Part 38 (1/2)

”'Oh, it's not real!' said Daisy, scornfully; 'it's papier-mache.'

”'I see,' said I; 'a stage prop.'

”'A what?' asked Daisy, in hurt astonishment.

”'Why, a--a sort of Siegfried dragon--a what's-his-name--er, Pfafner, or Peffer, or--'

”'If my father heard you say such things he would dislike you,' said Daisy. She looked grieved, and moved towards the door. I apologized--for what, I knew not--and we became reconciled. She ran into her father's room and brought me the rifle, a very good Winchester. She also gave me a cartridge-belt, full.

”'Now,' she smiled, 'I shall take you to your observatory, and when we arrive you are to begin your duty at once.'

”'And that duty?' I ventured, shouldering the rifle.

”'That duty is to watch the ocean. I shall then explain the whole affair--but you mustn't look at me while I speak; you must watch the sea.'

”'This,' said I, 'is hards.h.i.+p. I had rather go without the luncheon.'

”I do not think she was offended at my speech; still she frowned for almost three seconds.

”We pa.s.sed through acres of sweet bay and spear gra.s.s, sometimes skirting thickets of twisted cedars, sometimes walking in the full glare of the morning sun, sinking into s.h.i.+fting sand where sun-scorched sh.e.l.ls crackled under our feet, and sun-browned sea-weed glistened, bronzed and iridescent. Then, as we climbed a little hill, the sea-wind freshened in our faces, and lo! the ocean lay below us, far-stretching as the eye could reach, glittering, magnificent.

”Daisy sat down flat on the sand. It takes a clever girl to do that and retain the respectful deference due her from men. It takes a graceful girl to accomplish it triumphantly when a man is looking.

”'You must sit beside me,' she said--as though it would prove irksome to me.

”'Now,' she continued, 'you must watch the water while I am talking.'

”I nodded.

”'Why don't you do it, then?' she asked.

”I succeeded in wrenching my head towards the ocean, although I felt sure it would swing gradually round again in spite of me.

”'To begin with,' said Daisy Holroyd, 'there's a thing in that ocean that would astonish you if you saw it. Turn your head!'

”'I am,' I said, meekly.

”'Did you hear what I said?'

”'Yes--er--a thing in the ocean that's going to astonish me.' Visions of mermaids rose before me.

”'The thing,' said Daisy, 'is a thermosaurus!'

”I nodded vaguely, as though antic.i.p.ating a delightful introduction to a nautical friend.

”'You don't seem astonished,' she said, reproachfully.

”'Why should I be?' I asked.

”'Please turn your eyes towards the water. Suppose a thermosaurus should look out of the waves!'