Part 11 (1/2)
”Well, let's run around this island and find a landing place,” Cub proposed
The run was ine controls
They circuated the island with unsatisfactory result
”That settles it,” Bud declared ”If San Salvador had been like that, Colu somewhere else!”
”Robinson Crusoe would never have found any footprints in the sand there,” Hal declared
”Yes, we'll give it up for the ti,” Mr Perry declared ”We won't try to scale any perpendicular banks, fifteen or twenty feet high, at least, not to begin with”
”I tell you e ought to do,” Hal volunteered next ”Let's accept this island as the center of probability”
”What in thunder is that?” Cub dehed the latter's father ”I thought you were the highbrow of your bunch; but here's our subtle Tee-hee putting a bit of clever phraseology over on you”
”Oh, I knohat he means,” Cub rejoined with a panicky haste to recover lost prestige ”I was just giving hi with anything of that kind”
”It indicates that his ht, Hal, we'll accept this island as a center of probability--what next?”
”Why, let's cruise around about half a mile in all directions and pick out those islands that look as if theyboats”
”That's a good suggestion,” said Mr Perry ”Bob, start the boat again”
The inspection required about an hour, at the end of which they compared notes and found that their island inventory disclosed the following conditions:
Three possible places of concealment for the ”Canadian Crusoe” had been discovered Tere sion of shallows andsliht than a canoe could es In other words, these islands were virtually isolated from all river traffic The other possible place of concealment was an island about five acres in extent, coroup of other islands, which were so overrun with ra bushes and trees, as to conceal the inner isle fro vision
”That is the place ant to explore first,” announced Mr Perry as reference was ree with you,” Bud declared ”If the prisoner left any traces behind him at all, we're likely to find theet in?” Hal inquired ”Too bad we haven't a sate and see e can find in the way of a water passage into the interior,” Mr Perry announced
”That ,” Bud inferred
”Right you are,” said Cub ”Me to the pilot house again”
Accordingly he resumed his position at the wheel and the boat was put in ainst too much speed in such places