Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-02
PART Ill
Ny SHORE ADVENTURE.
CHAPTER NH.
HOW I BEGAN MY SHORE ADVEN-
TTfRE

together changed Although the
breeze had now utterly failed. we had
made a great deal Of way during the
night, and were now lying becalmed
bout half mile 10 the southeast OF
he low eastern coast. Gray-colored
woods covered large part Of the sur
| face. This even tint was indeed
broken up by streaks Of yellow sand
break III the lower lands. and by many
iall trees of the pine family, out-top-
ping the othcrs-some singly, some in
Jumps; but the general cu!oring was
| Uniform and sad. The hills ran up
clear above the vegetation ia spires Of
naked rock All were strangely
lhaped, and the Spy-glass. which Was
~ 800 or 400 feet the tallest on the
island. was likewise the straugest ina
conhguration, running up sheer from
almost every side. and then suddenly
nut of at the top like pedestal TO put
statue on.
The "Hispaniola" was rolling Soup
pers under in the ocean swell The
booms were tearing at the blocks, the
rudder was banging 20 and fro, and
the whole ship crcaking. grooming, and
| jumping like a mandatory. had TO
ling tight TO the backstay, and the
world turned giddily before my eyes,
'or though was a good enough sailor
when there was way on. this standing
still and being rolled about like a bot
tlo was a thing never learned 10 stand
without a qualm or So above an in the
morning on an empty stomach.
Perhaps il was this perhaps il was
The look Of the island. with its gray.
melancholy woods. and Wild stone
'pirrs. mud the surf that We could both
see aud hear foaming and laundering
IN the steep beuch-at least. although
The sun shone bright and hot, aud tine
shore birds were fishing and crying al
round us. and you would have thought
anyone would haze been glad TO get to
and after being SO long II sea. my
heari sunk, as the saying Is. into ny
.oots; and from that first look onward.
mated the very thought OF Treasure
island.
We had dreary mornings work be-
fore AS for there was no sign OF any
wind. ard The boats had to be got out
and manned. and the ship warped three
or four miles round the corner of the
island. and up the narrow passage 10
the haven behind Skeleton island.
volunteered for one OF the boats where
] bad. OF course. no business. The
heat was sweItering. and the men
grumhled hcrcely over their work.
Anderson was in command OF my boat
aud instead Of keeping the crew IN
order, he grumbled as loud Is the
worst
WELL" he said. with an oath, Its
not forever
thought this was very bad sign;
for. up to that dSy. the men had gone
briskly and willingly about their busi'
ness: but the very sight of the island
had relaxed the cords Of discipline.
All the way in Long John stood by
the stsersman and conned the ship.
He knew The passage like the palm Of
his hand; and though the man in the
chains got everywhere more water
than was down In he chart, john never
hesitated once.
There's a strong scour with the
ebb." he said. and this here passage
has been dug out. in a manner of speak
ing. with a spade"
We brought up just where the am
Choir was in the chart, about third OF
a mile from either shore, the mainland
on one side. and Skeleton island on the
other. The bottom was clean sand
The plunge OF our anchor sent up
clouds Of birds wheeling and crying
over the woods; but in less than q min
ute they were all down again, and al
was once more silent.
The place was entirely land-locked.
buried in woods. the trees coming
right down to high water mark. the
shores mostly Hat. and the hill-tops
standing round az distance in sort OF
one here. one there. Two
little rivers. or. rather. two swamps
emptied out into this pond. as you
might call II: and the foliage round
that part Of the shore had Kind Of
poisonous brightness. From the ship.
We could see nothing OF the house or
stockade. for they were quite buried
among trees; and If IL had not been
for the chart on the companion. we
might have been the first that had ever
anchored there since The island arose
out Of the seas.
There was not breath of air NOV
ing. nor sound but that of the surf
booming half a mile away along the
beaches and against the rocks outside.
4 peculiar siagnant smell hung over
The anchorage = smell OF sodden
leaves and rotten tree trunks. OBJ |
served the doctor smiling. and shifting. |
like some one tasting bad egg.
Il don't know about treasure. he |
said. but I'll stake my wig there's
fever here"
If the conduct of the men had been
alarming in the boat, it became truly |
threatening when they had come |