Evening star., 1900-04-07

who can guess revolving behind his sunken
and desperate eyes.
The Spanish ship was strongly manned,
Or rather, considering all the soldiers on
board. overmanrCd. 1t was but short eX
petition and with the wind favorng us as
IL did, we might have made the island any
time during the second day. But Saul Mark
! evidently did not relish attempt to force
the passage of the reefs in the teeth of
hostile force. composed OF such fierce out
| laws now held the island. So all day
the San Estcban hung about on this tack
and on that mancuvering for the best po-
sition from which to run in upon the south
of the island and attack the settlement
from the back.
During this period Saul delivered his di-
rcctions to the crew through their Off
GERS, and proved himself so excellent
seaman that these. for a time at least. laid
aside their natural jealousy of Il foreigner
and aided him with will to make his dis
positions.
But what puzzled me most of all and
turned my thoughts away from the ship
was a tall column Of smoke or other cream
cGlored steam, very light and graceful,
which rose high into the air from the place
where the island showed plainly, lying pale
blue and, as 1t were, watcrlogsed In the
warm water of the Carib sea.
Will and l talked this appearance over.
It did not seem like the smoke of a great
ccnflaeration, or 1 should have supposed
that the pirates were burning the village.
1t was lighter. daintier. more ethereal.
Sometimes 1t came in curious Spurts and
puffs. If the Isle OF the Winds were
smoking a peaceful pipe before retiring to
rest. Anon it was only soft, gradual ex-
halatiOn like steam wreathing up from a
cauldrOn of boiling water. BY and by
Eborra came to u.s. but not even his
mothers magic enabled him to put name
the cause of the mysterious appear
ance.
Maybe the High Woods are on fire."
he said, yet 1t is the wrong season of the
year for that; or maybe pirates burn their
v~f,fp-y cx.ar
This was all the assistance Eborra could
give US.
1t seems strange to me now that, know
ing what we did of the intent of Saul Mark
we should yet be able to regard our return
to the Isle of the Winds without any great
apprehension. Yet it was. Perhaps 1t
was because we had been in so many terri
, bic places, and in spite of all had won our
way out. Or more likely because in a wild
tropic place like the pirate isle we thought
that there were many more chances of es-
cape than in one settled and cultivated like
Porto Rico. We knew that If once we had
hve minutes start, with Eborra to help
us, We might remain hidden forever in the
dense woods. And l for one had visions
of an ideal existence in Eborra's tiny bay
with Anna and VIII and the half-breed I
had already planned how we were to carry
off my mother from the nunnery. and 1
think also the abbot to marry u.s. IL neces-
sary with pistol held at his head
So that when Will spoke Of what we
should do If we were compelled to descend
lllo lne lOdtnSOme crater In which Nor
gan's treasure forever broken on
wheel OF pitch, l answered him indeed but
somehow not as though I believed that 1t
would ever come to the pinch with us.
Toward evening, the sun sank to the
sea, the creamy smoke cloud over the high
est part of the Isle of the Winds grew
rosy, and we could see that 1t extended a
very long way upward, finally becoming
combed out toward the top and blowing
seaward over the high woods in long
dragoons plume of trailing lilac mist
AS the twilight deepened and the wind
freshened the San Esteban drew inward
toward the side of the island farthest from
the pirates village. Here Saul Mark knew
Of an anchorage. safe from every wind ex-
cept furious tempest from the gulf and of
that at this time of year there was little
probability.
We looked into the loom of the lofty
and savage cliffs we drew nearer with
mingled awe and admiration which were
rendered greater by the strange pulsfng
glow. now red blood. now yellow as
I-wheat straw, that beat irregularly behind
them. The appearance as If some
vast confagration had been dying out be-
yond the hills, and the beating light was
accompanied at intervals by low roaring
sound like heavy surf on windless night
Anon a recurring rumble would shake in
our ears. causing a throbbing whirl Of the
brain like that which accompanies fever
At this the glow Redeemed momentIy and
| then died down. till again through the still
ness only that long-continuous surf would
| boom on unseen beaches
| We soon found that Saul Mark did not
| mean to take any risks of our escaping
| Even when the boats wers being got out
! and while the first soldiers We're embark