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THE ISLAND HOME.

CHAPTER I.

THE TROPICAL ISLAND.

MAX IN A COCOA-PALM-CHARLIE'S VIEWS OF DESERTISLAND LIFE.

"O give us some bright little isle of our own,

In the blue summer ocean, far off and alone."

*

As we wandered along the shore (taking care to keep in sight of Mr. Frazer, under whose convoy, in virtue of his double-barrelled fowlingpiece, we considered ourselves), we came to a low and narrow point, running out a little way into the sea, the extremity of which was adorned by a stately group of cocoanut-trees.

The spot seemed ill adapted to support vegetation of so magnificent a growth, and nothing less hardy than the cocoa-palm could have derived nourishment from such a soil. Several of these fine trees stood almost at the water's edge, springing from a bed of sand, mingled with black basaltic pebbles, and coarse fragments of shells and coral, where their roots were washed by every rising tide: yet their appearance was thrifty and flourishing, and they were thickly covered with close-packed bunches of tassel

A

like, straw-coloured blossoms, and loaded with fruit in various stages of growth.

Charlie cast a wistful glance at the compact clusters of nuts, nestling beneath the graceful tufts of long leaves that crowned each straight and tapering trunk; but he had so recently learned from experience the hopelessness of undertaking to climb a cocoanut-tree, that he was not at present disposed to renew the attempt. Max, however, who greatly valued himself upon his agility, and professed to be able to do anything that could be done in the way of climbing, manifested an intention to hazard his reputa tion by making the doubtful experiment. After looking carefully around, he selected for the attempt a young tree near the shore, growing at a considerable inclination from the perpendicular; and clasping it firmly, he slowly commenced climbing, or rather creeping, along the slanting trunk, while Charlie watched the operation from below with an interest as intense as if the fate of empires depended upon the result.

Max, who evidently considered his character at stake, and who climbed for "glory" rather than for cocoanuts, proceeded with caution and perseverance. Once he partly lost his hold, and swung round to the under side of the trunk, but by a resolute and vigorous effort he promptly recovered his position, and finally succeeded in establishing himself quite comfortably among the enormous leaves that drooped from the top of the tree. Here he seemed disposed to rest for a while, after his arduous and triumphant exertions, and he sat looking complacently down upon us from his elevated position, without making any attempt to secure the fruit, which hung within his reach in abundant clusters.

"Hurra for Harry Clay!" cried Charlie, capering about, and clapping his hands with glee, as soon as this much-desired consummation was attained. "Now, Max, pitch down the nuts !"

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After enjoying the impatience caused by the tantalizing deliberation of his own movements, Max detached two entire clusters of nuts from the tree, which turnished us an abundant supply.-Page 3.

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