orpha phillips recommended this
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From: orpha p. <rno...@er...> - 2006-11-02 21:45:13
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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html><head> <meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type"> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> <IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="cid:A11...@er..." align=baseline border=0><br> They looked grave at this prospect, but the biggest one said: We would soon meet death from starvation if you left us here on the island; so, as there is at least a chance of our being able to escape in your company I, for one, am willing to risk being drowned It is easier and quicker than being starved.<br> And, as I'm the heavier, I suppose you'll drop me first.<br> Certainly, declared Rob, promptly This announcement seemed to be an encouragement to the little sailor, but he said, nervously: I hope you'll keep near the water, for I haven't a good head for heights--they always make me dizzy, Oh, if you don't want to go, began Rob, I can easily-- But I do! I do! I do! cried the little man, interrupting him.<br> I shall die if you leave me behind! Well, then, get your ropes, and we'll do the best we can, said the boy.<br> They ran to the trees, around the trunks of which were clinging many tendrils of greenish-brown vine which possessed remarkable strength.<br> With their knives they cut a long section of this vine, the ends of which were then tied into loops large enough to permit the sailors to sit in them comfortably, The connecting piece Rob padded with seaweed gathered from the shore, to prevent its cutting into his shoulders.<br> Now, then, he said, when all was ready, take your places.<br> The sailors squatted in the loops, and Rob swung the vine over his shoulders and turned the indicator of the traveling machine to up As they slowly mounted into the sky the little sailor gave a squeal of terror and clung to the boy's arm; but the other, although seemingly anxious, sat quietly in his place and made no trouble.<br> D--d--don't g--g--go so high! stammered the little one, tremblingly; suppose we should f--f--fall! Well, s'pose we should? answered Rob, gruffly, You couldn't drown until you struck the water, so the higher we are the longer you'll live in case of accident.<br> This phase of the question seemed to comfort the frightened fellow somewhat; but, as he said, he had not a good head for heights, and so continued to tremble in spite of his resolve to be brave.<br> The weight on Rob's shoulders was not so great as he had feared, the traveling machine seeming to give a certain lightness and buoyancy to everything that came into contact with its wearer.<br> As soon as he had reached a sufficient elevation to admit of good speed he turned the indicator once more to the east and began moving rapidly through the air, the shipwrecked sailors dangling at either side, This is aw--aw--awful! gasped the little one Say, you shut up! commanded the boy, angrily.<br> </BODY></HTML> |