“She didn’t seem to be at all frightened. She shook hands with Hairslip Charles and asked Mr. Smith how all the little Smiths were, although there were none at all because Mr. Smith never had time to be married. Then she told her plan, and you can be sure it was exciting. This was it:
“She said that way down in the Southern Seas there was an island inhabited by a tribe of one-legged negroes. They lived on cocoanuts and whisky; they were very gentle and had no cannibalistic habits (which means that they were not cannibals). A long time ago, nearly ten years, a ship had been wrecked off the island with a cargo of Spanish gold and fruit cake. Also a brand new crown that had been made in Paris for the Island King. When the ship was on the rocks two sailors had swum ashore with the chests of gold and the crown. Then the weight of the fruit cake sunk the leaking ship. The two sailors had dragged the treasure way up on the island and buried it. But it would be quite easy to find. You landed and walked right to the very center of the island, then wet your finger and held it up in the air. The side of the finger that was coldest was the direction you had to dig and you were sure to find the treasure.
“‘Orange Marmalade,’ cussed Ike. ‘This sounds good. But how do we know you are speaking the truth?’
“‘Here,’ said the golden-haired girl, ‘is a piece of the gold. You see my father was one of the sailors who was saved.’
“She held out her hand and sure enough there was a piece of the gold, all yellow and shiny. Smith bit it and said it was all right. Then the pirate chief took a vote and found that the girl’s idea had been the only good one, and that, as they had agreed, she should be given anything she wished and allowed to go free.
“‘Please,’ said the girl, ‘may I have anything I really and truly wish?’
“‘Absolutely anything,’ said Smith, and then he got frightened for the golden-haired girl said:
“‘Oh, you lovely, lovely pirate,’ and tried to kiss him.
“‘Well,’ shouted Smith. ‘What do you want?’
“‘If I can have anything,’ said the girl, and looked with soft eyes at the soldier, ‘I want you to hold these two prisoners for just two days so that I can have prayers said for them before they die.’ Her eyes twinkled; she looked at the salesman and said to Smith: