The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Why He Took Him Along. II7 and swam to land. He had a good drenching, but that was all. He sat by the camp-fire drying his clothes. I noticed from my pine tree, where I sat smoking, that he carefuly held a sheet of paper near the flame. I watched the boy curiously, he seemed so very important. After it was dry, he got up, came over to me, and putting the paper in my mand, said: “T wish you would read that, I think you ought to know what is in it,’ and went back to his place by the fire. I opened the paper and found this letter, written in a round, girlish hand: “DEAR Roy: Your letter, telling me about your camp and how you live, came a few days ago, and I have brought some paper to school to write to you on, and will answer it before recess. I hope Miss Knapp won’t see me, for if she does there will be another lecture, and lec- tures are tiresome in hot weather. But, then, school is out this week. Everything is quiet as usual. Jack was turned out of school the week after you left, and Harry has no recess the rest of the term, because they tied a cat up to the bell rope by the tail. I am glad you are enjoy- ing yourself. I often think of what a happy time you must have, and, Roy, I wish you would tell me all about Mr. Dallas, for, Roy, I believe I love him, love him, love him better than my life. Do come back soon and—here comes Mrs. Knapp! Good-by. Your friend, “DAISY.” That was the end of it all! I got up and went over to the boy, and put my arm around him, and he responded ECORNICLOOOKS (FO)