The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRUISE OF “So in this way we worked together, living in charming companionship, and I watched my Mary grow up to be the beautiful girl she is to-day.” The girl’s face flushed a little. “You must not say such things be- fore men, father,” she said. “ Well, now that the opportunity has come for us to go to England again, you will hear it from more than one. I suppose, gentlemen, you will not object to taking us with you.” “QObject! Seems to me now that’s just what we came for,” said Ross. ‘“‘T’m going to change the name of the professor’s bird. I’m going to rechris- ten it Good Luck.” “Well, Mr. Donaldson,” I put in, “you certainly deserve great credit. But how in the world did you learn to make cloth? ” “Well, my wife, bemg an English- woman, knew something of the loom. +uided by her, 1 contrived a machine she could use, and then we pulled the silky fibers of such trees as bore them on the inner bark. Now Mary is an adept, and I fancy turns out many a fashionable gown that is never ad- mired.” “We shall be glad to have you ac- company us home,” I said. “ We came here to oblige the professor, and will return when he has captured a few of these grotesque creatures he has named kaybee.” “TI fancy it will not be an casy mat- ter to get them. They live in a wild and almost inaccessible place at the farther end of the island, and never come from their rocky enclosures. They seem to be amphibious, having their nests on the cliffs, and yet spending much time on the water.” “That is just it,” said the professor. “ Are they turning from a land bird to a water bird, or vice versa.” “That’s another good name,” said Ross. “I think during the doubtful period I’ll call the thing Vice Versa.”’ The light wittiness of Ross’ con- versation seemed to have a charm for Mary, and she laughed repeatedly at his remarks. “TI suppose these big birds could be shot,” I suggested. “Yes. I killed one with a stone once, THE. HANDICAP. 205 but they are unfit for food. It would be useless to kill them except for dressed specimens.” ‘“ But I wish to capture some alive,” said the professor. “ These young men have a ready wit and can probably help me out. I think, gentlemen, we will be- gin to-morrow.” “IT would not leave the island,” said Donaldson, “ were it not for Mary. My wife lies buried here, and the place is sweet to me on that account. But it would not be fair to compel her to re- Inain here, now that an opportunity to leave has come, and, of course, I could not Jet her go out mto the world with- out me. “As I said, she has received from me a fair cducation, and could acquit her- self anywhere. But she knows not the wiles of the world. Neither does she know any way of earning a living. I had some money with me on the ship, but lost it.” “ And you are now at an age where it would be difficult to earn much,” said Foster. “Some of my old friends must be alive and prosperous enough to assist me.” “Ts the atmosphere not getting close, father?” asked the girl. “ And hear that noise? ”’ It was the kaybee squawking for all © it was worth, and Ross stuck his fingers in his ears. We were at least a mile from the camp, and yet the horrible voice of the bird could easily be heard. “TI have noticed,” said Donaldson, “when [ve been near the other end ot the island, that a tremendous squawk- ing by those birds was usually followed by a storm. The monsoon is about due, and is at most times accompanied bv other disturbances, and forecast by the heavy murkiness now so easily discern- ible. A storm is close at hand.” Soon after that, while we were anx- iously talking about the prospects of one of those terrific hurricanes that make navigation in the Indian Ocean so dangerous, the air cooled a little and a fresh breeze blew upon us. “Tt is coming,” said Donaldson. “Mary, get under the floor.” Mary laughed. ECOMRRIC LOG Colin