The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

216 she was not a subject for conversation while on the island. Mr. Donaldson improved under the professor’s care, and by the time the lumber was ready for the new house he could walk about. “Gentlemen,” he said one day, “I have been studying this problem of ours. I wish, now that I am able to be of some service, to add my voice to vour councils.” It was then two weeks since we had landed on the island. Fach day had been as its predecessor, save that we had-not experienced another hurricane. We worked at the timber, hunted, and Ross, who liked to fish, furnished us with sea food. Not a sign had been seen of the yacht. Every day some one went to the shore to look, but no Siren showed in the offing. “Mr. Donaldson,” I said, in reply to his remark, “we will be glad to have you with us in our confabs. They don’t amount to much as a rule, but you know if we didn’t talk we might forget the language.” “JT think since you have met with vour disaster you have talked to some purpose,” replied Mr. Donaldson. “ It certainly can be said without fear of contradiction that it would be hard to find four men who would accept the conditions so easily as you have done. “ But it is now two weeks since that terrible hurricane. We realize that a ship could not live in such a storm. You must know your captain and crew. Let me ask if they would not return if they were alive, and take you away?” There is no doubt of that.” I said. “IT fear now that the yacht has gone down with all on board.” “That, unfortunately, 1s just the opinion I have reached. I-:knew you were hopeful, and I did not wish to in- crease the discomfort of your minds. But from the first I have been doubt- ful about the return of the yacht. Hav- ing been in an accident of that kind my- self, I know what to expect. “You have worked industriously to cut wood for a house. During the two weeks you have been here, you have slept out-of-doors, and vet you are all in excellent health: indeed, [ have no THE ARGOSY. hesitation in asserting that you are in better health than when you came. You erected in one day a house that has sheltered my daughter and myself. Now, after two weeks of labor, you will proceed to build such a house as would last for many vears, and at the same time you are planning on leaving the island as soon as possible. Is that not so?” ‘“T cuess we wouldn’t refuse passage on a ship if she landed,” said Ross. “No, of course. But do not look for that. This region 1s too dangerous to expect it. Your yacht 1s lost, and if vou wish to leave, it must be by your own efforts. ‘““T heard vou speaking one day of making a raft after vou finished the house. I have said nothing, feeling that a man with broken ribs was a poor counselor. But I have studied this thing. Why build a house at all?” “ Why, for vou and Mary,” said Ross. “We cet along all right.” “ Just as I thought,” rejoined Don- aldson. “ You will go to all that trouble simply for us. ‘Then vou will begin again and cut down trees for your raft. I feel that if vou really wish to build the raft vou should use the timber you have already cut. “It will take some time to construct anything that will be safe for us all to embark in, and a useless waste of en- ergy is not to be regarded favorably. The house we have now is sufficient for Marv and me, or you might say for Marv, for I am now able to take my luck out in the open with vou. Thus, we save two weeks of hard work by taking the timbers we have for the raft. “That is so,” said the professor. “Tm glad Mr. Donaldson takes that view.” ““T can appreciate the difference be- tween my view and the view taken bv these young men,” went on the other. “"Phey find here a beautiful island, a place where any one can exist with safety and comfort. They have been here two weeks and are in no great hurry to leave. I have been here four- teen years, and am old. Every week counts with me now. I am selfish. per- haps. I wish to go. GOHMGOOo SS (GO) awa