human
Mr. Perry, don't you think two of us ought to stay here while the other two of us make the trip to bring Uncle John over here?
gpt
What's the use? Mr. Perry returned.
human
Nobody's going to run away with the island.
gpt
No, but we've established a camp here, pitched a tent, and brought ashore a lot of camp material and supplies. If we all go we'll have to strike the tent and take all these things back on the boat.
human
Well, I don't know that it makes any particular difference to me, the owner of the yacht replied.
gpt
It'll be broad daylight and we'll be gone only a few hours. It isn't at all likely that anything will happen during that time.
human
I'll stay here with Hal, if he wants to stay,
gpt
That would be about the only way to arrange it, said Mr. Perry.
human
I don't like to have any of you boys make the trip without my being along, and as Cub knows the engine of the Catwhisker better than any other member of our party, I think I'd better take him with me.
gpt
That's the best arrangement, said Hal.
human
And while you're gone, Bud and I'll play Robinson Crusoe and Friday.
gpt
Who'll be Crusoe and who'll be Friday?
human
Oh, we won't quarrel about that, Bud replied.
gpt
Hal may have his choice and I'll take what's left.
human
This plan will simplify matters, to say the least, Mr. Perry announced.
gpt
About all we'll have to do when we decide to start is start.
human
You don't need to wash any dishes before you go, said Bud.
gpt
Friday'll do that.
human
There you go already, laughed Mr. Perry.
gpt
I predict a revolution on this island before we return.
human
No, nothing of the kind, Bud returned.
gpt
I was assuming that the lot of Friday would fall to me. In other words, I volunteer to wash the dishes.
human
I think you'll both have to be Fridays, Cub advised.
gpt
The real Crusoe of this place has disappeared and we don't want anybody usurping his honors in his absence. It is our duty to find him, reinstate him here, and then rescue him.
human
And make prisoners of the buccaneers who marooned him,
gpt
Yes, and make them walk the plank,
human
We're not exactly right in calling Hal's cousin a Robinson Crusoe, are we? asked Cub reflectively.
gpt
You know Crusoe wasn't marooned; he was shipwrecked on his island.
human
Yes, but Crusoe was just a hero in fiction, you know, Mr. Perry replied.
gpt
Alexander Selkirk, the real Crusoe, was marooned on an island in the south Pacific.
human
Too bad he didn't have a wireless outfit,
gpt
Well, boys, my portion of the breakfast is stowed away, and I must remind you that the moments are fleeting rapidly, announced the director of the expedition presently.
human
Cub, are you ready to start?
gpt
All ready, the latter replied, rising from his chair and turning the
human
I would suggest that you boys try to raise some amateur over in Rockport and probably you can stir up some local interest there in this affair, Mr. Perry suggested.
gpt
I'm always in favor of all the publicity that can be had in cases of rascality, and this looks to me like something more than a mere hazing.
human
Why, dad, I haven't heard you say anything like that before, said Cub, with a curiously inquiring look at his father.
gpt
What do you mean by that?
human
I don't know, was the reply.
gpt
Maybe it's our remarks about Crusoe, buccaneers, marooning, and walking the plank that worked on my mind and set me to thinking about outlaws. I've just got a feeling that this affair isn't going to be explained along any play lines.
human
But Hal's cousin didn't have any suspicion that it was anything more than a hazing affair, according to his diary,
gpt
I'm not so sure about that, either. You know he explained his distress messages by saying that he had been marooned by some river thieves or bandits.
human
But he said in his diary he didn't want to tell the truth,
gpt
True, but he may have had a suspicion, nevertheless, that he felt was not tangible enough to incorporate in his diary. However, that will all be explained in due time, let us hope. Now, let's hurry. Good-bye, Hal, Bud. We'll be back as soon as possible.