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OVEISbN THE ISLAND

CHAPTER I

THE EARL OF EGMONT AND THE ISLAND

I remember Lord Egmont, cross on the new car ferry, and arrive in Borden.

UNPO\VDER, said the Earl of Egmont to Ghis nine children, “is just another new-fangled idea. Harr-r-rumphl”

Nine heads nodded assent.

“Therefore," continued the Earl, “in building our new residence at Enmore, in Somersetshire, I shall have it constructed in the guise of a castle. It will have a moat around it and will be built to defend itself with cross-bows and arrows. ”

“Such foresight!” murmured a son.

“ Gunpowder is only a fad and it will soon die out!" asserted the Earl firmly as if to convince himself, as well as his son, of the truth of his remark.

“ It will die out after it blows us all to pieces!”

“Now in the days of Henry II . . .," the Earl went on unheedingly, and the sons settled back to listen to the oft-repeated tale. “The days of feudal customs were the best days of England. It is a shame and a mistake to change the old-established practices. ” His voice grew more and more indignant. “ Cross—bows and arrows were good enough for our fathers and they are good enough for us. Gunpowder indeed! It's

I),

only a fad. Harr-r-rumph.

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