Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1876-10-12
"IIow is that =

because the sands are eyen more
dangerous than the rocks, and swallow
up everything that is thrown upon them;
a few days suffice to bury out of sight
the hull of a ship Of many tons measure.
ment."
Then, PencrofT, questioned the en-
ginccr, ''if vessel had been lost on
these banks, it would not be surprising
if there was no trace left y
mo, sir, that is after a time or after
a tempest. Nevertheless, it would be
as surprising, as now, that no spars or
timbcrs were thrown upon the shore be-
yond the reach of the sea"
Let us continue our search" replied
t Smith
BY o'clock the party had accomplish
f ed twenty miles, having reached the up
f, per end of Washington Bay, and thoy
y stopped to lasch.
: Here began an irregular shore, oddly
cut into by long line ofrocks. succeed
t ing the sandbanks, and just beginning
to show themselves by long streaks Of
foam, above the undulations of the re-
ceding waters. From this point to Claw
Cape the beach was narrow and confined
between the reef of rocks and and the
forest, and the march would therefore be
more difficult. The granite wall sunk
more and more, and above it the tops of
the trees, undesturbed by a breath of
air, appeared i'll the background.
After half an hours rest the colonists
took up the march again, on the lookout
for any sign of wreck, but without sue
cess. They found out, however, that
edible mussels were plenty on this beach
although they would not gather them un-
til means of transport between the two
banks of the river should have been per-
fected.
Towards 8 o'clock, Smith and his COM
panions reached narrow inlet, unfed by
any water-course. 1t formed veritable
little natural harbor, invisible from with
out, and approached BY narrow passage
guarded by the reefs. At the upper end
Of this creek some violent commissions
had shattered the rock, and narrow.
per plateau. which proved to be ten
miles from Claw Cape, and therefore four
miles in direct line from Prospect Pla-
tcau
Spilctt proposed to his companions to
halt here, and, as the march had sharp
ened their appctites, although it was not
dinner time, no one objected to bit of
venson, and with this lunch they would
be able to await supper at Granite House.
Soon the colonists, seated under a
group of splendid pines, were eating
hcatily of the provisions which Neb had
brought out from his haversack. The
place was some fifty or sixty feet above
, the sea, and the view, extending beyond
the furthest rocks Of the cape, was lost
- in Union Bay But the islet and Pros
pect Plateau were invisible, as the high
n ground and the curtain of high trees
Shut out the horizon to the north Meth
1 cr over the extent of sea nor on that par
if of the coast which it was still necessary
+ to explore could they discover even viii
the spyglass any suspicious object
Il 'Well," said Spilett 1--WE can console
e ourselves by thinking that no one is dis
o putting the island with us. -
: but how about the pellet? ?" said
Herbert, sit was not dream"
Indeed it was not 2 cried Pencroff
e thinking of his missing tooth.
d "Well, what are we to conclude 2
asked the reporter.
v Z This, said Smith, "that within thre
il months ship, voluntarily, or otherwis
d has touched"
W "What You will admit, Cyrus, tha
;. it has been swallowed up without leaving
p any trace :" cried the reporter.
z 'No, my dear Spilett; but you mus
remember that while it is certain that
human being has been here, it seem
n Just as certain that he is not here now
"Then, if | understand yeu sir" sale
). Herbert, 'the ship has gone again"
c Evidently"
: "And we have lost, beyond return, ;
chance to get home p said Neb.
t II believe without return"
y "Well then, since the chance is lost
7 let us push on, said Pencroff, alrerd,
e homc-sick for Granite House.
: But, just as they wero rising, Top''
: barking was heard, and the dog burs
Y from the forest, holding in his mouth )
i soled rag Neb took it from him Il
: was a bit of strong cloth. Top, still
barking, seemed by his motions to invite
= his master to follow into the wood.
"Herc is something which will explain
i nv bullet" cried Poncrof.
: "a shipwreekcd person :" answered
( "Wounded, perhaps" :" exclaimed Neb.
= "Or dead :" responded the reporter
" And all holding their arms in readi-
ness hurried after the dog through the
% outskirts of the forests. They advanced
:, some distance into the wood, but to their
disappointment, they saw no tracks Il
The underbrush and lianas were unin-
! iured and had to be cut away with the
batchet, as in the depths Of the forest. =
n Il was hard to imagine that any human
: creature had passed there and yet Top.
action showed no uncertainty, but wa: