Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-06-10

ton of boat full Of desperate casta.
ways it would be hard to hit upon.
Flotillas of iridescent pink sailed nau-
titus scudded constantly beside them,
dropping as constantly astern, and
these made their only company. Ex-
cept for the nautilus the sea seemed
dcsolate.
In this guise, then, they ended their
voyage. which had spun out to nigh
upon 1000 miles, through contrary
winds and the necessity for incessant
tacking. and in the height Of one blaz-
ing afternoon there rose the tops OF
the islands out of twinkling turquoise
sea.
These appeared first as mere dusty
black rocks sticking up out Of the calm
blue, Great Salvage island to the north
ward and Great Piton to the south and
beyond, but they grew as the boat near
ed them and presently appeared to be
built upon freze of dazzling feathery
whiteness. The lifeboat swept on to
reach them. climbing and diving over
the rollers. She had canvas decks,
quarter mast high, which contrived to
throw off the sprays. and over these the
faces of her people peered ahead, wild
and gaunt, salt crusted and desperate.
Great Salvage island drew abeam and
passed away astern. Great Piton lay
close ahead now, fringed with thou
sand reefs. each with its spouting
breakers. The din Of the surf came TO
them loudly up the wind. A flock OF
sea fowl. screaming and circling, sailed
out TO escort them in, and ahead, be-
hind the banks Of breakers. drawing
them on as water will draw choking
man, were the rusted smokestack ana
the stripped masts of derelict mer'
| chant steamer.
There is yarn about an open boat
which had voyaged 1,2OO miles over the
lonely Pacific coming upon green atoll
and being sailed recklessly in through
the surf and drowning every soul on
board, and the yarn is easy believable
| CAPTAIN Kettle and his companions had
undergone horrible privations. Here at
last were the isle Of their hope and the
treasure. as it seemed, in full view. but
by some intolerable fate they were
| barred from it by relentless walls OF
surf. Kettle ran in as close as he dared
and then ilattened In his sheets and
sailed the lifehoat Gloss hauled along
| the noisy line Of breakers. looking for
an opening.
The two Portuguese grumbled open
| ly. and when not ghost Of landing
place showed and Kettle put her about
| to sail back again even the cautious
McTodd put up his word to run in and
| risk it."
But Kettle, though equally sick as
they were of the boat and her voyage,
| had all sailors dislike for losing a
ship, whatever she might be, and
cowed them all with voice and threats.
and at last his forbearance was re-
warded. \ slim passage through the
reefs showed itself ut the southern end
of the island. and down it they lodged.
| trimming tleir sheets six times min
ute, with an escort Of dangers always
close on either hand, and finally ran
into q rocky bay. which held compara-
| lively smooth water.
There was no place to beach the boat.
| They had to anchor her off, but with Il
whip on the cable they were able to
| step ashore on n ledge of stone and
then haul the boat off again out of
harms way.
1t may be thought that they capered
with delight at treading on dry land
again, but there was nothing OF this.
With their cramped limbs and disused
Joints it was us much as they could
do to hobbe and every step was a
wrench. But the lure ahead OF them
was great enough to triumph over mi
nor difficulties. Half mile away
along the rocks was the Duncansby
Head, and for her they raced at the
top of their crippled gait. and the sea
fowl screamed curiously above their
| heads.
Thcy -cratched and tore themselves
in this frantic progress over the sharp
volcanic rocks. they choked with thirst.
they painted with their labor. but none
of these things mattered. The desert
ed steamer when they came to her
was lying off from the shore at the
other side of lake Of deep water. but
they were fit for no more waiting. and
each as he came opposite her waded
in out Of his depth and swan off with
eager strokes. Davit falls trailing in
the water gave them an entrance way.
and up these they climbed with the
uuickness of apes. and then with one
accord they made for the pantry and
the stewards storeroom. The gold
which had lured them was forgotten.
The immediate needs Of their famished
bodies were the only things they re-
membered. They found a cheese, box
of musty biscuit and filter full of
stale and tepid water. and they gorged
till they were filled and swore they
had never sat to so delicious meal.
With repletion came the thoughts Of
fortune again. and off they went to the
charthouse to finger the coveted gold,
but here was disappointment ready
and waiting for them. They had gone
up in body. neither nationality trust
ing the other, and together they ran
sacked the place with thoroughness.
There were papers in abundance. there
were clothes furry with m.ldcw. there
was a broken box of cheap cigars, but
of money there was not so much as a
| bronze piece.
"Eh. WELL" said Kettle, sitting back
on the musty bedclothes, I'VE have had
our trouble for nothing. Some ones
been here first and skinned the place
clean" McTodd pounced upon the
counterpane and caught something,
which he held between his black thumb
and finger.
Look" he said. "That's not white
mans flea! That's Spanish or Portu-
gee! And neither Tonic nor his mate
brought it here, because they have been
washed clean on the trip. You remem-
ber what said about fishing schoon-
ers from Las Palmas, skipper?
"By James, yes! And look on the
floor there? See those cigarette ends?
They're new and dry. If the old man
had been cigarette smoker, he
wouldn't have chucked his butts on his
charthouse deck, and even If he had
they'd have been washed to bits when