When nothing was left but crumbs and bones, Everett exclaimed tragically, “Sister, can it be that Chingaling forgot the dessert?”
“Why, there must be dessert of some kind, somewhere,” Madge said as she looked about. “Oho!” she added brightly. “Here is the fourth box. I forgot to open it.”
“Do not keep me in suspense,” Everett cried. “Is it, can it be, the one hundred oozy pies?”
“No,” Madge replied, as she took from the box a chocolate cake with thick frosting.
“Ah, well,” said Everett resignedly. “Deeply as I regret the loss of the one hundred pies, I will condescend to accept a piece of chocolate cake. I did not say a crumb,” he added, as Madge handed him a slice.
At length the merry meal was over, and the things cleared away. Then Madge exclaimed, “Now, Everett, you and Adele may explore the island if you wish, for Eva and I are going to sketch.”
“Come, fair maid!” Everett exclaimed. “We’ll pretend this is a South Sea Island and that we are about to have an exciting adventure.”
That they truly were to have an exciting adventure, they little dreamed.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE
“On this little island are pine-trees green.
A nicer little island, I’m sure was never seen,
With a hi-hi-hi, and a ho-ho-ho!
There may be cannibals lurking about;
There are some snakes in the rocks, no doubt;
But if there are, we will scare them out,
We merry explorers, ho!”