," said Townsend. "He knows that the
island is on a scow and that the river is small and that his son always
lands right side up; that's what he said. I told him the island would
come up with the tide and that we'd wait here and row out when he came
in sight. He said there was no danger, that the discoverer is always
lucky."

"Oh, he's lucky," said Brownie.

"Nothing short of an earthquake can capsize the island," Townsend said.

"He's a whole earthquake in himself," said Billy.

"More than that," said Shorty. "If I owned a restaurant I wouldn't
leave it around, not unless there were buildings on both sides of it."

"And a weight on the top," said Brownie.

"Oh, that goes without saying," said Shorty.

"The blamed thing can't sink, can it?" Billy asked.

"I don't know how heavy his nine ideas are," said Townsend. "They
would be the only thing that could sink it."

"We'll reach him easy as pie----"

"Please don't say that word," Townsend pled.

"I think I see the lantern now," said Billy.

"I was afraid he might have eaten that----"

"I could eat it myself," said Roly Poly.

"It's probably all you get," said Townsend.

Pee-wee's surprising coup had not indeed caused any real anxiety in any
quarter. It is true that his mother, answering Townsend's thoughtful
'phone call from the Skybrow home, had expressed concern at his being
cast up with no companion but a banquet, but no one, not even his
parents, feared for his safety.

The river was too tame and narrow, and the island altogether too secure
upon its vast scow to introduce the smallest element of peril into his
exploit. The tide would have to come up and upon its expanding bosom
the gorged hero would return to his native land. Roy and his friends,
knowing that Pee-wee's new victims were to rejoin him, went to their
several homes to rifle kitchens and turn pantries inside out.

"Yes, that's his light, all right," said Billy.

"That you, Discoverer?" Townsend called, as the light bobbed gayly
nearer and nearer. It was coming up the channel.

"Sure," called Pee-wee. "I've got something new! I've got a big
surprise for you!"

"Another?" said Townsend.

"It's alive," Pee-wee shouted. "Is the party all over?"

"Oh, absolutely," Townsend called; "you closed it up. Have you got two
or three salted almonds over there?"

"Sure," Pee-wee shouted reassuringly, "six or seven."

It was funny with what an air of humorous resignation Townsend