The Island Bride — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

42 CAST AWAY. “ Some person, has passed this way,” he said, “ The stich is too thick to have been broken by the cocoanut, Perhups, however, it may have been done by one of our own party.” | “ Not by me,” replied Squint, “as I’ve never before paid 4 visit to this quarter.” | “Nor I. Ihave always passed to the right of these bushea on quitting my hut.” , “P’raps, then, we’d better question Bolt and the parson” They did so, and Trust immediately replied that he believed, but was not quite certain, that he had walked through the bushes on the previous night. “That sets the matter almost at rest,” said Squint, “but not quite. If the parson was only sartain upon the p’snt it would—” “Tt’s all right,” interrupted Harmon. “I have lived here several months, and have explored the island many times. There can be no person here besides ourselves. And now,” he added, “we will go after the raft. We may yet find the spars very useful.” - “Parson Trust—you must not go!” cried Miss Trundle, seiz- ing him by the coat-tail as he was moving toward the boat. “You must stay ashore to protect us women. I shall certainly die of fright if you go.” “Why, aunt, there is no danger,” said Minnie. “ You know—” “You are a wild girl!’ interrupted the spinster, “and will never learn the real proprieties of life. The idea of twe single ladies remaining for an hour or so without a protector upon a barbarous island. It is shocking to think of. Oh, dear! oh, dear !” Trust looked uneasy; but he bowed with his usual igcek smile, and said he would stay ; whereupon Miss Trundle rolled her eyes skyward, and, in a fervent voice, ejaculated, “ Thank God !” The boat, manned by Bolt, Squint and Weldon, left the beach soon after, and, with the spinster clinging tremblingly to his arm, the parson stood watching it as it receded. Tn the course of an hour the raft was fastened to and towed ashore. After it was secured the three seamen set themselves to work to prepare breakfast. In one of the bags taken from COMIC OOKS.COR) =