Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1876-10-12


were on the extremity Of the promonto-
ry, and scrutinizing the horizon visible
on either hand No ship or wreck was
to be SEEN and not even with the spy
glass could any suspicious object be dis
cerned. 1t was the same along the shore
at least on all that portion, three miles
in length, which formed the south side
of the promontory; as, beyond that, a
slope Of the land concealed the rest Of
the coast, and even from the extremity
Of Serpentinc Peninsula Claw Cape was
hidden by high rocks.
The southern bank of the island re-
manned to be explored Had they not
better attempt this at once, and give VI
this day to it? This procedure had not
entered into their first calculations, as
when the canoe was left at the sources o
the Mercy, the colonists thought that
having explored the west coast, tlc'
would relurn by the river; Smith hay
ing then believed that this coast shelter
ed either wreck or passing ship. Bu
as soon as this shore disclosed no land.
ing place, it became Necessary to search
the south side of the island for those
whom they had failed to discover on the
west.
1t was Spilett who proposed continu-
ing the exploration so as to settle def
nitely the question of the supposed ship
wreck, and he Inquired how far it would
be to Claw Cape.
about thirty miles" answered the
engineer, ''if we allow for the Irregular
ity of the shore"
Thirty miles exclaimed Spilett
''that would be a long walk. Neverthe
less, think We should return to Gran
lite House by the south coast"
But" observed Herbert. "from
Claw Cape to Granite House is at least
ten miles further"
"Call it forty miles altogether" an
swcred the reporter, "and do not let us
hesitate to do it At lest we will have
seen this unknown shore, and will not
have it to explore over again"
THAT is so,' said Pencrof. "But
how about the canoe 2"
canoe can stay rxhcro it is for a
day or two,' replied Spilett eve can
hardly say that the island is infested with
thicycsw
"Nevertheless, when | remember that
affair of the turtle, ! am not so confident. >
THE turtle the turtle cried the re-
porter, "don't you know that the sea
turned it over?'
"Who can say" murmured the en-
gincer.
But" began Ncb, who, it was cv-
ident wished to say something.
"What is it Neb ~ questioned the en-.
gincer.
''If We do return by the shore to CLAW
Cape, after having gone round it, We
will be stopped"
by the Mercy cried Herbert. -
"And we have no bridge or boat =
"Oh.," answered Pencroff, 1--WE cal
cross it readily with some logs"
Nevertheless, - said Spilctt it woul,
be we'll to build bridge some time
we wish to have ready access to the Fa
West"
"a BRIDGE cried Pencrof "Wel
isn't Mr.. Smith State Engineer? If W
shall need abridgc we viii have one As t.
carryingyou over the Mercy to night with
out getting wet, | will look out for that
We still have a days provision, which
is all that is necessary, and, besides, th
game may not give out to-day, as it di
yesterday SO let us 90"
The proposal of the reporter, strongl
seconded by the sailor, obtained genera
approval, as every one wished to en-
their doubts, and by returning by Cla
Cape the exploration would be complete
But no time was to be lost, for the tram
was long, and they counted on reachin
Granite House that night. So by
o'clock the little party was on its way
the guns loaded with ball in case of a
encounter, and Top, who went ahead
ordered to search the edge Of the forest
The first five miles Of the distanc
was rapidly trayersed, and not the slight
est sign of any human being was seen
When the colonists arrived at the poin
where the curvature of the promontor.
ended, and Washington Bay began, the,
were able to take in one view the who'll
extent of the southern coat. Twenty
FIVE miles distant the shore was terml
mated by Claw Cape, which was talntI.
visible through the morning mlsts, an'
reproduced as a mirage in mid-alr. BE
tween the place occupied by the colo
nists and the upper end ofthe Great Ba,
the shore began with fiat and continu
GUS beach, bordered in the bac&groun
by tall trees; following this, it bacam
very irregular, and thrust sharp point
INTO the sea, and finally heap of blac
rocks, thrown together in picturesqu
disorder, completed the distance to Cla'
Cape
"A ship would surely be lost on thes
sands and shoals and reefs, said Pen
croft.
1T is poor quarters
"But at least a portion of her woul
be left, )" observed the reporter.
"Some bits of wood would remain o
the reefs nothing on the sands, answer
! ed the sailor