Free Love Lies Dreaming by C S Forester

of fending for themselves had done them a world of good. They were upstanding and powerful, and had figures now instead of looking like yards of pump-water.
    â€œYou’re looking very fit,” I said to Opera Top. I thought it just as well to be placatory.
    â€œI feel it, too,” said Opera Top, slapping her chest.
    The gesture called my attention to her necklace. It wasn’t the old jade one. I peered at it more closely. It was a neat string of human teeth.
    â€œGod bless my soul and body,” I said. “Where in the name of humanity did you get that thing from?”
    â€œThis?” said Opera Top, with a pleased smile, “Oh, that’s just the eldest Reducing Corset. She got on my nerves in time. I’ve got another one made from her backbone over on the other island.”
    There wasn’t anything I could say in reply. I just stood silent and felt the shivers chase one another up and down my spine.
    â€œWe’re wasting time,” said Opera Top. Fancy Opera Top talking about wasting time! “Come on.”
    â€œWhere—where are we going?” I ventured to ask.
    â€œBack to the other island, of course, silly.”
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œFancy asking! We want our birthright, of course.”
    â€œYour birthright? How the devil can I give you your birthright?”
    â€œYou’re the only person within twenty thousand miles who can, so you’ve dam’ well got to. There doesn’t seem much chance of our being rescued.”
    I couldn’t do much with my hands tied and my feet hobbled, but I did what I could. I sat down with a jerk on a lump of coral.
    â€œDamned if I do,” I said.
    â€œNot so much blasted fuss!” said Opera Top, and she fidgeted with her spear in a significant manner.
    â€œBut what about Constance?” I said.
    â€œShe’ll stay here. She’s had her birthright. Lots of it, I expect.”
    â€œI won’t move an inch without Constance,” I said. I judged it best to leave the other matter aside for a space.
    â€œGet up and don’t argue,” said Opera Top, poking me again with her spear.
    But I continued to resist. I writhed and I kicked andI yelled, and Opera Top poked and ordered and commanded, until at last she gave way.
    â€œOh, all right then. Bring her along, you girls. It will only be one-fourteenth each instead of one-thirteenth.”
    So they took us down to the sea, and there lay quite a neat raft made of logs tied together. At the time of our first acquaintance those women would no more have thought of tying logs together than they would have thought of—wearing necklaces of vertebræ. They dumped us on board, and shoved off and paddled lustily until we were soon on the old island.
    Then they carted us up to the camping-place and put us down.
    Opera Top came up to me.
    â€œWell, what about it?” she asked, slapping me on the leg and licking her lips.
    â€œHoly Moses!” said I. “You’re a bit precipitant, aren’t you?”
    â€œThere’s not much point in wasting time, is there?”
    â€œOh, confound it,” I said, blushes running over me three deep. “Give me a chance to collect my—scattered thoughts.”
    â€œI don’t know what in hell you’re making so much fuss about,” said Opera Top.
    â€œMy stars and garters!” I said, “You must admit this is a bit sudden, isn’t it?” I was feeling more like a mid-Victorian miss every moment.
    Then Constance chipped in from where she was lying in her bonds.
    â€œDon’t you dare!” she shouted to me. “Don’t you dare! You mustn’t! You’re a married man.”
    â€œHe’ll be a widower if you don’t shut up,” snarled Opera Top, gripping her spear.
    Constance shrieked. She went on shrieking.
    â€œOh, for God’s sake stop that blasted row,” said Opera Top. “Here, you girls. Take her away to the