The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-08-04
CHAPTER VII.-Continued.
.ENcE HERBERT NEW

CHAPTER VII.-Continued.
In this and our previous discussions
we seemed to have covered every con-
tingency, but now that we were upon
the point of making a beginning in
sober earnest our conflicting hopes
and fears suggested innumerable COM
plications. Presently I noticed that
Halstead was looking at me intently.
Harry" he said, lit has been good
many years since we saw each other
last. We were scarcely more than boys
then; yet, to the best of my recollec-
ton, you were always square in every
thing you did. I'm not worrying for
an instant over your taking advantage
CT Mac and me in this deal. But am
afraid that you may be inclined to take
unnecessary risks in putting it
through. Now, whatever happens.
don't. We want that money. and we
want it badly, but we'd both rather
have you back on the Countess here,
safe and sound, even if you came
empty-handed, than feel that you were
likely to throw your life away in try
ing to make us rich. You won't do it,
will you, old chap?"
"No, I won't, Dick: and If make
10 of it, you and Mac will find me. as
I used to be, dead square. We
eripped hands across the table. and
felt better for doing so.
In a few moments he got up, looked
through one of the forward windows,
and called my attention to what
seemed like a cloud-bank on the hori-
zon. straight ahead.
There's old Guajan," he said. ''The
white patch you see in the middle is
the surf on Cocos, and that furthest
point to the left is Orote; Apra lies
Just behind it, and Agana beyond.
There's nothing but an open road
stead, with no holding ground. in front
of the town; so we generally lie inside
the reefs at Apra. about two miles
from a little wharf at the end of the
Agana road. Well be abreast of Cocos
in something over an hour. Wait I'M
til you can just see the surf through
the starboard port. down aft. and then
haul in your log. It's an even IL mile
from Cocos to Orote."
My feeling of anxiety may be mag
ined as stood waiting. below decks,
for that tip of coast line to come in
sight. The loss of taffrail log screw,
from various causes, is frequent &C.
currence; and I was greatly relieved
to find the line still whirling every
time the screw twisted it taut. To
haul it in an instant too soon would be
to throw me more or less out of my
reckoning. and each time the record
ing swivel buzzed I feared the end of
Cocos might appear before it could
register again; but luck was on my
side. The patch of white surf and the
registering twist came together. and
after hauling in the line the dial
marked exactly 43 miles. So that,
adding the distance to Point Orote,
1 now knew the northerly limit of the
reel lay just IS geographical miles
from the outer head of Port Apra. /
slowed NY log carefully away in its
box. knowing that if others had hap
pened to see the record they were sure
to be Is miles out of their reckoning.
Then ! hunted up the senorita for a
farewell chat, pointing out Umata bay
and the different points alongshore as
we passed. 1t was midafternoon when
we rounded the point and began to
whistle for pilot. Either the captain
or myself could have taken the steam
er in with reasonable safety, from our
knowledge of the soundings; but we
were running no risks whatever.