The pirate band was sadly broken. Mary felt so sorry about Tom, who would not let her talk to him, that she stayed at home and cried a good deal. Except Sue, the other little Prouts would not go anywhere without Mary. Sue was the only one who went to Sweetbrier Cottage. But Charlie and Kenneth said it was no fun playing pirate without more boys. So they went off by themselves, while Sue and Rose played dolls in Beech House. Nobody was so happy as before that unlucky mosquito had spoiled everything.
All this while Tom had plenty of time to think. Somehow things looked different to him now. Gradually he had been making up his mind.
One day he got into his dory and rowed around the Island to the end where the hotel stood. As usual there was a crowd upon the piazza, with Mr. Smith in the midst. Tom thought it was the largest crowd he had ever seen. He hung back and hesitated at first, but finally he screwed up his courage. He went straight to the hotel man and stood twirling his cap uneasily. Then he spoke quickly:—
“I have come to tell you, sir, that I didn’t play fair about that mosquito. I knew what you said was true, and that there wasn’t one on the Island; so I went over to Mouse, where there are a plenty, and I caught one there. It was a lie, and I am sorry. I have just five dollars,—I guess that will pay for the candy. Here it is, sir.” And he thrust into the hand of the amazed Mr. Smith the bill which Mr. Thornton had given him to pay for his share in the pirate treasure.
“Hold on! Stop!” cried Mr. Smith, as Tom darted away. But he soon saw that it was no use for a little fat man like him to try to catch Tom, who had the start. So he sat down again, shaking his head.
“I don’t even know his name!” he said, looking helplessly at the bill in his hand. “But this relieves my mind very much. I am greatly pleased, ladies, that you have this assurance that our Island is without mosquitoes.”
“He was a brave boy to confess before us all,” said one of the ladies. “I like his face. I wish we knew who he is.”
“So do I,” said Mr. Smith. “I must find out.”
CHAPTER XI
GULL ROCK
SUSAN and Rose were tired of playing dolls in Beech House all by themselves.