~~Sport of Pirate Island::John Dough and the Cherub
The close together and great speed, and in about three hours from the time they started an appeared just ahead of them. Whereupon John said to the bird that him:
"Let us stop here, so we can the and see how we like it. This is into my body, and I'd like to stop for a time, anyway."
"Very well," answered the bird; and when they were over the center of the the and upon the ground. John the from his waist, and also Chick and Para Bruin to free themselves. The was not at all, but the had a line around John's body, although not very deep; and in some way the man had another of his buttons.
The place where they had was by and by of trees.
"This looks like a country," said Chick, around.
"It's than our old island, anyway," Para Bruin.
But just as he spoke the and into the air, and our friends in time to see a most come from the and approach them.
It had the of a man
It had the of a man, yet was too to be for a being, although it was alive. Its was a punching-bag, and its was a foot-ball. For it had two of those golf-clubs called "putters," and one of its arms was a tennis-racket and the other a base-ball club. This was enough, in all conscience; but the was more yet. For the were balls, and the nose a square of billiard-chalk, and its mouth a in the foot-ball where the had come undone. Taken altogether, this odd presented a most appearance, and while John Dough and Para Bruin at it in Chick asked:
"Who are you?"
"Sport is my name, and sport my nature," answered the creature, one frightfully, and until its mouth up at of the slit.
"Sport," the bear, gravely, "is something amusing; so I am sure you are misnamed."
"Oh! you're a balloon," returned Sport, kicking at the with one of his golf-club feet; "the kid's a and the other's a bun."
"I'm not a bun!" John, indignantly.
"Yes, you are! Cross bun, too. Hot bun. Cool off, old chap, and look pleasant."
John was too angry to reply to this speech, but Chick said to the creature:
"If you're going to be so disagreeable, you'd us. We don't to with people of your sort."
"Ho, ho! ha, ha!" laughed Sport; "don't to associate, eh? Do you know where you are?"
"No," said Chick, "and I don't care."
THE RETIRED PIRATES
"Well, this is by retired and bandits, who make every one that lands here pay a ransom, or else—"
"Or else what?" asked John, as Sport stopped and gave another wink.
"Or else they 'em in oil for three days," was the reply.
"Well," said the bear, "we can't pay a ransom, that's certain; but I'm not of being in oil. I'm indestructible."
"But I'm not!" John, much alarmed. "It would my to be in oil, and Chick would overheated. I'm it would melt your rubber, too, my dear Para."
"Would it?" asked the bear, with a start. "Then let us away from this at once!"
"By all means!" John Dough.
"And the sooner the better," Chick.
But as they to look for the flamingoes, the who called himself Sport his punching-bag with his tennis-racket arm, and at the a of men ran out of of trees and the and Chick and the man.
These men had beards, noses, and black eyes; and they red around their waists; and leggings, and open at the throats; and in their belts were many and and pistols.
"Whoop! whoo—o—o!" they screeched, like Indians; and their leader, who was looking than any of his followers, out:
"Avast, there, my hearties! Here's a for either a or a pot of oil!"
"Then it's the oil," said Para Bruin, despondently; "for we have no ransom."
"You may as well start the bonfire," Chick.
But John Dough up to the and asked:
"How much do you require?"
"Well," answered the chief, "you're not much, yourself, and the child's too small to count; but a like that is ten pieces-of-eight or a jewel."
"I will give you a for him, as a ransom," said John, "provided you will then permit us to in peace."
"All right," the pirate; "hand over the and you may go."
I will give you a for him, as a
ransom.
So John a from the and out of his one of the three diamonds which the had him in the Isle of Phreex. It most in the sunlight, and the of the also with greed. For he had noticed two other on John's body, to the one the diamond had been out of. Taking the diamond in his dirty hand he said:
"Well, where are the other jewels?"
"You to accept this one as our ransom," answered the man.
"You me. I said three," the pirate; and to his men he shouted: "Didn't I say three, boys?"
"You did! You said three sparklers!" the retired and bandits, in a loud chorus. So John, with a of regret, the other two diamonds out of his and gave them to the chief.
"Now," said the pirate, "I will allow you to go. But where you can go to is a to me, for you are on an island."
"Stop!" another man, as they to depart. "You've got to settle with me, now. I'm the chief, and I also a ransom."
"I have the all the diamonds I had," said John.
"Then you shall surely in oil!" the bandit, fearfully. "Seize them, my men, and away with them to the furnace."
But just then came a of wings, and the four and along just over the of the prisoners. Instantly the the end of a and was by one of the birds. John Dough the of another with his right hand, and was also high above the of the and bandits, while Chick sat the of from the two and into the sky with grace.
Meantime the their and at the in a of rage.
"Wait a minute!" Para Bruin called to the which was him; for he that just him was the of the person who had called himself Sport. The bird obeyed, in the air; and at once the himself into a ball, let go the cord, and toward the ground.
The of rubber, descending, the Sport and him upon the ground. Then up into the air the again, and once more the that was to the flamingo's foot.
"Well done!" called the Cherub, while the and were to the Sport.
"That was a deed, my good Para!" said the man.
"Oh, I'm a bouncer, all right!" answered the bear, proudly. "But now let us away from this place as soon as possible."
So the across the sea with them, and John Dough that he more easily while the bird's than when the had been around his body. Chick also with perfect comfort, but Para Bruin was to the times around his paw, to prevent it from out of his grasp.
The of rubber, descending...
