For the Children

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16904, 1 December 1922, Page 3

For the Children

“ TREASURE ISLAND.” *• Aunt Nan,” called Arthur, “ the Min is out to-day ; let’s go to the pinewood- —here are Ellis and Dan. too!” •• Well, chicks,” said Aunt Nancy, “ it surely is the loveliest morning I. ever saw. Let’s make a. day ot it and cook lunch in the pinevvood ! Yvonne, dear, run and ask Cookie to make us a few sandwiches and pack up a bag of potatoes and some apples.” Yvonne was already off’ to the kitchen, before the sentence was finished, and the boys were lansackiug their cupboards for likely articles to take on such an expedition, such as jaekknives. string matches a corkscrew (destination unknown), sealingwax (you never can tell!) a couple of blackened corks and sundry articles of apparently no value whatever, except to their owners! Cookie wa s immediately equal to the occasion. “ I felt oat in raa bones dis ir.qrnin ,” she declared, nodding her qieasnnt black face. Presently th© little caravan was teady. Ellis and Arthur carried the provisions in haversacks on their backs. They marched up the hill in tlio glorious sunshine of a South African winter’s day (their- home was in the Cape Peninsula) with the silvery “ slang-grass A’ on every side, and now and then a pretty pink and white flower peeping up above the soft damp scil, for vrinter is the rainy season there. After a good long tramp they reached the pinewood. In the' Cape Peninsula they have a peculiar pine, called the umbrella pine, which spreads out on top like, an t umbrella, hut leaves plenty of space below. This was, of ©purses’ an ideal place for games, especially as the thick needles on top had kept tli© ground fairly Leo from moisture. BUILDING THE HUT. First, on. their arrival, a hut had to be built. This took up all their time before lunch. The boys broke and cut branches which formed a framework between, three pines standing close together. Then thri framework was thick!v thatched with green from a nearby Australian willow bush. This non would have offered a satisfactory shelter to any bushranger, and the boys felt they had put in a good morning’s work. Meanwhile Yvonne, with true domestic instincts, had kindled a fire. First it had to be made very hot, so i as to form plenty of glowing coals, into which the potatoes were put when the boys were ready for lunch. It is true that these potatoes got rather i more th in their share of blackness, and ! the faces and hands of the children partook largely of this sombre colour; | but nobody minded and nothing ’ever tasted so good as those potatoes. In the distance, as they’ sat under the pines, round the smouldering embers, they could see the azure waters of False Bay and the range of Blue Mountains, leading off to Cap© Town. Nobody talked,- as potato after potato disappeared, interspersed with delicious chicken sandwiches ’ At last. Auut Nun said, as she removed the traces of charcoal from her face and hands with her handkerchief : “Children, T know a lovely •’•anv Tv ’ ing tp play no—. Y© the book ‘ Treasure Island *? ” Elii=» and Arthur, whose mouths were still k foil of v potatoes, grunted assent, but

the younger ones did not know it. •‘Well,-’ said Aunt Nan, ' I’ll quickly toll you what the story, us about, ;o that you will understand the game. Robert Louis Stevenson was a great writer, who wrote this, story, and it was all about- a place- called Treas uro Island, whore pirates, used to go and hide their treasures. There was especially one called Captain Flint, who buried a great deal of treasure there, only nobody knew where, hut he left a chart showing where to find i' One pirate had the chart a:ul wanted to go aml get the gold, but t illers found out that he had the chart and a very exciting story is told how they all go to Treasure Island to find the spot where the treasure was buried. Now what- we are going to play is this : 1 shall draw a chart, of this wood and there will be directions on it how to find a pertain, treasure which 1 have 'buried sc mew he re in it. This chart 1 am going to pin on a. treetrunk. when you arc not looking, and then you must all set out and find it Of course, the one who finds the chart had better look out that the others do not steal it from him. as they will try to do. He must run and find the treasure as quickly as possible.' THE CHART IS DRAWN. So Aunt Nan drew her chart with irtiiqato directions, and went away right into the wood, where she pinned if ou the trunk of a tree. Before that, when the children were all occupied, she had. buried seme apples behind the hut they 3iad built. When she got, back to the fire place (which they had carefully beaten out with brunches to prevent any conflagration) she gave Liie signal for the hunt to start. The;, were off like the wind into the wood, running hither and thither and looking round every tree-stem for the precious document. After about twenty minutes. Ellis noticed Arthur slipping off quietly by himself. This looked suspicions. so. Ellis tore after him. Arthur no soonoiysaw himself pursued than he raced ahead at top .speed, for he had the chart in his trouser pocket. Ellis, now convinced that Arthur had the chart, doubled, his efforts. A mad race ensued. Then it struck Arthur that he j had to look up further directions oiC itn chart. He was obliged to stDim and pull it cut of bis pocket. Ellis ! took advantage of this delay Lc catch up. and. flinging himself on his quarry, there ensued a furious struggle for the chart. They rolled on tlje ground, Arthur trying to lie on top of the precious paper. But Ellis managed to pull i- out and, before Arthur could regain his feed, was off with it. By this time the other pirates were in full hue and cry behind. ‘ Stop him!” yelled Arthur. “He’s got the chart!” But Ellis knew a trick or two. He doubled behind a treetrunk. so that the whole party rushed j ast him. This gave him time to study the chart. Before the other-, had discovered their mistake, he was making for the hack of the hut, where the treasure was buried. Quickly he unearthed the apples and triumphant!v hit into the first one ns the other*. l*i less and dishevelled, came rush - iug up Aunt Nan was laughing heartily, and thy children all Joined in. They voted it a lovely game and were quite ready. to-start for it second trens-T-M-o/ V>Tvf-, xdcrht. n.Tppr Rr?t *rvn+. ’NTuri,will soon call us out arain to go hunting on Treasure Island.”*