Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-16
CHAPTER XVII.


being totally unarmed. We penetrated
inland with more anxiety than pleas
ure at first; but ere long we became
convinced that the island was totally
destitute of human inhabitants.
Not vestige of wigwam or hut, OF
road or path. not even of the smallest
track or trail (save such as the wild
goats made) was visible anywhere. and
thus We became impressed with new
emotions of wonder aud awe, in tread
ing soil where man lived not-where
no human foot seemed TO have trod
and where only the hum of insect life
stirred the solitude of that wild island
of the South Atlantic
For a considerable distance we
traversed fiat ground that was covered
with sedge grass, interspersed by
shrubs of bright green. Beyond this
level plain rose series of ridges COW
cred by trees, and those ridges formed
the first slope of the great mountain.
which was some thousand feet in
height. and also of the great bluff We
had first deserted at sea.
We found Alphonso TO be the largest
of a group of three islands. 1t is a
mass of rock nearly twelve miles in
circumference. The other two are
cavernous and inaccessible. and every
approach 10 them is dangerous and diff
hcult, IN consequence of the fOaming
of the sea about them so that during
the weary days OF our sOjOurn there
We made no attempt to explore them,
lest the longboat. in orr circumstances
priceless property might be swamp
ed or dashed to pieces.
HlslOp informed ME that he had read
somewhere that in the month of
March. 15O6-the same year in which
the great Columbus died-two adven-
turers of Spain or Portugal, named
Tristan da Cunha and Alphonso de
Albuquerque. sailed for the Indies on a
voyage of discovery, with fourteen
great caravelS.
During this expedition they found
three great islands. which they named
after Tristan da Cunha. and elsewhere
three others, which were named from
AlphOnsO. who after their fleet had
been scattered by great tempest, sail
ed through the Mozambique channel.
He discovered many sea isles and
channels hitherto unknown TO the Por-
tuguese or Spaniards. and ultimately
reached the Indies. OF which he be-
came vicerOy for Ferdinand the Catho-
lie, and died in 1915. holding that
Office
1t IS very strange that since that
remote period no European country
has turned these islands to anv ar
count. as they do not lie more than
fifty leagues from the general track
of the shipping bound for the coast of
Coromandel or the Chinese seas. and
in time of war would form useful
and important rendezvous for a feet
1hey lie exactly in that portion of
the wide and mighty ocean where
1t was tabled and believed a great CON
tlnent would Yet BE found.
The three isles of Tristan da Cunha
which lie some hundred miles distant
have now a mixed population of Eng
lish, Portuguese and niulattoes: ana \
strong garrison was maintained there
during the captivity CT the Fmperor
Napoleon at St Helena.
Being thus east away upon a shore
so far from the general track Of ships
we resolved to make lreDara.ionc for
a probable residence of some time-to
build nut wherein to store our pro-
visions, and TO Use every means for
adding to our stock. 0y angling in the
creeks, which seemed to abound with
fish. and by hunting in the woods.
which teemed with goats and boars
running wild; by collecting birds eggs.
as the cliffs seemed 10 be literally alive
with petreis. albatrosses and sea-hens:
ana all THESE eXertlonS We're the more
necessary. as none could foresee the
probable length of our soiourn there.
A ship might heave in sight tomor-
row; but year might pass before one
came near enough to be attracted by
our signs.
We resolved to have a sienal-nost
erected on the mountain ton a beacon
hre prepared and amid these and
many other deliberations the night
closed in and found Us tolerably con-
tented with our island. and even dis
posed TO be merry over misfortunes
that We could not control
But considerable speculation was OK
cited when Billy Wilkins. the cabin
boz. who had been in pursuit of =
little kid along the beach. returned 20
US dragging AFTER him a long spar
which he had found among the LAYER
of shingles, bright shells and dusky
weeds deposited by the sea: and on ex-
animation this spar proved to be one
OF the lower studding-sail booms of the
Eugene, and the same which had part
ed from the brig on the eventful
evening OF the punishment
1t is our own property" said Billy.
and may be useful when we have a
fire to light
Boy Bill, we have better use fer
it than burning said TattoOed Tom
tbs the mast for our signal-post. al
ready made to hand, and we'll step it
on the hilltop tomorrow"
For that night We biyouacked under
large tree. the name and genus of
which were alike unknown to us. AT
times some were conversing. some
slept. others lay waking and thinking
with the murmur of the shining sea
close by in their ears: and | could sne
the stars of the Southern Cross shin
ing with wonderful brilliance at the
verge of the watery horizon.
The novelty of our situation kept ne
long awake. and with my head pillow
ed on bundle of dry seaweed with