Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-04-19
little light on it, said, with mock gravi-

events" returned Nab, coldly, and almost
sternly, as if she resented the skepticism
which my remark implied. The prophetic
mantle rests not always on her shoulders.
But you shall see her, and then you can
judge for yourself. And now let US go on
with our inspection"
AS we passed through one of the berths
Il think it was poor Bulnois'-I saw a car
pet-bag in one corner.
"What is here2" l said, opening it.
"Booksr' exclaimed the queen. Let Us
see what they are"
So / carried the bag into the saloon, and
emptied on the table at least a score of
volumes, the greater part of them novels.
''There!" l said, taking up a copy OF
1.-THE Woman in White" you have only
to begin reading this, and you will forget
allabOut your melancholy forebodings, and
the supposed dangers which a too active
imagination has cOnjured up"
''Is it very interesting'" she asked, with
sparkling eyes.
Very"
81 will begin it at once" she said, and
suitIng the action TO the word, she sat
down, and opening the volume, settled
herself for good read. Let me know
when the boat is ready"
An hour later the boat was ready, but so
crowded with bales, cases, and one thing
and another. that it was evident she could
not take us all back at one trip.
On this l went below TO the queen,
whom | found deep in Wilkie Collins
thrilling romance, and after explaining the
difficulty we were in, suggested that she
and her personal attendants should 90 off
in the boat, and that two of the men and
myself would wait on board until another
could be sent to take Us off.
"No; let the people 20. They can send a
boat for US when they get to Fairhaven-I
mean for you, myself, and Marian, and
Buttercup."
at cannot be here for two hours, and in
much less time than that it will he dark"
81 am not afraid of the dark. You have
lamps, l SUPPOSED"
yes, we have lamps; still"
Let the boat 90, sayp' and the next
moment her head was again bent over her
book
| went on deck, gave orders for the boat
TO shove eff, and told the CUXswain to send
another for Us with all speed, the instant
he arrived This done, lighted a cigar
and paced to and fro, absorbed in thought,
until the thickening twilight warned me
that it was time to trim the saloon lamp.
Nab was still reading, nor until lighted
the lamp which swung over her head did
she look up.
THANK YOU" she said; and then turning
round, looked intently through one of the
ports toward the almost departed sun.
There is going to be a storm, " she added,
wistfully.
"Why should you think SOP" l asked.
''The sky is perfectly clear, and there is
hardly breath of wind
you Will see. ! hope it won't be more
than n stOrm-a tempest, l mean. But
there is feeling in the air. Is the ship
quite fast-safely moored, | meant"
Quite. looked to that the moment 1
came on board"
"Goodl We are safe, then. The boat
will be here in an hour That will be time
enough" and then she took up her book
again, and went once more on deck.
The short twilight had now almost deep
sned into darkness, and was quite alone,
Marian being with her mistress, and But
tercup fast asleep in n corner of the saloon.
| lighted another cigar. and was about to
Resume my solitary walk where | had left
it off, when it occurred to me to verify the
queens weather-fOreCast by glancing at
the barometer
The result was startling The mercury
had fallen several points since last looked
at it-that is to say, in three hours.
Cad, she is rightr ! thought; 1--WE are
In for a storm. and no mstake-a regular
ripper! | hope it won't burst before we
get back 70 FaiThaven. The creek is Ger
taiuly not the open sea, and we are safely
mOored. All the same, would rather be
on dry land for choice"
| looked round, for, as yet, the darkness
was far from being absolute. Myriads of
stars studded the sky, and the sea was
phOsphOrescent The creek shone like a
river of molten gold, and as the tide
0hereabouts very strong) ebbed rapidly
past, fiery wavclets broke on the shore and
dashed merrily against the "Diana's"
sides. The mountain, its summit pointing
toward the Southern Cross, doomed large
and silent under the vaulted sky. like some
monstrous genie guarding hidden treasure
or giant sentinel keeping watch over the
sleeping island that nestled Mt its base.
Westward, as well rs northward and
southwark, the calm was complete, and
med heavens and the shining sea it were
impossible to imagine; but out of the mist
and beyond the Painted Rocks were be-
ginning to creep omnous shadows-s had
ows that swiftly took the form of clouds.
and spreading pall-IiGe over the sky, swal-
lowed up the stars and turned the water to
an inky blackness.
1t became So dark that | had to grope my
IL. 4
lantern, IA without something to denote
our whereabouts the people who were
coming to fetch us Off would be unable to
find the ship. There was peculiar feeling
I'm the atmosphere, too, that made me
think it was strongly charged with cleo
tricity. My temples throbbed as if they
would burst, when | pushed my hand
through my hair | could hear it crackle
/ had reached the pinnacle, and was
feeling about for the lantern. when ter
rifle peal of thunder crashed over the
mountain, and long, vivid flash of forked
lightning rent the clouds asunder, bring
ing every object which it illumined into
sharpnst relief. 1t did not last the hun
dredth part of a second, yet | saw every
thing-the creek, the sea, the tall maSts of
the Diana" the very leaves quivering on
the trees-GHd the figure Of "a man cutting
one Of the ropes by lchich the ship tDdS
mOOrCd to the shore!
CHAPTER NXIIL-A TERRIBLE NIGHT.
l saw it distinctly-a man hacking at
the rope with a long knife; and if his back
had not been turned toward me | should
have seen his face-possihly recognized
him. Yet l could hardly believe my eyes.
/ thought they had deceived me. and tried
- ,,,-..I. .L..,t