Besides, they could go more quickly and safely on the beach than in the tangled undergrowth of the inner island. “I hate awfully to go and leave the babies alone like this,” said Mary, as they hastened along, “but it seems the only way.” “Yes,” said Jean, “we shouldn’t get along very fast carrying four fat babies. It’s too bad we didn’t get shipwrecked with a nice automobile or at least a pony and cart. But shipwrecks are so unexpected, you never know what you’re going to need until it’s too late.” They soon forgot everything else in wonder and admiration, as new stretches of beach opened out before them. A short distance from the spot where their boat had landed, a ridge of rocks broke through the sand and straggled down into the sea. When they had clambered on top of this, they could see more beach and rocks ahead, and here and there clumps of palm trees leaning out toward the sea. “There ought to be cocoanuts in those palm trees, if I remember my geography,”
