Читать книгу Wrecked on Spider Island; Or, How Ned Rogers Found the Treasure онлайн

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“How can a feller feel like that when he hasn’t got any home to go to?” Ned asked with a mirthless laugh. “All the same, I wish I was on shore.”

“Why? You seem to be gettin’ along well enough here.”

“I am so far as the work goes; but there’s more that’s worryin’ me.”

“What is it, lad? You’re too young to have very big troubles.”

“If you’d promise me somethin’ I’d feel a good deal better.”

“Then out with it, for a boy like you don’t want to keep anything very serious on his mind too long at a time.”

Ned looked around to make certain there was no one in the immediate vicinity who could overhear him, and whispered:

“Will you promise that I shan’t be left behind when you sink the brig?”

Mr. Stout started as if having received a heavy blow from a weapon, and an instant later grasped Ned by the arm with sufficient force to cause considerable pain, as he asked in a hoarse whisper:

“What do you mean by that, lad? Where did you learn anything of the kind?”

“You was talkin’ in the pantry, an’ I could hear every word while I was sick in my room.”