The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-02-12

narrow strip Of white sand that hucea
the edge OF the rocky inlet where the
party came to land, but did not speak.
b brave little boat, with the yellow san
pulled and painted, as if it had been 4
great greyhound lolling its tongue ana
resting after the chase.
The party climbed steeply IN the ora
narrow way hewn out Of the rocks Is
single file, holding fast to the outstreteb-
ing and oyerhanging crags.
On, on, on, up to the very clouds the
great crags climbed. But here on a bench
fifty feet or more from the water, was 4
little hut of stone, and here the party
stopped. For here the partner of Silvia
a brother, had been waiting with he
freight which he had gathered from the
precipitous rocks. A dozen great ham
pers of big speckled eggs rested about the
door. A dozen curious black-eyed chill
dren watched the strangers from behind
the rocks and corners of the stone hut.
Two or three superannuated sailors.
stranded wrecks of sailors, lounged about
on the rocks; old sea lions that roared no
more now. A brown and wrinkled old
woman came shutting out of a crack in
the rocks in the rear of the hut with q
pipe in her toothless mouth. Such is the
landing at the "Fa'leones.''
Half an hour of Juggling at the heavy
hampers of huge sea-bird eggs and all
was ready for the return.
II am not going back. I will stay with
uncle" The pale, thin lips of the proud
girl, the girl whose lips had yesterday
been so full, so sensuous with life and love
and humanity, these changeful lips parted
very unwillingly to say even this much to
her father. She spoke to no one else;
did not even seem to see any one else.
care you afraid to go back2n said the
father kindly.
afraid? ha, ha, ha." Her laugh was
hard and low and bitter.
"Farla is not afraid, = said the sister in
a kind, ~conciliatory tone, "and what il
more, / shall be afraid if she don't 90.
But / shall o be afraid if she is along
and turning half to Gray she said "Faria
is so safe so certain; she looks after
everything. / used to say that Farla
looks after everything and leaves nothing
at all to God"
"But you leave everything to God
and mani"
There was a sting in the tail of this last
speech which only the father and sister
heard; and even they only half under
stood, But seeing the proud and beauti-
full girl turn suddenly away and start
steeply up the overhanging rocks before
them, the father choose to let her have
her will, as usual, and with a gruf Good
bye, Farla, / will come tomorrow" led
off down to the boat.
Hastily embarking, for the sun was
falling down fast behind the rocks, the
sail was once more to the wind and the
Golden Gate was before and not behind
them.
Some lacking and much adroit use Of
the yellow sail and the giant in the stern
Of the boat with a half suppressed sigh
threw a glance back over his shoulder.
An exclamation of amazement, if not of
alarm, broke from his lips.
All turned their eyes in the direction of
the savage islands There, away up hum
dreds of feet in the air, higher than the
sun it seemed, the sinking sun behind her;
a black silhouette standing in a back
ground of goldl Her stream of black
hair almost mantling her as the wind
housed within it's wondrous folds, lifted
or let it fall.
Gloriousl The go,:aess - tie uupo
Sessed seas!
The father bit his bloodless lips; tight
ened hand on helm and was about to turn
about. Then the face Of his younger
child appealed to him; she was not so
strong as Farla. And then what would
returning avail?
He was not a man of words. He knew
that Farla was in peril. He did not say
to her sister that she was standing where
never man, much less woman, had set
foot before. But he knew it well. He
only set his teeth tightly and drove on
straight for the Golden Gate and did not
look back.