The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

210 THE done. We are all three going to fall in love with Mary Donaldson, and then there will be the deuce to pay.” “ Fudge! ” exclaimed Foster | con- temptuously. ‘ Are you crazy?” “ Let Ros ss work out the problem his own way,’ I added. “ What do you want us to do, Ross? Take our solemn oaths and sign our names with our aris- tocratic blogd ? ” “Better keep what we’ve got,” said Foster. “This is a very enervating climate.’ “Tt has been strenuous enough so far.” “Now, I say, fellows! I’ve got an idea. Let’s draw lots. The first winner has first chance. Then, if she don’t want him, the next one has a chance. And so on.” Foster and I roared. “ Why, you confounded chump,” said Foster, “nobody wants her! All 1 want is to get away from here.” “ Oh, that’s all right,” returned Ross. “T don’t now. But I tell you, as sure as we are here, we'll all be in love with her in a week. ” “Possibly, you amiable idiot, but that doesn't go to show that che will be in love with any of us.” “ You wait and see,” said Ross. come on. Let’s get away.” We took our rifles and each a large chest of cartridges and tramped back. We found Donaldson sitting, or half re- clining- “T was almost done for,” he said, with a faint smile. “I may not pull through it now, though the professor thinks I will. But I want vou all to stand here a moment. Boys,” he went on, in a low voice, no one else being near enough to hear, “Tam weak, and the professor says that two ribs are broken. Surgery in this climate is difficult, even with the best skill and appliances. While I hope to recover, I want you all to solemnly promise me that you will be good to my little girl. She is voung, has seen noth- ing of the world, and would be the vic- tim of any one who had a smooth and lving tongue. I know von are all gen- tlemen. Will you protect her if I die? ” We each silently stretched out a hand and took his. “ But ARGOSY. “With our lives,” we answered as with one voice. CHAPTER VII. TilE MOMYE OF THE KAYBEES. Our first thought was for the eom- fort of Mr. Donaldson and Mary. The professor thought that Donald- son should be under some sort of shel- ter at mght. Upon considering the matter, we all set to work, and before evening had a but erected that would accommodate them. Mr. Donaldson, who seemed to gain strength with every hour, though he was scarcely able to move, looked on with eves that expressed his gratitude. We four slept in the open, and did not go to the trouble of standing guard. We knew there were no enemies on the island, and 1f Mr. Donaldson had scen none in fourteen years there was little probability that we would. The early morning found us all astir, and the invalid much improved after his night of rest. “¢ Well, gentlemen,” said Ross, as we were finishing our breakfast of wild fowl shot by Foster and myself, “ what are we going to do to-day—shall we bhe- gin to hunt kaybees or shall we build houses ? ” The professor rubbed his chin reflec- tively. “You speak,” I said, “as though hunting kavbees was to be a protracted matter. Don’t you think after we once get started we can capture them easily ? ” “Oh, sure,” exclaimed Ross. “ Just put salt on their tails and bring *em home.” “It seems to me,” said the professor, “that the kaybees, being indigenous to this island, will remain a few days longer. The necessity of a proper hab- itation for a sick man and a young lady needs no demonstration. “TI realize that vou came here and got yourselves in this terrible fix simply to accommodate me. I do not wish to selfishly exclude all other forms of ac- tivity. I should suggest, if t were asked, that we build houses and let the birds eo. I qualify that, however, by asking (CO awa Ougle ~ ~~ eonmicbook: