we are discovered at last."

"Well, if you are, you needn't crow over it," came from Larry.

"Roosters and crowing! Oh, Larry, I didn't think you'd begin to pun so
early," put in Sam.

"He just hatched it out," said Tom.

"I suppose you think that sounds chic," joined in Dick. And then there
was a laugh in which all but Hans Mueller joined. The German youth
looked blankly from one to another of his companions.

"Vos dot Robinson Rooster a choke?" he demanded. "Of it vos let me in
by it kvick."

"Oh, you couldn't climb in on a gangway and a step-ladder combined,"
answered Tom.

"Put vos you Robinson Roosters or vos you not Robinson Roosters?"

"Oh, we were Robinson Roosters right enough," answered Tom, when he
could control his laughter.

"Den vot you vos giggling apout, hey?"

"Nothing, only it was so funny to be a Robinson Rooster and live on a
big island with nobody but lions, buffaloes, snakes, and 'cannonballs,'"
added the fun-loving youth.

"Cannonballs?" queried Larry

"That's what Aleck Pop calls 'em, Larry. He said it was a wonder the
'cannonballs' hadn't eaten us up," and then came another laugh, during
which Hans was as mute as ever.

"Vos dere lions, snakes, and buffaloes py dot island on?" went on the
German youth.

"To be sure there were, Hans. And likewise elephants, panthers, cats,
dogs, hippopotamuses, mice, elk, rats, and winged jibberjackers."

"Mine gracious, Tom! Und you vosn't eaten up alretty kvick!"

"None of the animals troubled us, but the three-horned jibberjacker. He
came into our house one night, crawled upstairs, and began to swallow
Sam alive."

"You ton't tole me!"

"Yes, I do tell you. He had Sam in his mouth, and had swallowed him as
far as his waist, when Sam began to kick on the floor with his feet."

"I see, I see--" Hans' eyes were as big as saucers.

"That woke Dick and me up, and we ran and got Sam by the legs, and
pulled for all we were worth."

"You ton't tole me, Tom! Und vot did dot vot-you-call-him do den?"

"He planked his ten feet on the floor, and--"

"His ten feet did you said, Tom?" interrupted Hans doubtfully.

"To be sure. Didn't you know that a real jibberjacker has ten feet?"

"Maype I did--I ton't oxactly remember about him."

"I am surprised at your ignorance of natural history, Hans. Yes, the
real jibberjacker has ten feet, although a branch of the family, known
as the jibbertwister, has only eight feet."

"Well, go on. He planked