The Treasure of the Isle of MistTarn, W. W. (William Woodthorpe)
Science
The Treasure of the Isle of Mist
Tarn, W. W. (William Woodthorpe)
Fairies -- Juvenile fiction; Fairy tales; Fantasy literature
"I am in the second century," he said. "Doubloons have not yet been
coined. As to these doubloons, I am quite sure they are not there,
wherever 'there' may be; but if they are there, I have no objection to
the Urchin fighting the Government for them. Urchin, would you like a
deed?"
And, to the delight of the Urchin, the Student proceeded to make out a
document, which called on all men to know that the said Student
thereby assigned to the said Urchin all the estate, right, title, and
interest, if any, of the said Student in and to a certain treasure of
doubloons or other coins once carried in the galleon called _Our Lady
of the Holy Cross_ were the same a little more or less ("all good
deeds get that in somewhere," said the Student) to hold to the said
Urchin and his heirs ("but I don't suppose the heirs will see much of
it") to the intent that he might become a wiser and a better Urchin
and not interrupt the said Student any more when he wanted to work.
This being done, the Student signed his name at the end, made a
beautiful blot of hot red sealing wax and put his signet ring on it,
and made Fiona sign her name as witness ("which is probably not
legal," he explained cheerfully); then he handed over the deed to the
rejoicing Urchin, with the remark that it was quite as good as many
lawyers' deeds, and drove the pair of them out of the bookroom.
"Good," said the Urchin. "Now I've a treasure just the same as you."
"If we find them," said Fiona.
"Well, let's go and start hunting for them at any rate," said the boy.
"Pardon me," said the shore lark, "if I interrupt; but you might be
the better of a few hints."
Fiona dropped on her knees and took the little bird in her hands
again.
"So you can talk," she said. "That's jolly. You've a first-rate chance
of returning good for evil, and making us feel worms."
"Don't talk of worms," said the shore lark, "you have entirely omitted
to provide me with any. Send him to get some, and I'll tell you
something. He can't understand what I'm saying, anyhow."
"Urchin," said the girl, "he's asking for worms. Go and get him some."
"One would think you and he could talk to each other," said the boy.
"Silly, I call it, going on like that. I suppose that's what girls
do."
"Urchin," said Fiona, "when you and I have a row, what happens?"
"_You_ happen," said the Urchin. "You've three years' pull; 'tisn't
fair; just like a girl, to go and have three years' pull of a chap."
"Stop grousing," said the girl, "and get me the worms, there's a dear
little boy."
The Urchin flung the nearest book at her, missed as usual, and, having
thus made his honor white, departed, declaring in simpler language
that the love of worms was the root of all evil.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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