El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-10

overcome all obstacles An hour before
Martin Carnforth had been cursing the
tedium of his expedition A little chill
went through him now Before many
more hours We're past he had a strong
notion he would be scared at its hveii-
ness He had seen Captain Kettles
methods before when things went con
! trary to his plans and wishes.
! Slowly the night dragged through.
! and by degrees the blackness Trimmed
The eastern waters grew gray, and the
sky above them changed to dull sulphur
yellow. Then a coal of crimson fire
burned out on the horizon and grew
quickly to great half dish of scarlet.
and then the rest of the sun was shot
up, as an orange pip is slipped from
the fingaAs, and it was brilliant, star
ing, tropical day.
For full an hour the yacht had been
under weigh at half steam, with lead
going, circling round the noisy reefs.
The place was alive with the shout of
breakers and the scream of sea fowl
Inside, beyond the hedge of spouting
waters, were three small turtle backs
of sand and lugger at anchor.
The water outside was clear as bottle
green glass and of enormous depth.
| The only entrance to the lagoon was a
narrow canal between the reefs, shown
ap wildly by the gap in the ring of
creaming surf. It was not likely that
any one from the lugger would lend a
hand for pilotaee-or be trusted if they
offered. So Kettle steamed the yacht to.
some half mile off the entrance, called
away the whaleboat and went off in
her himself, with crew and a couple
of leadslnen, to survey the channel He
did it with all elaboration, returned,
took his perch on the fore crosstrees,
where he could see the coral floor
through the clear water beneath, and
conned the yacht in himself Carn-
forth leaned over the bridge end and
watched.
The coral floor, with its wondrous
growths. came up toward him out of
the deep water. The yacht rolled into
the pass on the backs of the great ocean
swells, and the reef ends on either side
doomed like a salute of heavy guns.
The white froth of the surges spewed
up against her Sides and the spindrift
battered in showers upon her deck
planks. The stencil of the place grew
stronger every minute.
Then she shot through into mirror
of STILL smooth water. slowed to half
speed, and. with hand lead going dill
genly, steamed up to an anchorage in
10 fathoms off one of the sandy islets.
A white whalebOat put off from the
lugger. rowed by three Kanakas, ana
by the time the yachts cable was bit
ted Il man from her had stepped up the
accommodation ladder and was looking
about him on deck
He was biggish man in striped
pyiamas, barefooted, roughly bearded
and wearing Il crumpled pith helmet
well down on the back of his head. His
face was burned to fine dark ma hog
any color by the sun. and dangling
over his chest at the end of a piece CT
fine sinnet was a gold trimmed eyeglass,
which glittered like a diamond when
it caught the sun. He touched his he'll
met to Kettle. you've brought a fine |
day with you. captain, said he.
Rather warm, said Kettle II !
have not looked at the glass this morn
ing. l hope it's going to keep steady
The visitor glanced round and sized |
up the yacht and its resources. Oh |
l should say it's likely to for the pres
ent. You've a nice little boat here and |
having ten of a crew all told, captain.
eh 2"
Thirteen, said Kettle
"Humphl It's an unlucky number
Well. captain. if l were you l wouldn't
stay here too long. The weathers a bit
uncertain, You know, in these seas.
1--WE want some pearls and shell be
fore we 90.
Il might have guessed that. Well, !
it s nuisance from our point Of view,
because we thought we'd the lagoon to
ourselves and intended to skim it clean
ourselves, if the Japs don't interrupt.
But take Il tip. captain. and don't be
too greedy. If you stay too long the
glass may fall suddenly, and
Take care. my lad. ;" snapped Ket-
tie. I'm a man that accepts threats
from no man living
''Oh, all right" said the stranger
carelessly. But who have we here?'
And he stuck the glass into his eye and
whistled.
Captain Kettle made formal intro
duction. My owner, sir. Mr., Martin
of New York "
"Humph!" said the visitor lyon
used to be Carnforth up at Cambridge.
didn't youI NJ. Carnforth, l remem-
Der, and NJ. might possibly stand for
Martin.
Captain Kettle smiled grimly and
Carnforth swore.
Bit of IA surprise to find you pearl
poaching, Carnforth. | see your name
in the Australian papers now and again
and got notion you We're something
big at home Had a bust up?''
..No - said ssU,,,,
right there. Come below and have "A
MI and toll 4,