Page:The Cave Girl - Edgar Rice Burroughs.pdf/234

 “And I shall go too,” said Mrs. Smith-Jones.

The two men looked at her in surprise.

“But my dear!” cried her husband, “there is no telling what hardships and dangers we may encounter—you could never stand such a trip.”

“I am going,” said Mrs. Smith-Jones, firmly. “I know my Waldo. I know his refined and sensitive nature. I know that I am fully capable of enduring whatever he may have endured. He tells me that he is among interesting people. Evidently there is nothing to fear, then, from the inhabitants of the island, and furthermore I wish personally to meet the people he has been living with. I have always been careful to surround Waldo with only the nicest people, and if any vulgarizing influences have been brought to bear upon him since he has been beyond my mature guidance I wish to know it, that I may determine how to combat their results.”

That was the end of it. If Mrs. Smith-Jones knew her son, Mr. Smith-Jones certainly knew his wife.

A week later the Priscilla sailed from Boston harbor on her long journey around the Horn to the south seas.

Most of the old crew had been retained. The first and second officers were new men. The former, William Stark, had come to Burlinghame well recommended. From the first he seemed an