human
There's the island that seems to come nearest to the intersection, said Mr. Perry, pointing toward an abrupt elevation, a hundred yards long and half as wide and covered with bushes and a few small trees;
gpt
I don't see how anybody could be marooned on that place with boats passing back and forth near it every hour of the day,
human
Neither do I,
gpt
Well, let's do our work thoroughly anyway,
human
Shall we go ashore and look that place over?
gpt
Sure.
human
But what do you expect to find?
gpt
I don't expect to find anything. I had no expectation when I suggested that you boys canvass the radio field for information to clear up what you chose to call a mystery. I had no idea what might turn up as a result of such canvass, but I know it was about the only thing for you to do to start a move in the desired direction.
human
And something sure did move,
gpt
Well, let's run around this island and find a landing place,
human
That settles it, Bud declared.
gpt
If San Salvador had been like that, Columbus would have made his first landing somewhere else!
human
Robinson Crusoe would never have found any footprints in the sand there,
gpt
Yes, we'll give it up for the time being, Mr. Perry declared.
human
We won't try to scale any perpendicular banks, fifteen or twenty feet high, at least, not to begin with.
gpt
I tell you what we ought to do, Hal volunteered next.
human
Let's accept this island as the center of probability.
gpt
What in thunder is that?
human
That's a good one on you, son, laughed the latter's father.
gpt
I thought you were the highbrow of your bunch; but here's our subtle Tee-hee putting a bit of clever phraseology over on you.
human
Oh, I know what he means, Cub rejoined with a panicky haste to recover lost prestige.
gpt
I was just giving him a dig. He's forever giving me one, whenever I come along with anything of that kind.
human
It indicates that his mind is maturing rapidly, said Mr. Perry.
gpt
All right, Hal, we'll accept this island as a center of probability--what next?
human
Why, let's cruise around about half a mile in all directions and pick out those islands that look as if they might have concealed a prisoner from view of passing boats.
gpt
That's a good suggestion, said Mr. Perry.
human
Bob, start the boat again.