The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-11-23

Shthtis OHt VI NV SiOuD anu uON II
the passage. Her cabin door shut
gently the desire to slam it was cvI
dent for an instant there was II
silence in the saloon
Il fear I'm an old fool to have spoil
ed her So said the colonel but YOU
must excuse an old man whose one
treasure she is. Now. gentlemen if
you're ready I'm at your service"
They went on deck and there joined
Pladia and the six sailors Quietly
they dropped one by one into the
dingey and showed her across the 20
feet that divided her from the shore.
where they stepped upon the powders.
There was light crackle of seaweed
and CRATE of pebbles as they crossed
the rocks behind the bay Then they
faded utterly into the darkness \
sailor hauled back the line which at
tached the boat to the stern and
Hoped it upon one of the davits
Then he joined his fellows in the fore
castle. Amidship Jones and the mate
kept motonIesS watch. one seward
one toward the shore.
The boat lay rubbing and nosing
E'i'iN dfsitl'Ni tut liIlftIS Ol IHt nun,
ike puppy Nesting to its mother
Then. almost imperceptibly. the rip
pies swung her shoreward again. and
she stretched out to her full tether.
The shadow lay black between the
companionway aud the deckhouse.
and through it II figure moved ghost
like on noiSelcss feet. Suddenly the
dingey. as if endowed with life, turned
and made back toward the ship.
white hand leaned through the taft
rail aud pulled gently but steadily
at the painter. AS the boat swung
under the stern two little feet were
poised above her. feeling carefully
for footlold. Then Hilmar slid noise
lessly down i'll the darkness and
pushed away from the hull. speeding
to the shore with silent impulse. She
caught .se rocks with outstretched
hands before n timber could CRATE
and crept out upon them. She
spurned back the boat as she landed.
and without Il ripple it glided again
to the ships side an resumed its dull
tapping against the planks.. Unseen
In her dark cloak. Hilmar crept along
the reef. gained the sand and was in
her turn swallowed by the darkness.
The deck watch. engrossed in other
directions. had not caught a vestige
Of her as she passed
A mile away in the forest the
reasure seekers were stumbling along.
The rotting pine branches crossed their
oath here. there and everywhere. and
many were the trips they made and
the impreeations they NUT
cred. At their head strobe Lars star
ng round him and pointing now and
gain to some huge trunk or bowlder
IS he signitied that he recognized ia
niliar landmarks.
The night was dull and heavy. Thick
LIQUIDS moved sluggishly across the
ky. opening ut short intervals to let
own ray of light from the crescent
noon
Now and again. disturbed by some
rratic stumble from one or other
lember of the party. the half walked
huckle of willow grouse was heard. |
he shrill cries of the owls answered |
ach other from thcket to thicket. |
iere and there huge patches of win |
~ drift lay white between the bowl |
ers and were religiously slxirted by |
ne party, who desired to leave no |
all. Once or twice lean black shapes |
werved shadowlike across their path.
My the CLEAN of a pair of savage
yes proclanng that VOLTS lair had
cen invaded. so ghostlike did they fit
'om one dark recess of the under
rowth to another. Out of the pine
ees the occasional gurgle of night
n came startlingly.
An hours toll among the branches
nd powders and the tinkle of RIM
ng water broke upon their ears. At
gesture from their guide they turned
the right and debouched upon the
INK or a rivulet, a little brook thar
aped and FLASHED from pool to pool.
wing great rocks that stemmed its
'urse among shadows bare foot
'ep Only the worn and smooth
'urse OF the rocky channel showed
what heights it rose in winter or
ltumn spate.
The guide looked eagerly from right
left. Then stealthilv ha crant -