"
She nodded eagerly.
"How _lovely_!"
They wandered out on to the promenade, and among a large crowd of
passers-by bemoaned the lonely emptiness of the island and scanned the
horizon for a sail. In the far distance on the cliffs could be seen
the figures of Mr. Percival Jones and William's sister, walking slowly
away from the town.
At last they turned towards the hut.
"We must find somethin' to eat," said William firmly. "We can't let
ourselves starve to death."
"Shrimps?" suggested Peggy cheerfully.
"We haven't got nets," said William. "We couldn't save them from the
wreck."
"Periwinkles?"
"There aren't any on this island. I know! Seaweed! An' we'll cook it."
"Oh, how _lovely_!"
He gathered up a handful of seaweed and they entered the hut, leaving
a white handkerchief tied on to the door to attract the attention of
any passing ship. The hut was provided with a gas ring and William,
disregarding his family's express injunction, lit this and put on a
saucepan filled with water and seaweed.
"We'll pretend it's a wood fire," he said. "We couldn't make a real
wood fire out on the prom. They'd stop us. So we'll pretend this is.
An' we'll pretend we saved a saucepan from the wreck."
After a few minutes he took off the pan and drew out a long green
strand.
"You eat it first," he said politely.
The smell of it was not pleasant. Peggy drew back.
"Oh, no, you first!"
"No, you," said William nobly.
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