“I wouldn’t mind that.”

“Suppose you should be sick—have the measles, the hooping-cough, or the scarlet fever? Who would take care of you then?”

“I would take care of myself.”

“Perhaps you could; but I think you would wish your mother was on the island with you in that case,” said Frank, with a laugh.

“I don’t believe I should; at any rate, I should like to try it.”

“It is all very pretty to read about, but I don’t believe I should like to try it. What would you do, Robert, when the Indians came to the island?”

“I would do just as Robinson Crusoe did. I would shoot as many of them as I could. I would catch one of them, and make him be my Man Friday.”

“Suppose they should happen to shoot you instead; and then broil you for their supper? Don’t you think you would ‘make a dainty dish to set before the king’?”

“I am certain that I could get along just as well as Robinson Crusoe did.”

“Perhaps not; every one don’t get out of a scrape as easily as Robinson Crusoe did. I know one thing—I shall not go on any desolate island to live as long as I can help it.”