20 Three Young Crusoe s 



just then Edna screamed and pointed to a clump 

 of foliage plants nearby where something was mov- 

 ing. The boys scarcely had time to get frightened 

 before a little negro boy about four years old, with 

 kinky hair and shining eyes, parted the foliage and 

 came toward them smiling, holding a half-eaten ba- 

 nana in one hand. 



"Hello, Snowball," volunteered William. 



"Lo," replied the little fellow bravely but with 

 rather unsteady voice. So they called him *' Snow- 

 ball" on ordinary occasions, but when special weight 

 or dignity was required they lengthened it to "Hal- 

 leluiah Snowball." 



When Edna recovered from her fright, she blushed 

 a little and, taking her red sash from her waist, tied 

 it around Snowball with a big bow on one side, mak- 

 ing him look like a bronze cupid or a little black 

 angel without his wings. Snowball was greatly de- 

 lighted with the sash and offered Edna his banana, 

 the only thing he had, in exchange. Then he led 

 the way to a clump of trees in the corner of the gar- 

 den, where they found several ripe bunches of de- 

 licious bananas, which they enjoyed immensely. 

 Nearby was an orange tree full of yellow fruit and 

 there was plenty of it also on the ground. Oranges, 

 bananas, cocoanut meat, and pure spring water made 



