Chapter 9—Phebe's Secret

ndpeepCrusoewascautious,youknow,andFridayscaredoutofhiswits,”addedRose,stillkeepingupthejoke. “ButthisCrusoeisgoingtopounceuponthem,regardlessofconsequences.IfIamkilledandeaten,youseizethebasketandrunfortheboatthereareprovisionsenoughforyourvoyagehome.” WiththatUncleAlecslippedroundtothefrontofthetentand,castinginthebigbundlelikeabomb-shell,roaredout,inavoiceofthunder, “Pirates,surrender!” Acrash,ashout,alaugh,andoutcamethesavages,brandishingknivesandforks,chickenbones,andtinmugs,andallfellupontheintruder,pommellinghimunmercifullyastheycried, “Youcametoosoon!Wearenothalfready!You'vespoiltitall!WhereisRose?” “HereIam,”answeredahalf-stifledvoice,andRosewasdiscoveredsittingonthepileofredflannelbathingclothes,whichshehadmistakenforlobsters,andwhereshehadfalleninafitofmerrimentwhenshediscoveredthatthecannibalswerehermerrycousins. “Yougood-for-nothingboys!Youarealwaysburstingoutuponmeinsomeridiculousway,andIalwaysgettakeninbecauseI'mnotusedtosuchpranks.Uncleisasbadastherest,andit'sgreatfun,”shesaid,astheladscameroundher,halfscolding,halfwelcoming,andwhollyenjoyingthedoublesurprise. “Youwerenottocometillafternoon,andmammawastobeheretoreceiveyou.Everythingisinamessnow,exceptyourtentwegotthatinorderthefirstthing,andyoucansitthereandseeuswork,”saidArchie,doingthehonoursasusual. “Rosefeltitinherbones,asDollysays,thatsomethingwasinthewind,andwantedtobeoffatonce.SoIlethercome,andshouldhavekeptherawayanhourlongerifyourfishhadnotbetrayedyou,”explainedUncleAlec,subsidingfromaferociousCrusoeintohisgood-naturedselfagain. “Asthisseatisratherdamp,IthinkI'llrise,”saidRose,astheexcitementlessenedalittle. Severalfishyhandshelpedherup,andCharliesaid,ashescatteredthescarletgarmentsoverthegrasswithanoar, “Wehadajollygoodswimbeforedinner,andItoldtheBratstospreadthesetodry.Hopeyoubroughtyourthings,Rose,foryoubelongtotheLobsters,youknow,andwecanhavenoendoffunteachingyoutodiveandfloatandtreadwater.” “Ididn'tbringanything—”beganRose,butwasinterruptedbytheBrats(otherwiseWillandGeordie),whoappearedbearingthebigbundle,somuchdemoralisedbyitsfallthataredflanneltunictrailedoutatoneendandalittlebluedressing-gownattheother,whiletheknobsprovedtobeatoilet-case,rubbers,andasilvermug. “Oh,thatslyPhebe!Thiswasthesecret,andshebundledupthosethingsafterIwentdowntotheboat,”criedRose,withsparklingeyes. “Guesssomethingissmashedinside,forabitofglassfellout,”observedWill,astheydepositedthebundleatherfeet. “Catchagirlgoinganywherewithoutalooking-glass.Wehaven'tgotoneamongthewholelotofus,”addedMac,withmasculinescorn. “DandyhasIcaughthimtouchinguphiswigbehindthetreesafterourswim,”cutinGeordie,waggingaderisivefingeratSteve,whopromptlysilencedhimbyasmartrapontheheadwiththedrum-stickhehadjustpolishedoff. “Come,come,youlazylubbers,falltowork,orweshallnotbereadyformamma.TakeRose'sthingstohertent,andtellherallaboutit,Prince.MacandSteve,youcutawayandbringuptherestofthestrawandyousmallchaps,clearoffthetable,ifyouhavestuffedallyoucan.Please,uncle,I'dlikeyouradviceabouttheboundarylinesandthebestplaceforthekitchen.” Everyoneobeyedthechief,andRosewasescortedtohertentbyCharlie,whodevotedhimselftoherservice.Shewascharmedwithherquarters,andstillmoresowiththeprogrammewhichheunfoldedbeforeherastheyworked. “Wealwayscampoutsomewhereinvacation,andthisyearwet