And it was his seemingly ominous mention of "cops" and fugitives which Minerva Skybrow and her friends, lingering at the little refreshment tent near the river, overheard. At that moment the desert island was bobbing against the thick rhododendron bushes at the edge of the lawn. CHAPTER XIX THE EARTHLY PARADISE "I don't care who it is or what it is," said Dora Dane Daring; "I'm not afraid of the biggest bandit that ever lived. I'm going to find out what those men are doing lurking about here." Without another word she strode forward, parted the rhododendron bushes, and confronted the marauders. "Well, I--_never_--in--_all_ my _life_," she cried. "It's little Walter Harris! What on _earth_ are you doing here?" "I discovered this island," said Pee-wee; "we're exploring it. One of these fellers is a native because he was on it before it was an island." "Look out you don't get your feet wet on the stern and rock-bound coast," said Townsend. "Hold the lantern, Brownie." "Did you ever _see_ such a thing!" said Minerva Skybrow, emerging through the bushes, accompanied by her official staff. "Walter Harris, what in goodness' name are you doing here? I thought you were robbers. What in _all creation_ are you up to? And how did you happen to get here?" "We've been going around quite a little lately," said Townsend quietly. "This is Townsend Ripley," said Pee-wee; "he's a friend of mine; these fellers are all friends of mine. We're exploring." "We're very glad to meet you, Mr. Ripley," said Minerva, while Miss Daring whispered in the ear of Miss Timerson, "Isn't he nice? So tall." "We thought we'd come to the party," said Pee-wee. "Have you any parking space for islands?" Townsend asked. "Oh, _indeed_ we have," said Minerva, "and you're going to be the star guests. May we step on the island?" "Yes, indeed, it's very steady," said Townsend, helping them one after another onto the frowning coast while Brownie held the lantern. "Wherever we go we take our island with us; it's like ivory soap, it floats. Will you have a piece of wild chocolate, out of the heart of the interior?" "Isn't he just _lovely_," whispered Miss Daring. "So can we stay?" asked Pee-wee. "Stay? I wouldn't let you go for anything," said Minerva. "Listen, girls, I've got an _inspiration_----" "I have lots of those," said Pee-wee. "They grow wild here," said Townsend. "Listen," said Minerva, "I have a perfectly _marvellous_ idea." She sat down on the grocery box and in her joy and excitement fairly drowned out Pee-wee who was struggling with a vehement running narrative of the day's adventures. "Oh, it will be simply _divine_," said Minerva. "Listen--don't interrupt me--I'm going to have the refreshments served on this island. I'm going to have the old painter's scaffold for a _gang-plank_ leading to it----" "There are refreshments then?" Townsend asked quietly.