Free Danny Dunn on a Desert Island by Jay Williams Page A

an arrow? How clever. But our soap—”
    â€œWe didn’t make it, Professor. We found it in a tree.”
    â€œGrowing there?” said the Professor, with a puzzled look. Then his expression changed. “You mean there are natives on this island?”
    â€œImpossible! Let me see that,” Dr. Grimes snapped, taking the arrow.
    Both men bent over it. “There’s no question of it,” Professor Bullfinch said. “It is newly made. Look at the feathers, and the sinew that holds the head to the shaft.”
    â€œI’m afraid you’re right,” said Dr. Grimes. “This may mean trouble.”
    â€œOh, not necessarily,” the Professor was beginning, when Danny suddenly said, “Trouble? Oh, gosh! I just remembered something!”
    â€œOh, yes, our soap,” said the Professor mildly. “Yes, we took wood ashes and turtle fat and cooked them in the turtle shell. I think it was rather brilliant of us. Grimes and I should both get credit for it. It was his idea to smear the shell with clay, to keep it from—”
    â€œI don’t mean your soap,” said Danny impatiently. “I mean the water wheel. We forgot all about it.”
    Without another word, he darted back up the trail. The others followed, still not quite sure what he meant. They climbed over the hump of the rocks, but even before they descended to the shore the reason for Danny’s haste became evident. A thread of gray smoke was rising from the base of the cliff. They scrambled down the tumbled lava blocks to the shore. Here, at the foot of the high waterfall, they had put their paddle wheel.
    It was clear at a glance what had happened.
    The wooden shaft, turning on its wooden supports, had grown hotter and hotter from friction in the long interval while the boys had been away. At last it had burst into flame.
    The wheel still turned, for the water had kept it from burning. But at the other end, the shaft had burned right into the radio. The metal case was smudged with black, although it did not appear to be harmed. But when they had loosened the screws and removed the face plate, they saw that the heat had cracked tubes and fused connections. The radio would never send another call for help.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    Dr. Grimes Springs His Trap
    â€œWe can’t honestly blame you boys,” Professor Bullfinch said, as they surveyed the ruin. “After all, it was immensely important to learn that we are not alone on this island.”
    â€œThey should have reported to us before rushing off like that,” Dr. Grimes said sternly. “Danny’s always doing thoughtless, headstrong things.”
    â€œCome now, Grimes,” the Professor said soothingly. “I’m sure when you were younger you weren’t much different. In any case, there’s nothing we can do about the radio except hope that someone has picked up our signal. But there is something we can do about our neighbors.”
    â€œYou’re right about that,” said Grimes. “We can prepare to defend ourselves.”
    â€œOh, I didn’t mean that. I meant that we could visit them.”
    At this, Dr. Grimes turned perfectly purple. “You dreamer! You visionary!” he exclaimed. “Visit them? We’ll undoubtedly have them visit us before long—with their butcher knives ready. Why don’t you just sprinkle yourself with parsley and lie down on a plate?”
    â€œWell, chiefly because we haven’t any parsley,” said the Professor gently. “Come, now, Grimes. We have no proof that these people are unfriendly. And we certainly have no proof that they’re cannibals.”
    â€œProof?” Dr. Grimes controlled himself with an effort. “Bullfinch, I have no intention of waiting to be put into a pot for proof. They may be friendly. But why should we take chances? When that man returns and finds his arrow gone, he’ll know we’re here—if they