A FAR ADVENTURE 317 



'*I did," the Feather Man agreed, ** because 

 they're multiplying so fast that they are eating up 

 all the vegetation and that will put an end to the 

 land birds. ' ' 



"Well," said Shan, "let me have a gun and 

 enough ammunition, and in two months ' time there 

 won't be a rabbit left on the island. I'll see to 

 that. You know, ' ' he added, with a touch of con- 

 ceit, "I won't have to shoot twice at one." 



The Feather Man shook his head. 



"I'm afraid I can't approve the plan, Shan," he 

 said; "there's too much risk about it. You came 

 out here, to a certain extent, under government 

 protection ; if we left you here and anything hap- 

 pened, the government, in a way, would be 

 responsible." 



"What's the oddsl" urged Shan. "I'm all 

 alone. I haven't got any father or mother, any 

 brothers or sisters to support. Couldn't I sign 

 some sort of paper, saying that I was left here by 

 the expedition of my own free will?" 



His voice took on a pleading tone, and, in his 

 energy, the Feather Man hardly recognized the 

 slow-speaking North Carolina lad. 



"See, Mr. Feather Man," he begged, "Bull 

 gave me all the chance he had, Mr. Baker gave me 



