P. S. Especially apples.

Having thus established his rights according to the most historical rule for the acquisition of new territory, Pee-wee set sail in his gallant bark and after an uneventful voyage of seven minutes drew his boat half-way up the rugged shore.

Though his back was toward the island during the entire cruise, he knew that land was near fully a minute and a half before reaching it by the presence of several grasshoppers kicking vainly in the surf.  But what particularly attracted his attention as indicating the presence of human life upon the island was part of a cruller bobbing near the shore.  This startled and impressed him as the footprint in the sand startled and impressed Robinson Crusoe.

Pee-wee could hardly believe that on the very day which had begun so inauspiciously he had actually set foot upon a strange island, but there it was under his very feet and it could not get away for he was standing on it.

Having fastened his sign to the tree trunk he proceeded to explore the island.  This was done mainly with his eyes since the island was too small for the usual form of exploration.

It consisted of a little spot of land about fifteen feet in diameter, held together by the roots of the tree.  It was hubbly and grass-covered and one side of it had a kind of ragged edge.  It seemed to be subject to earthquakes for as Pee-wee stood upon it he felt a slight jarring beneath him.  Undoubtedly the island depended on the tree more than the tree depended on the island; one might have fancied that the island carried too much soil.

But Pee-wee’s surprise at the instability of his Conquest was nothing to his astonishment at the voice which he presently heard above him.

“Hello, what are you doing down there?”

Pee-wee looked up and beheld a boy seated comfortably in the branches of the tree.  He was looking down through the profusion of blossoms with an exceedingly merry face, and had apparently been witnessing the arrival of the discoverer with silent amusement.

“Some desert island, hey?” he laughed.

“Are you a native?” Pee-wee shouted.

“Sure, I’m part of the wild life of the island, I’m a scout,” the boy called down.  “Come on up, there’s room for two on this branch.  If the island should lurch you might get your feet wet.”

“What is this island anyway?” Pee-wee asked, somewhat taken aback by the discovery that he was not the discoverer.  “Where does it belong?  Anyway I’m the boss of it because I discovered it.  I just put my sign up and you can come down and see it if you want to and swear allegiance.”