Read Online Voyage of the Dolphin by Gilbert L. Morris - Free Book Online

berries?”
    They ran to where she pointed. Sure enough, bushes higher than their heads were loaded down with berries almost as large as apples.
    â€œHope they're not poison,” Jake said.
    â€œI'll find out.” Reb took one of the black berries, bit into it, and chewed for a moment. A grin broke out on his face. “It's too good to be poison,” he said. He grabbed another one. “Pitch in. Breakfast is on the table.”
    The berries were sweet and delicious and, since they all had empty stomachs, brightened their eyes considerably.
    â€œLet's take all these we can with us,” Dave said in a practical voice.
    They used their extra clothes to make slings and tied them on sticks.
    â€œWe look like tramps,” Jake said as they started out.
    â€œAre you all right, Miss Catalina?” Daybright asked.
    â€œI'm—yes, I suppose so.”
    â€œYour mouth's all smeared with berry juice,” he said. He handed her a handkerchief. “Maybe you could wipe it off with this.”
    Dawn rubbed her lips and stared at the handkerchief. “Thank you,” she said, handing it back.
    â€œBetter keep it. We may find more berries.”
    As the group made its way inland, more than anything else Daybright noticed the enormous size of the trees.
    â€œI was in California once,” Josh said. “The sequoias were like this, but they were the biggest trees on earth at the time.”
    Daybright was uneasy. “If this island's deserted,” he muttered to Josh, “we'll be in a bad condition.”
    â€œWhy is that, Captain?”
    â€œBecause no ships come this way. I don't know where we are exactly, but it's way off the beaten track. Surely somebody lives here. But not according to the charts.”
    By midafternoon everyone was very tired. They had seen birds flying high overhead but no sign of animals or people.
    Then Reb said, “Come and look at this.” He had wandered off to one side, and the others came to where he was pointing down at something.
    â€œWhat is it?” Abbey whispered.
    â€œIt's a footprint—some kind of animal.” Reb stared down at it and shook his head. “It sure is a big critter. Look at the size of that thing!”
    â€œThat looks like a dog's footprint—but bigger'n any dog I ever saw.” Reb put his hands down and spread his fingers out over the track. The print was so big that his hand barely spanned it. He stood up slowly and looked around thoughtfully. “I guess we better be a mite careful from here on. If his feet's that big, I'd hate to think how big his mouth is!”
    That thought had occurred to Daybright, and he saw the fear on their faces. “We'd better get on our way,” he said quietly.
    Reb looked around, back at the footprint, then up at the towering trees. “This here place ain't natural!” he whispered, his voice low and tense.
    They made their way into the forest, and the trees covered the sky. It was like walking through a gigantic cathedral. Finally they broke out of the giant forest into a place with smaller trees—not small but seeming so.
    â€œI guess this is the scrub stuff,” Dave said, looking about. “I don't know—”
    Just then a large animal burst from the trees a hundred yards away.
    â€œLook out!” Daybright yelled. “Take cover!”
    â€œUp this tree!” Josh cried. “All of you!”
    Dawn and the Sleepers scurried to the tree, which had limbs growing very close to the ground.
    Josh glanced back and saw that Daybright had picked up a club and was waiting. Beyond the captain he saw the animal—a giant dog or wolf—coming at a dead run. He helped Abbey up, then Dawn, saying, “Climb as quick as you can.”
    Then Josh turned around, picked up a stick, and went to stand beside Daybright.
    â€œGet up that tree, Josh!” the captain ordered.
    Josh shook his head stubbornly. “No, I won't do