<p>“Bet’che a cookie I’ll beat!” laughed Paul.</p>
<p>“You wouldn’t beat me if these were real horses!
I can ride anything—even a colt!” teased Trixie.</p>
<p>“Oh, well, that colt of the Captain’s was green and
full of fire—the Captain says so!” said Paul, defendingly.</p>
<p>The carousel began to turn slowly by this time and<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</SPAN></span>
with many a wheeze and groan, it gathered momentum.
Every one laughed at its slowness at first but
the urging on of their steeds must have infected the
merry-go-round for it soon whirled at a surprising
speed.</p>
<p>Mrs. Remington sat near the old white-bearded
ticket chopper, watching the different expressions on
the children’s faces as the carousel went round.</p>
<p>When the first slow circle was made Trixie had
laughed merrily and cried, “Oh, this is a real joy-ride!”</p>
<p>When it went somewhat faster, she remained silent,
and as she spun around on the horse, passing
Mrs. Remington at rapid intervals, her face looked
grey and her eyes seemed fixed.</p>
<p>“Oh! we surely are going too fast!” gasped she,
finally.</p>
<p>“Oh, no! We’ll go faster than this—just hold on!”
cheered Paul.</p>
<p>“Oh, I’m sure I’m slipping off—oh, oh!” wailed
Trixie.</p>
<p>“You’re all right—just stick on!” laughed Paul.</p>
<p>“O-oh—Paul—I’m getting so dizzy! I’ll fall!”</p>
<p>“I’ll steady you; here, grab hold of the horse with
your knees and hang on to the iron pole in front!”
advised Paul.</p>
<p>“There goes my hat—and oh! the old thing has
shaken out all my side-combs!” came from Trixie,
weakly.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</SPAN></span>
“Never mind that—just hold on!”</p>
<p>“I ca-an-t hold ano-oth-er m-m-min-ute!”</p>
<p>“Keep a stiff upper lip, now, Trix! We’re slowing
down!” encouraged Paul, throwing an arm about the
girl as she swayed uncertainly.</p>
<p>And indeed, the awful whirl did slacken and in a
few more moments, with one last “yawp” the hurdy-gurdy
gave up the spirit—of music.</p>
<p>Then a very pale and shaky Trixie was lifted from
the race-horse and helped over to a seat beside Mrs.
Remington.</p>
<p>“Oh, wasn’t it <em>awful</em>!” gasped she, shuddering.</p>
<p>“Awful! Why, it was great!” cried Dudley.</p>
<p>“I should say so! Look, I got the brass ring
Trixie! Want it for another try?” asked Billy, generously.</p>
<p>But Trixie thought “discretion to be the better part
of valor.” She knew from actual experience what
a merry-go-round meant so she sat contentedly by and
watched the others whirl.</p>
<p>When even Billy had been sated with the dervish
delight Mrs. Remington led her escorts back to the
wharf where they found Aunt Edith and Aunt Flo-Flo
had arrived from Rosemary by land.</p>
<p>When it was suggested that the girls start back with
Aunt Flo-Flo at once, there was a chorus of protests.</p>
<p>“We’re going to stay as long as anybody—and say
good-bye,” retorted Elizabeth, fearing she would miss
some fun.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</SPAN></span>
The two chiefly concerned in saying farewells
thought this persistence worthy of a greater if not a
better object. But they consented to the delay of the
return party and in its own good time the “City of
Rockland” bore down upon the landing. Then the
young folks had the gratification of positively <em>knowing</em>
by evidence of their own sight, that their guardians
were well out of the way for a time.</p>
<p>“Oh, <em>gee!</em> we won’t do a <em>thing</em> while we’re boss!”
sighed Billy, with a great sense of the time before him.</p>
<p>“Some fun—I should say!” ejaculated Paul, while
Dudley whistled a medley of many tunes and fox-trots
and tangos.</p>
<p>“But the Island Chief rules! Remember!” threatened
Fred.</p>
<p>While on the way to Rosemary, the Islanders discussed
the fact that fine weather broke the hoo-doo
of Trixie’s rain jinx.</p>
<p>“But it hoo-dooed her in another way—my! but she
was green on that carousel!” laughed Billy.</p>
<p>“I never thought Trix could look so sick!” added
Dudley.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t sick a bit! I was only dizzy—only my
head!” defended Trixie, valiantly.</p>
<p>The boys laughed teasingly and Elizabeth looked off
at the horizon while groping for her poetic medium.</p>
<p>Finally, she turned to Trixie. “It’s a shame to wreck
a perfectly good poem for I love Tennyson dearly, but
the aptness tempts me beyond measure, so here goes!”</p>
<div class="poetry-container">
<div class="poem">
<p class="center"><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</SPAN></span>
THE JINX THAT PURSUED TRIXIE</p>
<p class="center">(With apologies to Tennyson)</p>
<div class="verse">
<div class="line">Like souls that balance joy and pain,</div>
<div class="line indent">With smiles and cries for help again,</div>
<div class="line">Fair maiden Trixie flies with rein</div>
<div class="line indent">Upon her good steed’s wooden mane.</div>
<div class="line">The tin-pan music full of cheer,</div>
<div class="line indent">Her friends’ loud laughter came between,</div>
<div class="line">And far in ticket-box unseen</div>
<div class="line indent">The Grey-beard gathered in the green</div>
<div class="line">From Wita-tonkan there.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">At times the organ piped its song,</div>
<div class="line indent">What time ’twas loud, her seemed it long;</div>
<div class="line">Sometimes her courser wheeled along,</div>
<div class="line indent">Hushed all her cries of bitter wrong:</div>
<div class="line">By laughing friends, with fuller sound,</div>
<div class="line indent">In curves the wooden racers ran;</div>
<div class="line">Her drooping head to bob began</div>
<div class="line indent">Upon the Merry-go-round.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">As in the boyhood of the year</div>
<div class="line indent">Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere</div>
<div class="line">Rode thro’ the converts—Pauly dear,</div>
<div class="line indent">And Trixie galloped—she in fear,</div>
<div class="line">She seemed apart from her steed’s spring!</div>
<div class="line indent">A gown of fated check she wore,</div>
<div class="line">Buckled with silver clasps before,</div>
<div class="line indent">A light straw hat embroidered o’er</div>
<div class="line">With woolen bird a-wing.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">Now this way leaned she, now she let</div>
<div class="line indent">Her fear the better of her get,</div>
<div class="line">And more and more unsteadier yet,</div>
<div class="line indent">Her nervous grasp Paul’s shoulder met!</div>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</SPAN></span>
<div class="line">And fiercer now she grasped the mane</div>
<div class="line indent">Than she whose elfin courser springs</div>
<div class="line">By night to eerie warblings;</div>
<div class="line indent">While all the while that music rings,</div>
<div class="line">And dins into her brain.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">As she fled fast thro’ sun and shade,</div>
<div class="line indent">The happy winds upon her played,</div>
<div class="line">Loosing the ringlets from the braid;</div>
<div class="line indent">She looked so helpless as she swayed,</div>
<div class="line">Her hat one side a-tip,</div>
<div class="line indent">Pauly had all that he could do</div>
<div class="line">To keep himself from falling too;</div>
<div class="line indent">He needed all the strength he knew,</div>
<div class="line">To save her should she slip!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The classic thus converted by Elizabeth was hailed
with loud acclaim by the boys, but Trixie said never
a word! How the poetess made her “separate peace”
was never told but Trixie was as friendly as ever the
next time the two appeared together.</p>
<p>Wednesday morning at the earliest permissible tide
the Captain and the boys were busy drilling into the
ledge of Treasure Cove. The boys were deeply interested
when they realised that before another tide
flowed over that ledge a blast could be set off. In the
meantime, they went fishing and soon had a fine mess
of cunners for their camp-lunch.</p>
<p>Knowing the extent of the boys’ appetites, Mose’s
tender heart ached in dread of empty stomachs and a
raid on his pantry when he was not at hand to defend
the fort! So he brought a large pan full of biscuits<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</SPAN></span>
and “fixin’s on th’ side” to the cooks. The “fixin’s”
comprising a hearty meal by themselves.</p>
<p>“Oh, Mose, you needn’t to have taken this trouble—we’re
just going to live a simple life while mother’s
away,” said Billy.</p>
<p>“Yes, you see, Mose, we’re now serving our toasted
bread and baked potatoes. Sit down and have some
with us?” urged Paul.</p>
<p>Mose eyed the charred bread and half-cooked potatoes
and winked at the Captain. “Ah don’ b’lieve Ah
will pa’take ov dis munifercence to-day! But, t’ank
yo’ all d’ same!”</p>
<p>The Captain felt very grateful for Mose for his additions
to the menu, so he added, “Oh, do sit down and
be friendly, Mose.”</p>
<p>“Yes, Mose, I’m just cookin’ the cunners! They’re
fine!” added Fred.</p>
<p>“Well, seein’ ez Ah fetched a bit from m’ own domain,
Ah don’t min’ ef Ah tas’ some cunners!” sighed
Mose, who was fond of this fish.</p>
<p>As Fred served him a delicious slab of the broiled
fish Mose remarked, “Does tas’ kinder good t’ eat some
odder chef’s cookin’. No t’anks, Billy, Ah don’ guess
Ah’ll have any pertates.”</p>
<p>The boys each took a potato and did their best to
enjoy them but it was not to be! The potatoes were
more than half raw.</p>
<p>“Lemme tell you-all,” said Mose, after the potatoes
had been replaced on the fire, “taters take a heap<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</SPAN></span>
o’ cookin’. Speshully when dey’se big and not cut
up.”</p>
<p>“Bring them here, boys, and I’ll show you what to
do with them,” offered Fred, taking the frying pan
and dropping a chunk of butter in it.</p>
<p>Then the boys watched and soon learned how to
fry good potatoes—an art many cooks lack.</p>
<p>“Now for the blast!” cried the Captain, when the
dishes and pans had been cleaned with sand and water.</p>
<p>“You boys watch Captain and me fix the fuse and
then when we yell you must run way up on the porch
of mother’s retreat and stand there,” ordered Fred.</p>
<p>The three boys were greatly surprised to see Captain
Ed cut the dynamite with his knife as if it were
a cheese.</p>
<p>“It looks just like a roll of yellow plasticene!” said
Dudley.</p>
<p>“It won’t act like one!” laughed Billy.</p>
<p>“You know last year, Captain and Fred blasted out
the boulders for our Council Place and we had to cover
the rocks with logs and things to keep them from flying
through the air and smashing the windows,” explained
Billy, for Paul’s and Dudley’s benefit.</p>
<p>“Oh, did you blast for that Ring?” wondered Paul.</p>
<p>“I should think we did! We have to blast for everything!
There isn’t a level spot on the whole island.
Did you think the pebbles grew so level and smooth on
that Council Place?” laughed Fred.</p>
<p>“I thought it had to be filled in where any hollows<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</SPAN></span>
happened to be but I didn’t know you had to blow off
the bumps!” said Paul, in defence.</p>
<p>That made the Captain laugh, and he now turned
and said: “Run to cover now, boys! I’m goin’ to
light th’ fuse!”</p>
<p>So the boys scrambled up the pathway while Fred
and the Captain lit the fuse and then ran to hide behind
a big spruce. But Paul, curious to note the effect
of that harmless looking cheese, lingered behind the
other boys, thus hoping to get a closer view of the explosion.</p>
<p>Just as the terrific blast rumbled, Fred sighted the
tardy boy. He dashed out, grabbed him roughly,
yanked him back to safety, and then pitched into him.</p>
<p>“Don’t—you’re hurtin’ me, Fred!” whimpered Paul,
with a better realisation of his danger as the rocks
began raining down upon the spot where he had just
stood.</p>
<p>“You ought to be hurt—good and plenty, too! Just
so you’ll never do such a fool thing again! I’m Chief
of this Island, I’ll have you to know, and you’ve <em>got
to obey orders</em>!”</p>
<p>Billy and Dudley ran to see what had caused the
quarrel and the Captain, who had seen the rescue, came
over to tell Paul a story as a warning in the future.</p>
<p>“You boys know the light-house just down off
Spruce Island? Well, last year, ol’ Captain Ball was
blastin’ out some rocks in the road near his barn. He
got keerless like at the last and stood too near—right<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</SPAN></span>
out in the open. And by heck! a chunk of rock as big
as my two fists come plumb down on top of his head
and killed him then and thar! Not a minit t’ think
of what he wanted done ’bout things!”</p>
<p>After an impressive silence the Captain added with
a certain feeling of satisfaction: “But he had a grand
funeral! The finest ever given in these parts. One
of them Dark Harbour millionaires lent the widder his
big private yacht to carry the remains to Metinicus,
where the Cap’n hailed from.</p>
<p>“Seein’ she hadn’t got to pay any costs for shippin’,
Mrs. Ball put all that money in a casket and it was so
fine that it seemed like a shame to put all them silver
handles and satin puffs in the ground.</p>
<p>“Widder Ball invited <em>everybody</em> to make the trip
with the Cap’n an’ most every one accepted the invitation,
too. Thar would have been room on that
yacht fer a few more—it was that big.</p>
<p>“Yes, sir! That was one grand funeral—what with
red plush curtains and willow arm-chairs everywhere!
And a dining-room fixed up with painted dishes and
sparklin’ glass! I sometimes wish how old Cap’n Ball
oughter know about that trip—he would have felt better
where he is, I’m sure!”</p>
<p>The boys had listened to the sudden ending of Captain
Ball’s career without due respect for dynamite and
Captain Ed, finding Paul had not been thoroughly
frightened by his tale, drove it well home.</p>
<p>“But <em>you</em> wouldn’t have a good time like Captain<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</SPAN></span>
Ball! You’d be sent home in a box and no yacht and
crowd of folks to sail to your funeral! So, just keep
behind a tree after this!”</p>
<p>Paul suddenly realised how lonely he must feel if
he was instantly killed by a rock and freighted all the
way from Maine to New Jersey, and he felt contrite
and humble for a full hour after the incident closed.</p>
<p>The rest of the afternoon was given to preparing
an old spar for the flag-pole. It was about thirty feet
in length so that all the boys worked at the same time
in sand-papering and polishing the wood.</p>
<p>“Next time I go over to the Cove I’ll have the blacksmith
make a collar to go around the mast-head, and
then we’ll have it all ready for the raisin’ bee before
your mother comes back.”</p>
<p>“We want everything done and waiting so all we
have to do when she comes is to hoist the flag,” added
Billy.</p>
<p>The following day Uncle Tom came over and announced
that he was ready to start the rifle-range and
teach the boys how to handle a gun.</p>
<p>“Did they say we could?” asked Paul, eagerly, his
desire to obey in certain ways, tinctured by the tale
about Captain Ball.</p>
<p>“Yes, the committee reported favorably providing
that I would keep watch of you all and never let you
get reckless!”</p>
<p>So, the boys painted a large target on a packing
case and set it up against a rock where a clear range<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</SPAN></span>
could be had. Uncle Tom chose a spot where no danger
to passing boatmen could be incurred.</p>
<p>The spy-glass was trained upon the target and each
boy was allowed five shots each turn. The use of the
glass obviated the many tiresome trips to and from the
target to count the score for every boy.</p>
<p>Only between the turns did the Captain go to the
board and put a dab of paint on the marks made by
each boy. During these intervals no one was allowed
to load or handle a gun.</p>
<p>Captain Ed made a splendid score with Fred’s Marlin
38–55 but Paul and Dudley took a long time to get
the proper range and sight. Their bullets cut into
the ledges right and left so that the Captain laughed
heartily.</p>
<p>“When we need more blastin’ done there’s no use
wastin’ money for dynamite—we’ll jus’ ask you two
boys to aim at Treasure Cove and your fire will blow
off the top of the ledges!”</p>
<p>The others tittered but were too much engaged to
care much whether the Captain joshed them or not.
Then, Fred, who stood at the spy-glass called, “A hit
for Paul!”</p>
<p>That spurred Dudley to better work so when it came
his turn to try he took great pains to aim carefully and
was rewarded by seeing the splinters fly from the
packing-case.</p>
<p>Evening came all too soon for the joy of firing real
rifles was intoxicating to the boys. They begged Uncle<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</SPAN></span>
Tom to be sure and come over every day, as early
in the morning as he could get away.</p>
<p>“Oh, but I’m scheduled to take the girls out on some
of these days,” he protested. “However, I’ll try to
get in some regular practising hours with you boys.”</p>
<p>The rifle-range was almost forgotten the next morning
when Captain Ed brought in the mail. An answer
from Mr. Remington to Billy’s plea for the launch,
authorised him to “Go ahead and get it if the Captain
says it is all right!”</p>
<p>As that necessitated an immediate exodus from the
island, an eager pilgrimage started for the little landing
near Saturday Cove, where lay the coveted craft
at her moorings.</p>
<p>To the disinterested eye she seemed old and shabby,
to say nothing of dirt. To Billy, however, she was
a vision of beauty and a promise of joy. The ex-owner
took the lad for a trial spin so that he could
learn the tricks of the little engine.</p>
<p>Billy disdained the tow offered by Captain Ed and
insisted upon returning under his own power. Not for
nothing had he watched and helped for weeks with the
Captain’s engines, hoping for the day when he should
be captain of his own launch.</p>
<p>That same night, as they lounged about Fred’s teepee,
the Chief made a suggestion.</p>
<p>“Now that Cap’n Bill has a launch suppose we make
an aqua-plane? We might start it to-morrow.”</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</SPAN></span>
The idea was met with delighted “Hows!” and in
the morning all started on the carpenter’s job.</p>
<p>The plane completed, the boys felt such a pride in
the work that they longed for some one to admire it.
Besides, they had to have an audience when they aqua-planed.
So it came about, that all of the girls and
Aunt Flo-Flo were invited to a bathing party with
aqua-planing on the side.</p>
<p>The boys drank greedily of the admiration freely
poured out by the girls as they stood about the plane.
Finally, the girls were invited to try it.</p>
<p>“Isn’t it awfully hard to manage?” asked Trixie.</p>
<p>“Not much harder than that wooden horse on the
merry-go-round,” teased Paul.</p>
<p>“Even if you should fall off you can swim, you
know,” added Billy.</p>
<p>“I’ll let Elizabeth try it first,” generously allowed
Trixie.</p>
<p>Elizabeth was a splendid swimmer and nothing on
or in water could daunt her, so Billy was soon towing
her along after his launch.</p>
<p>“Gee! That’s pretty good, Lizzie—for a girl, I
mean!” conceded Billy, as he admired the way she
stood upright and managed the plane.</p>
<p>“You needn’t have added that last—‘for a girl’; just
remember please, that I learned to swim at a much
younger age than you ever did!” retorted Elizabeth,
ruffled at the hated nick-name.</p>
<p>Then, when every one had tried the aqua-plane Aunt<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</SPAN></span>
Flo-Flo had something to say. “Won’t you boys come
over to Rosemary and hold a Council for some friends
of mine?”</p>
<p>What with rifle shooting, aqua-planing, and other
intense delights, the boys were not as enthusiastic as
usual.</p>
<p>“We’re going to have piles of ice-cream and delicious
cakes—to say nothing of other good things,”
hinted Elizabeth, her superior knowledge of boys
standing her in good stead.</p>
<p>“We-ll—seeing that you all want a Council so
much, maybe we can manage,” said Billy, looking at
the other boys.</p>
<p>“All right—when?” hastily accepted Aunt Flo-Flo.</p>
<p>“I s’pose Mose will freeze some cream for us as
usual on Sunday and Thursday so we’d better say
Tuesday, as that gives us ice-cream on an off day,” interjected
Paul, before any one could decide.</p>
<p>“All right! Then we can go marketing to Belfast
on Monday, and spend Tuesday at Rosemary,” said
Fred.</p>
<p>The Tuesday for the Council was a lovely day and
Paul took a snap-shot of Aunt Flo-Flo and her visitors.
The Nature <em>coups</em> were claimed by Elizabeth and the
three younger boys. Then Trixie formally presented
a red scalp to the Black Bears and Elizabeth followed
suit. Paul and Dudley also paid their forfeited locks
so that Fred and Bill had a number of brilliant
trophies hanging from their belts.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</SPAN></span>
Finally, the much-longed-for ice-cream was brought
and the pyramids piled up on the boys’ plates received
sincere applause and attention.</p>
<p>Among the cakes passed around were certain cookies
that the boys preferred to any others. So good
were they, that Billy remarked, “My! But these are
the best ever!”</p>
<p>“Who do you think baked them?” asked Trixie,
eagerly.</p>
<p>“Not you, anyway!” laughed he.</p>
<p>“Well, Smarty, <em>we</em> did! Elizabeth and I made the
batter and Edith cut them out and put them in the
pans.”</p>
<p>“Hoh! That’s nothing! <em>We</em> cook whole meals at
our camp!” exclaimed Paul.</p>
<p>“Yes siree! Say, boys, how about that breakfast
yesterday, eh?” boasted Dudley.</p>
<p>“Umph! You ought to have tasted <em>that</em>! Billy
went over to Islesboro in his launch and shot five red
squirrels. We skinned and broiled them for breakfast
and maybe they weren’t good!” said Fred, abetting
the younger boys.</p>
<p>“What else did you have?” queried Elizabeth.</p>
<p>“Fred baked some pancakes and we ate, and ate,
and ate!” asserted Paul, looking at his companions.</p>
<p>“I never saw any one eat so much as they did, except
at our clam-bakes,” said Fred.</p>
<p>“Well, maybe you <em>baked</em> the pan-cakes but Mose<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</SPAN></span>
was there to advise and start that breakfast going!”
asserted Trixie.</p>
<p>“Who told you so?” cried a number of voices.</p>
<p>“We just went over to get something Elizabeth
wanted from the Island and you were all gone to
Adamses for milk. Mose told us about the squirrels
and the funny mistakes you boys made while experimenting
on them. And he told us of the towers of
pancakes you boys made way with, too.”</p>
<p>“Do you know, we haven’t had our annual clam-bake
yet?” hastily declared Billy.</p>
<p>“That’s so! As soon as mother comes home we
must try and get it started,” added Fred.</p>
<p>“Oh, Trix, we have the most wonderful time at
these bakes!” exclaimed Billy, rolling his eyes and patting
his stomach.</p>
<p>So, in talking and planning for the clam-bake, the
thin ice of camp-cooking was forgotten and the character
of the boys for being first-class chefs was not
completely ruined.</p>
<hr class="divider" />
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</SPAN></span>
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