Angel Island

"If it wasn't for their wings," Honey said.

Billy shuddered violently. "If it wasn't for their wings," he agreed.

Frank bore Billy's defection in the spirit of classic calm with which he

accepted everything. But Pete could not seem to reconcile himself to it.

He was constantly trying to draw Billy into debate.

"I won't argue the matter, Pete," Billy said again and again. " I can't

argue it. I don't pretend even to myself that I'm reasonable or logical,

or just or ethical. It's only a feeling or an instinct. But it's too

strong for me. I can't fight it. It's as if I'd taken a journey drugged

and blindfolded. I don't know how I got on this side - but I'm here."

The effect of this was to weaken a little the friendship that had grown

between Billy and Pete. Also Honey pulled a little way from Ralph and

slipped nearer to his old place in Billy's regard.

But now there were three warring elements in camp. Honey, Ralph, and

Billy hobnobbed constantly. Frank more than ever devoted himself to his

reading. Pete kept away from them all, writing furiously most of the

day.

"We're going to have a harder time with him than with Frank," Billy

remarked once.

"I guess we can leave that matter to take care of itself," Ralph said

with one of his irritating superior smiles. "How about it, Honey?"

"Surest thing you know," Honey answered reassuringly. All you've got to

do is wait - believe muh!"

"It does seem as if we'd waited pretty long," Honey himself fumed two

weeks later, "I say we three get together and repudiate that agreement."

"That would be dishonorable," Billy said, "and foolish. You can see for

yourself that we cannot stir a step in this matter without co-operation.

As opponents, Pete and Frank could warn the girls off faster than we

could lure them on."

"That's right, too," agreed Honey. "But I'm damned tired of this," he

added drearily. "Not more tired than we are," said Billy.

An incident that varied the monotony of the deadlock occurred the next

day. Pete Murphy packed up food and writing materials and, without a

word, decamped into the interior. He did not return that day, that

night, or the next day, or the next night.

"Say, don't you think we ought to go after him," Billy said again and

again, "something may have happened."