Posted by Ed Kiser on May 27, 2004 at 03:26:04 from 152.163.252.98 user Kisered.
In SA:
Chapter 10. The Amazons finally met the Swallows in a Parley on
the island, but they could not camp yet on the island.
Nancy told them: "We are sick of natives. And we wanted to be
allies at once, if only we hadn't promised to be home for lunch.
That was why we just sailed round the island and defied you with
our flag. There wasn't time for anything else. Then we went
home."
Nancy also told them that they had been camping on the island for
"years and years." Yet, they were not camping this year there
yet. They had to go back home "for lunch." Why were they not
allowed to go camping this season?
Chapter 22. The war was over. The Amazons were marooned on Wild
Cat Island, when they were supposed to be in bed. Nancy was in a
hurry to get back home that morning before it was found that they
had been out all night, but she announced:
"that we've got leave to come and camp on the island for a few
days, beginning the day after tomorrow..."
"That's tomorrow now," said Peggy.
"Mother had a party last night at home, and there are people
coming to-day, you know, the sort of people we have to be best-
frocked for..."
It is not told who these special people were that required the
frocks as attire.
There seemed to be a big relief that finally the Amazons had
permission to go camping.
Chapter 26. The Amazons finally joined the Swallows on Wild Cat
Island and set up their tent. Captain Flint got the Black Spot,
and finally made up with John and apologized for his
misunderstanding.
The Amazons spent their first night on the island.
Chapter 27. The next day they had the battle of Houseboat Bay,
with Captain Flint being made to walk the plank, after which they
had a feast on board the houseboat.
That night was the second night for the Amazons on the island.
Chapter 28. The next day, Captain Flint went with most of the
crowd on a fishing outing, while Titty and Roger searched
Cormorant Island and finally found the treasure.
Chapter 29. Captain Flint brought home his treasure that Titty
and Roger had just found. That evening, Captain Flint ate fish
at the camp, and brought the parrot to Titty.
The Amazons began their third night on the island. It was
to be their last night.
Chapter 30. The night was not much sleep as the storm collapsed
the small tents of the Swallows, and they all had to take refuge
in the larger stronger tent of the Amazons.
This had been the third night for the Amazons on the island.
Chapter 31. The natives swarmed all over the island, checking
for survivors of the storm. The camp was taken apart, and much
of their possessions were sent to their respective homes in the
boats of the natives.
------------------------
My question is this:
Why were the Amazons not already camping on the island?
The Swallows had been anxiously awaiting news from their father
for TWO FULL WEEKS, just parked on the Peak at Darien, and
sleeping in Holly Howe, looking at the island, but not able to do
anything about it. They could not even mess with Swallow, as it
was not their boat, nor had they yet gotten their father's
permission for sailing it.
It is too bad that so MUCH of the holidays were wasted in waiting
for their Father's permission.
There appears to be some sort of "native trouble" as Nancy said
she was "sick of natives." Then there was that special guest for
which party-frocks would be required.
Was this perhaps the Great Aunt? The "guest" was not identified.
It seems that in all the holidays, the Amazons only got to camp
out for three nights, one of which was a disaster with the storm.
For some reason, even during the two weeks the Swallows spent on
Darien, the Amazons were not on the island. They only FINALLY
got permission in time to spend only the last THREE nights on the
island.
Now, in Swallowdale, it is defined more clearly that the "native
trouble" was the Great Aunt, and that explained why they had to
dash home for meals, and get in trouble when they were late.
Here again, it was only towards the very last of the Swallowdale
campout that the Amazons got to camp on Swallowdale with the
Swallows before the camp was shifted to Wild Cat Island. The
story ended with the return to the island, so we do not know how
long they were able to enjoy the camp on the island after their
return, but at least now, the Amazons were with the Swallows
there on the island.
It is interesting to note that this pattern of the Amazons coming
to the camp late, after the Swallows had already had some days of
camping without their Allies, also describes the situation in
SECRET WATER. There again, the Amazons got their late, missing
out on those initial days of the encampment.
The Amazons just seemed to miss out on so much, with the Swallows
left on their own without Nancy's stirring up the soup.
Ed Kiser, South Florida