Chapter 9—Phebe's Secret

cle.Imustjustscrabblemyroomtorights,forPhebehasgotagreatdealtodo.” Rosecaughtuptherugsandvanishedasshespoke,whileDr.Alecwentin,sayingtohimself,withanindulgentsmile, “Itmayupsetthingsatrifle,buthalfachild'spleasureconsistsinhavingtheirfunwhentheywantit.” NeverdiddusterflapmorebrisklythantheoneRoseusedthatday,andneverwasaroom“scrabbled”torightsinsuchhasteashers.Tablesandchairsflewintotheirplacesasifalivecurtainsshookasifagalewasblowingchinarattledandsmallarticlestumbledaboutasifayoungearthquakewasplayingwiththem.Theboatingsuitwentoninatwinkling,andRosewasoffwithahopandaskip,littledreaminghowmanyhoursitwouldbebeforeshesawherprettyroomagain. UncleAlecwasputtingalargebasketintotheboatwhenshearrived,andbeforetheywereoffPhebecamerunningdownwithaqueer,knobbybundledoneupinawater-proof. “Wecan'teathalfthatluncheon,andIknowweshallnotneedsomanywraps.Iwouldn'tlumbertheboatupso,”saidRose,whostillhadsecretscareswhenonthewater. “Couldn'tyoumakeasmallerparcel,Phebe?”askedDr.Alec,eyeingthebundlesuspiciously. “No,sir,notinsuchahurry,”andPhebelaughedasshegaveaparticularlylargeknobagoodpoke. “Well,itwilldoforballast.Don'tforgetthenotetoMrs.Jessie,Ibegofyou.” “No,sir.I'llsenditrightoff,”andPheberanupthebankasifshehadwingstoherfeet. “We'lltakealookatthelighthousefirst,foryouhavenotbeenthereyet,anditisworthseeing.Bythetimewehavedonethatitwillbeprettywarm,andwewillhavelunchunderthetreesontheIsland.” Rosewasreadyforanything,andenjoyedhervisittothelighthouseonthePointverymuch,especiallyclimbingupthenarrowstairsandgoinginsidethegreatlantern.Theymadealongstay,forDr.Alecseemedinnohurrytogo,andkeptlookingthroughhisspy-glassasifheexpectedtodiscoversomethingremarkableonseaorland.ItwaspasttwelvebeforetheyreachedtheIsland,andRosewasreadyforherlunchlongbeforeshegotit. “Nowthisislovely!Idowishtheboyswerehere.Won'titbenicetohavethemwithusalltheirvacation?Why,itbeginsto-day,doesn'tit?Oh,IwishI'dremembereditsooner,andperhapstheywouldhavecomewithus,”shesaid,astheylayluxuriouslyeatingsandwichesundertheoldapple-tree. “Sowemight.Nexttimewewon'tbeinsuchahurry.Iexpecttheladswilltakeourheadsoffwhentheyfindusout,”answeredDr.Alec,placidlydrinkingcoldtea. “Uncle,Ismellafryingsortofasmell,”Rosesaid,pausingsuddenlyasshewasputtingawaytheremainsofthelunchhalfanhourlater. “SodoIitisfish,Ithink.” Foramomenttheybothsatwiththeirnosesintheair,sniffinglikehoundsthenDr.Alecsprangup,sayingwithgreatdecision, “Now,thiswon'tdo!Nooneispermittedonthisislandwithoutaskingleave.Imustseewhodarestofryfishonmyprivateproperty.” Takingthebasketononearmandthebundleontheother,hestrodeawaytowardsthetraitoroussmell,lookingasfierceasalion,whileRosemarchedbehindunderherumbrella. “WeareRobinsonCrusoeandhismanFridaygoingtoseeifthesavageshavecome,”shesaidpresently,forherfancywasfullofthedearoldstoriesthatallchildrenlovesowell. “Andtheretheyare!Twotentsandtwoboats,asIlive!Theserascalsmeantoenjoythemselves,that'sevident.” “Thereoughttobemoreboatsandnotents.Iwonderwheretheprisonersare?” “Therearetracesofthem,”andDr.Alecpointedtotheheadsandtailsoffishesstrewnonthegrass. “Andtherearemore,”saidRose,laughing,asshepointedtoascarletheapofwhatlookedlikelobsters. “Thesavagesareprobablyeatingtheirvictimsnowdon'tyouheartheknivesrattleinthattent?” “Weoughttocreepupa