Дни грёз
A Saga Of The Seas
Forherewerelittlebaysofsilverysand,dottedwithland-crabs;grovesofpalm-treeswhereinmonkeysfriskedandpeltedeachotherwithcocoanuts;andcaves,andsitesforstockades,andhiddentreasuressignificantlyindicatedbyskulls,inriotousplenty;whilebirdsandbeastsofeverycolourandalllatitudesmadepleasingnoiseswhichexcitedthesportinginstinct.
Theislandslayconvenientlyclosetogether,whichnecessitatedcarefulsteeringaswethreadedthedeviousandintricatechannelsthatseparatedthem.Ofcoursenooneelsecouldbetrustedatthewheel,soitisnotsurprisingthatforsometimeIquiteforgotthattherewassuchathingasaPrincessonboard.Thisistoomuchthemasculineway,wheneverthere’sanyrealbusinessdoing.However,Irememberedherassoonastheanchorwasdropped,andIwentbelowandconsoledher,andwehadbreakfasttogether,andshewasallowedto“pourout,”whichquitemadeupforeverything.Whenbreakfastwasoverweorderedoutthecaptain’sgig,androwedallabouttheislands,andpaddled,andexplored,andhuntedbisonsandbeetlesandbutterflies,andfoundeverythingwewanted.AndIgaveherpinkshellsandtortoisesandgreatmilkypearlsandlittlegreenlizards;andshegavemeguinea-pigs,andcoraltomakeintowaistcoat-buttons,andtamesea-otters,andarealpirate’spowder-horn.Itwasaprolificdayandalong-lastingone,andwearywerewewithallourhuntingandourgettingandourgathering,whenatlastweclamberedintothecaptain’sgigandrowedbacktoalatetea.
Thefollowingdaymyconscienceroseupandaccusedme.
