Coco Bolo: King of the Floating Islands

by Sidford F. Hamp

Thereupon, the Crew, holding the coil of rope in his left hand, swung the anchor round and round his head and threw it to the Admiral.

Instead of catching it in his hands, or getting out of its way altogether, as most people would have done, and as the children of course thought he would do, the Admiral whipped off his cocked hat and bending forward allowed the anchor to hit him crack on the top of his head.

"Oh!" cried both little girls, running forward. "Did it hurt you very badly?"

"Not at all, thank you," replied the Admiral with a genial smile, as he stooped to pick up the anchor. "A little thing like that doesn't hurt a Boxwood."

Allowed the anchor to hit him

So saying, he began to pull upon the rope, drawing the boat close up to the shore, when he remarked:

"Now, your Royal Highnesses, if you'll step aboard we'll start at once."

"Why do you keep on calling us 'Royal Highnesses'?" asked Margaret; for neither she nor Frances had ever heard the title before and they did not know what it meant.