Produced by Al Haines
[Illustration: Cover art]
[Illustration: Title]
[Frontispiece: Fort]
[Illustration: Title page]
A Tale of the Summer Holidays
by
G. Mockler
Thomas Nelson and Sons.
1899
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CONTENTS
I. THE SECRET MEETING II. A FRIEND IN NEED III. HAL FINDS A FRIEND IV. DISAPPOINTED HOPES V. THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS
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[Illustration: Drusie with balls]
ILLUSTRATIONS
"_Jim scribbled the word 'yes' on his piece of paper._"
"_Jumbo began to wash his face and ears._"
"_I suppose you will own that you really are out this time?_"
"_The boy had thrown his lasso with deadly aim._"
[Illustration: "_Jim scribbled the word 'yes' on his piece of paper._"]
[Illustration: Chapter I headpiece]
CHAPTER I.
THE SECRET MEETING.
Two days after the holidays began, the four younger members of the Danvers family received a note summoning them to a secret meeting at half-past seven the next morning in the summer-house. Drusie, who had written and delivered the notes, including one to herself, was the first to reach the appointed place; and when, a few minutes later, the other three arrived, they found her seated at the rustic table with a sheet of paper and a pencil before her, and a glass of water at her elbow.
"Good-morning," she said, rising and shaking hands with them all round. "Helen, will you sit facing me, and Jim and Tommy at either side?"
In a solemn silence they obeyed; and then seating herself again, she took a sip of water. Not that she was thirsty, but she was rather nervous.
It was so long since the last meeting, and hitherto Hal had always been the chairman. She stifled a sigh; it seemed so strange to hold a secret meeting without him.
"Go ahead," said Jim, encouragingly; "or would you like me to be chairman, Drusie?"
"Certainly not," she replied hastily. "I am the eldest here, and of course I must be chairman. And you must be serious, Jim, for we have got a lot to talk about this morning, and it won't do for Hal to come out and find us here."
"He is asleep and snoring," said Helen, in a tone of great contempt. "He has learned a lot of silly things at school, and one of them is never to get up until he is called."
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Tale of the Summer Holidays by Geraldine Mockler
- 2: While Drusie led the attacking party
- 3: And if Hal gives us his shilling after breakfast
- 4: The sense of duty was strong in Drusie
- 5: What Hal will do with a whole shilling
- 6: And Drusie declined to leave Salt and Pepper behind
- 7: Even old Jumbo caught the infection
- 8: Drusie cried in great distress
- 9: So Drusie placed him tenderly on the grass
- 10: Drusie said in a tone of satisfaction
- 11: That the tree was to be the wicket
- 12: Drusie opened her eyes very wide
- 13: This was really rather severe on Drusie
- 14: And don't go eating any green apples or gooseberries
- 15: He or Drusie should lie concealed
- 16: Dodds says that it is simply packed with fish
- 17: A sudden idea had occurred to Drusie
- 18: And Drusie softly clapped her hands
- 19: They heard Dodds say approvingly
- 20: But this Hal did have the grace to contradict
- 21: Drusie might have had her birthday present
- 22: She remembered her promise to Drusie
- 23: It really was too bad of Dodds to treat him so
- 24: Hal was thankful to accept her advice
- 25: But unluckily he caught his foot in the noose
- 26: While Drusie wriggled through the thick undergrowth
- 27: Which harassed Drusie very much
- 28: Said Helen in a shamefaced manner
- 29: For he is awfully keen about lassos
- 30: Dodds is a great friend of mine
- 31: Drusie darted from bush to bush
- 32: Drusie kept her wits about her
- 33: Drusie and Jim echoed in astonishment
- 34: Whirled his lasso wildly round his head
- 35: Twice Drusie laid hands upon it
- 36: But we didn't know that you were Dodds