164 THE ARCTURUS ADVENTURE 



But now we sighed for smaller worlds to con- 

 quer, for from the rocky shelf of Osborn Island 

 we had had an enticing view of an islet of even less 

 acreage. Attraction and size seemed to be in in- 

 verse ratio; Hood would certainly rank as a small 

 island ; it is quite invisible on most world maps, but 

 when anchored off its shores it loomed large, with 

 the majesty of a continent, since the eye could not 

 compass it at a glance. Probably I ought to be 

 ashamed to admit that I never set foot on Hood 

 during all the time that we lay in Gardner Bay. 

 Gardner Island, a sort of New Zealand to Hood's 

 Australia, held something more of island lure ; the 

 key to that fascination must be the hope that one 

 may more fully possess it through a fuller know- 

 ledge, which is, after all, the only real kind of pos- 

 session. Osborn Island had drawn us with the 

 promise of imparted secrets, and now there was a 

 smaller scrap, of infinite possibilities, with a de- 

 lightful definiteness of outline that assured us of 

 complete results in exploring. 



At dawn next morning the patient doctor was 

 routed out; he and one of the motor-boats under- 

 stood each other, and he was accordingly elected to 

 the position of the most popular ferryman. He dis- 

 played the spirit of a true Christian about it, and 

 while he nourished the engine with gasoline, Lin, 

 Betty and I raided the galley for our own susten- 

 ance. The baker, a fat man with a grim face and 

 a kind heart, thrust a slab of coffee cake into our 

 hands, adding a festive touch to the humble bread 

 and butter to which we helped ourselves. A can- 



