“That’s just where this island is,” said Brownie.

“Absolutely,” said Townsend, “only it won’t stay there.  Is there anything more we can eat?  Anything more that you don’t have to make?  My long tramp in search of the west coast has made me hungry again.”

“I can make flapjacks,” said Pee-wee; “I’ve got eight pounds of Indian meal.”

“How far would I have to hike to digest them?” Townsend asked.

“You’d need a bigger island than this,” said Brownie.  “You couldn’t digest a flapjack on anything smaller than South America.”

“Give me a piece of chocolate,” said Townsend, “and a couple of prunes.”

“It looks nice up the river in the moonlight, doesn’t it?” Brownie asked.

“You mean down the river,” said Townsend.

“I’m facing——­”

“Don’t try to find out where you’re facing,” said Townsend.  “Here, eat a prune.”

“I’m going to turn in pretty soon,” said Nuts.

“That’s a new place to turn,” said Townsend.  “We’ve turned everywhere but in.  In the morning we’ll turn out; then we will have turned everywhere.”

“We’re flopping downstream pretty fast,” said Brownie; “that’s one sure thing.”

“I’m glad there’s something sure,” said Townsend.  It was as good as a circus to see him sitting against the tree with his knees drawn up, glancing this way and that with a funny look of patient resignation on his face.

“What do you say we put the tent up in the heart of the interior?  Then we’ll be able to find it in the morning.  The unknown heart of the interior seems to be the only place we can be sure of.  At least it always stays inside.  Hand me that grocery box from the extreme southern shore, will you?  And another prune?  The heart of my interior demands another prune.  Do you know, Discoverer, what I think?  I think I see a settlement.  I don’t know where it is because I don’t know which way I’m facing, but I’m certainly facing a settlement—­or at least I was a second ago.  There it is again.  I think we’re nearing the coast of Japan; I see a Japanese lantern.  That’s funny.  Did we pass the Philippines?”

“I don’t know,” said Brownie.  “We passed Corbett’s Lumber Yard.”

“The Philippines are farther along,” said Townsend; “they’re the second turn to our left.  If this island hits Japan they’ll grab it; I have a feeling that they’ll grab it like the island of Yap.”

“I’ve got an inspiration!  I’ve got an inspiration!” shouted Pee-wee in a voice of thunder.  “I know where we’re at.  That’s Mr. Skybrow’s place down there.  He owns a lot of railroads and things!  They’re having a lawn party there to-night!”

“Are they having anything to eat?” Townsend asked quietly.

“Yum, yum—­m-m-m!” said Pee-wee.  “They have everything.  Once I went to Minerva’s birthday party and I couldn’t go to school all next week, that’s how much they have to eat there.  Get the clothes-sticks.  Get the clothes-sticks!  Let’s pole the island to shore.  I bet she’ll like you because you’re big—­I’ll introduce you to her—­all my old troop is going to be there—­hurry up—­push—­keep pushing!”