human
The situation is cleared up very much, Mr. Perry remarked after Hal had finished reading the diary.
gpt
The chief problem now remaining to be solved is, what became of your cousin?
human
In other words, that's the mystery before us,
gpt
Call it what you will, smiled Mr. Perry.
human
But it doesn't strike me as in the least mysterious. Evidently he was taken away from this island by the fellows who put him here.
gpt
And what did they do with him?
human
That, of course, we don't know, the latter replied.
gpt
They may have taken him over to the Canadian shore and released him for reasons of their own.
human
Then it's up to us to find out,
gpt
Surely. We've had remarkable success thus far. It would be a pity for us to meet with failure. That would spoil our story.
human
Story! exclaimed Bud.
gpt
What story?
human
Our story--the one we've been enacting thus far. Look back over our experiences in the last two days and see if you can make anything but a very fascinating yarn out of them.
gpt
It's a radio-college story, isn't it?
human
Yes, Mr. Perry agreed;
gpt
If it didn't involve my cousin in a critical situation, I'd hope the story wouldn't end yet, said Hal.
human
I'd like to see it run thirty or forty chapters.
gpt
How many chapters do you figure it would make thus far?
human
Oh, about ten or fifteen,
gpt
Then, to suit your taste, it ought to be only about half finished.
human
Yes, but for my cousin's sake, I wish it were finished right now and Alvin were safe with us or at home.
gpt
But wishes won't produce results nor cut off chapters,
human
No, the denouement will work itself out along natural lines under natural laws,
gpt
I don't think this story is going to amount to anything as a yarn,
human
Why not?
gpt
Because there's no villain in it. I never did like a story with a tame ending, and the worst kind of a story on earth is one that starts with a thrill and ends with a nap in a sunparlor.
human
I don't think you need expect any such up-shot in this affair,
gpt
Do you expect a villain to show his hand?
human
It seems to me that we have some villains in the plot already.
gpt
Who are they?
human
How about those sophomores who kidnapped your cousin and marooned him here?
gpt
Oh, they're only play villains,
human
How do you know they wouldn't do something worse than haze freshmen?
gpt
I don't; but until they do they're just play villains, and that doesn't interest me.
human
I see, Mr. Perry observed;
gpt
No, Cub returned slowly.
human
I wouldn't put it that way; I don't want anybody to be bad at all; but the fact of the matter is there are lots of good people in the world and a good many bad.
gpt
And to make a good story you think it is necessary to bring good people and bad people together, eh?
human
Well, that's what makes fireworks, isn't it?
gpt
Oh, ho, I get you now, said Mr. Perry.
human
You're fond of spectacular things.
gpt
No, I wouldn't put it that way, Cub replied;
human
It looks to me like a very extraordinary affair, whether it was hazing or not,
gpt
And you think we'll find a villain if we investigate it to the end?
human
Why, sure, Mr. Perry smiled.
gpt
I shouldn't be surprised if we'd find Captain Kidd's treasure buried on this island.
human
Now you're joking,
gpt
What kind of mathematics would you use to locate that treasure?
human
Cube root,
gpt
That means dig at the roots of a four-cornered tree and you'll find a box of pieces of eight shaped like a gambler's dice,
human
That's pretty good imagination, and, I think ought to put us in a frame of mind well suited for further investigation, said Mr. Perry.
gpt
Now let's go to the spot where Hal found that diary of his cousin and see if we can't discover something more of significant interest.
human
Crusoe diary , the three boys and Mr. Perry began a careful examination of the surroundings for further evidence that might throw light on the strange affair, which, for the time at least, appeared to defy the mystery scoffer's