THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS

Edward, who knew a lot about life oh a desert island, said the important tiling was to learn how to fish properly and to find out the best kinds to eat. He was quite sorry there was no ice so that he could show- us the best way to catch fish in frozen seas. So we spent our time in the rock pool*, bathing and fishing, and trying to keep cool. There was a separate part of the island that we could reach by wading at low water, and we went there, taking Alfred and Octavia with us. No one bothefe/1 about us or minded where we went or what we did. Papa was always busy, so there were no lessons, aiid Aunt Emma felt the heat dreadfully, being so fat; besides, she couldn't leave Mama. I've never l>een so comfortable in my life,, in a pair of dtick trousers that Jlr. Grant gave me, cut off at the knees. Richard had a burning glass and we made onr lire at the farthest point of the island, away from everyone. We could see the wreck rolling and bumping, with the sea washing right through her and the gulls still screaming round a* if they were waiting to eat her up, like vultures. I looked at her itfld could hardly believe that once she had had cabifls and beds, and dinner tables With knives and forks, and people sitting about her deck in smart clothes. It was if she had been a dream and only the island real, One day we were in our favourite place; Richard was fishing, Alfred and Octavia were collecting Wood for the fire, I was hunting for tilings washed up on the shore* (Often we found lovely things like travelling baskets full of clothes, and deck chairs and tables.) Edward was sitting with a crowd of boobies round him trying to make up his mind which one he was going to tame. They weren't in the least nfraid of ua, bitt often they were annoyed, and Edward said taming a bird meant being friends with it and that he must talk the same language. So there he was, sitting with them trying to imitate their squawks. The sun was beginning to dip, and we had just bathed, so we were not too hot; the sea was lapping quietly,

and »e had our little bit of the island to ourselves except for the boobies running about with us. I thought to inyspJf how nice it would be if only we hadn't been always hungry and thirsty. Suddenly I heard shouts from the other end of the island. Then the bell rang. I knew it couldn't be dinner because we had had it, and there we.re no extra meals; and it wasn't likely < to be prayers. I looked at Richard. He was stand- • ihg up, waving a fish at the end of his i line round and round hie head like a

sling. Edward and his boobies were all squawking and screaming together. The ehouting grew to cheers. Everyone was looking out to sea. "Look, Lucy! Look!" shouted Richard, and I turned rotmd and looked too. No wonder everyone had gone mad. There was a ship, a steamer, on the horizon. I ran towards Richard and we gazed at it together. "A steamer! A huge steamer!" yelled Richard, and we look

to our heclfl and ran to the tent, splashing up to our waists in the shallows that divided ue. Everyone was walking about, shaking hands, talking, shouting. Mama was in tears of joy, and Aunt Emma shook like a je.lly and laughed at everything. The doctor drew us all enormous mugs of water, and at last we had enough; he made jokes while We drank it. And then we had a real, proper dinner. No doling out little hits. We ate what iwe liked and as much a« we liked.

And all the time the steamer came nearer and nearer. I kept on looking at it to make sure it was real. Wo hadn't much packing to do. Mr. Grant had a rifle, a pair, of flekl glasses, six canaries, and an umbrella, and he. had more than most people. He laid them out in a tow and sat beside them, looking like a real castaway with his raggedy beard and Ms boots tied on with string. We sat down too aud gazed tliiungli his glasses in turn, e»«t» ASieed,