By this time Robert had reached the gate.
Herbert jumped up and ran to open it.
"I am glad to see you, Robert," said Herbert cordially. "Are you in a hurry?"
"No, Herbert."
"Then come in and have a game of croquet."
"All right, but you'll easily beat me."
"Never mind; you'll learn fast. Bob, this is my cousin, George Randolph.
George, this is my friend, Robert Coverdale."
George made the slightest possible inclination of the head and did not stir from where he was sitting.
"He doesn't look very social," thought Robert, greeting his friend's visitor politely.
"Here, Bob, select a mallet and ball. Shall I start first?"
"If you please. Won't your cousin play?"
"I'm very much obliged, I'm sure, for the invitation," said George, "but
I'd rather not."
"George is afraid of being tanned by exposure to the sun," explained
Herbert. "I hope you are not."
"I don't think the sun will make me any browner than I am already," said
Robert, laughing.
"I agree with you," said George in a sneering tone.
Robert looked at him quickly, struck by his tone, and decided that he had no particular desire to become any better acquainted.
The game of croquet proceeded and Herbert was an easy victor.
"I told you I should be beaten, Herbert," said Robert.
"Of course; I am much more used to the game than you. I will give you odds of half the game. You shall start from the other stake on the return course and I will try to overtake you."
He came near succeeding, but Robert beat him by two wickets.
After three games Herbert proposed ball, and Robert, who felt more at home in this game, agreed to it.
"You'd better join us, George," said his cousin.
"No, I thank you. I have no inclination, I assure you."
"I don't see what fun there can be in sitting on the piazza."
"You forget that I have an opportunity of witnessing your friend's superior playing."
His tone made it clear to Robert that this was a sneer, but he had too much self-respect and too much regard for Herbert to take offense at it.
"You mean my awkwardness," he said. "You are quite welcome to the amusement it must afford you."
George arched his brows in surprise.
"Really this ragged boy is talking to me as if he considered me his equal," he thought. "It is Herbert's fault. He should not treat him so familiarly. I really don't care to be in such company."
"You must excuse me, Herbert," said George, rising with suitable dignity. "As you are provided with company, you can spare me. I will go into the house and read for a while."
"Very well, George."
"I hope I haven't driven your cousin away, Herbert," said Robert.
"I don't care whether you have or not, Bob," said Herbert, "I'm awfully disappointed in him. Papa invited him to visit us, thinking he would be company for me, but, instead of that, he objects to everything I propose. I find it very hard to entertain him."
"He doesn't appear to fancy me," said Robert.
"Don't mind him, Bob. He's a mean, stuck-up fellow, if he is my cousin."
"Perhaps he is not to blame. I am only a poor boy, belonging to a fisherman's family. I am afraid I am not a suitable associate for you or him," said Robert with proud humility.
"No more of that talk, Bob," said Herbert. "You're suitable for me, anyhow, and I like you twice as much as my cousin. I don't care how you are dressed, as long as you are a good fellow."
"At any rate, you are a good fellow, Herbert," said Robert warmly. "I liked you the very first day I saw you."
"And I can say the same for you. Bob. Well, never mind about George.
Leave him to his book. We'll amuse ourselves better."
As Robert was playing he caught sight of his uncle on his way to the tavern. He knew, therefore, that he could return home without danger of annoyance, and he excused himself to Herbert. As it was doubtful whether he could get anything to do in the village and as the boat would not be in use, he concluded to go out and see if he could not catch a few fish for his aunt's dinner.
"Well, come and play with me again very soon, Bob," said his friend.
"I will, Herbert. Thank you for inviting me."
"Oh, I do that on my own account! I like your company."
"Thank you!"
Robert went home and spent a short time with his aunt before setting out on his fishing trip. He only meant to go out a short distance and there was plenty of time before noon.
He was just getting out the boat when, to his dismay, he heard a familiar but unwelcome voice hailing him.
"Where are you going?"
"I am going a-fishing. I thought you were not going to use the boat."
"Well, I am," said the fisherman shortly. "Are you ready to give me that money?"
"No, uncle," said Robert firmly.
"I have a right to it."
"You don't need it and aunt does," answered our hero.
"Well, never mind about that now. You can go out with me."
Considerably surprised at getting off so easily, Robert jumped into the boat with his uncle and they pushed off.
"Pull for Egg Island," said John Trafton.
Egg Island, so called from its oval shape, was situated about three miles from the cliff on which the fisherman's cabin stood and probably did not comprise more than an acre of surface. It was rocky, partly covered with bushes and quite unoccupied.
Robert was puzzled, but did not venture to ask his uncle why they were going to this island.
In due time they reached the rocky isle and the boat was rounded to shore.
"You may jump out and get me a good-sized stick," said the fisherman.
Robert obeyed, though he feared the stick was to be used on his back.
He had scarcely scrambled up the bank than he heard the sound of oars, and, looking back hastily, he saw his uncle pushing off from the island.
"I'm going to leave you here, you young rascal, till you agree to give me that money," said John Trafton triumphantly. "I'll let you know that I won't be defied by a boy."
Already the boat was several rods distant.
Robert sat down on a rocky ledge and tried to realize his position. He was a prisoner on Egg Island and there he must stay till his uncle chose to release him.
CHAPTER IX
ALONE ON AN ISLAND
Of course our hero's position was not to be compared with that of one left on a lonely island in the Pacific, but it was not agreeable. He was only three miles from the mainland, but there was no chance to cross this brief distance. He had no boat, and though he could swim a little, he would inevitably have been drowned had he undertaken to swim to shore.
Robert had read "Robinson Crusoe," and he naturally thought of that famous mariner on finding himself in a similar position.
He had never been on Egg Island before and he knew it only as he had seen it from the mainland or from a boat.
"That's a mean trick of Uncle John," said Robert to himself. "If