30 Three Young Crusoes 



a sponge. The largest gourds were fine for water, 

 although not so good for this purpose as the big, 

 rounded fruits of the calabash tree. 



Working the Garden 



William found working in the garden no easier 

 here than at home and Henry thought it must be 

 much harder because the weeds naturally grew fast- 

 er. They went at it bravely, however, and Edna 

 would come out every now and then and encourage 

 them, while Snowball would bring them water in a 

 cocoanut gourd. At first, the blisters grew as fast 

 as the weeds, and their backs ached at night like 

 the rheumatism; but such small things didn't matter 

 very long. 



Besides the weeds and grass, there were potatoes 

 to dig, beans to stick, and various things to pick 

 and carry in. The banana trees never had but one 

 bunch on them, so the boys got accustomed to cut- 

 ting them down just before the fruit was ripe and 

 hanging a cluster on the royal palm near the table, 

 where they could pull off a banana whenever they 

 felt like it. Edna was so fond of bananas that Will- 

 iam kept a nice bunch hanging by her bed all the 

 time. 



