The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-30

mics were his friends, and he would
lead them to where they lay.
Craddock could not have asked for
anything better; so early next morn
ing, with a small party armed to the
teeth, he set off under the guidance
of the Carib. All day they struggled
through brushWood and clambered
over rocks. pushing their way further
n further into the desolate heart of
the island Here and there they found
traces of the hunters, the bones of a
slain OK, or the marks of feet in a
morass, and once, toward evening, it
seemed to- some, of them that they
heard the distant rattle of u
That night they spent under the
trees, and pushed on again with the
earliest light. About noon they came
to the hunts of bark, which, the Carib
told them, were the camp of the hunt
ers, they were silent and deserted.
No doubt their occupants were away
at the hunt, and would return in the
evening, so .CraddOck and his men lay
in ambush in the brushwood around
them. But nc one came, and another
night wassspent in the. forest. Nothing
more could be done, and it seemed to
Craddock that after the two days alb
senCe it was time that he returned to
his ship once more.
The return journey was less difficult,
as they had already blazed a. path for
themselves. Before evening they found
themselves once more at the Bay of
Palms and saw their ship riding at
/ anchor where they had left her. Their
boat and oars had been hauled UP
among the bushes, so they launched
it and pulled out to the bark.
mo luck, heni" cried Joshua Hird.
the mate, looking down with a pale
face from the poop.
His camp was empty, but he nay
come down to us yet" said Craddock,
with his hand on the ladder.
Somebody upon deck began to laugh.
L think" said h mate, THAT these
men had better stay in the boat"
why SOP
'If you will come aboard, sir, you
will understand it." He spoke in a
curious, hesitating fashion.
The blood flushed to ~Craddock's gaunt
face.
How is this. Master Hird?v he cried,
s%pringing UP the side. What mean
you by giving orders TO my boats
crew.
But as he passed over the buIwarks.
with one foot upon the deck and one
knee upon the rail, a tow-bearded man.
whom he had never before observed
board his vessel. grabbed suddenly at
his pistol. -Craddock clutched at the
fellows wrist. but at the same instant
his mate snatched the eutlass from his
side.
What roguery is this?" shouted
craddock, looking f~uriously around
him. But the crew stood in little knots
about the deck. laughing and whisper
ing among themselves. without show
ing any desire to go to his assistance.
Even in that hurried glance Craddock
noticed that they were dressed in the
most singular Manner. with long rid
ing coats. full skirted velvet gowns and
colored ribbons at their knees. more
i men of fashion than seanen.
As ne looked at their grotesque fig
Gres he struck at his brow with his
clenehed fist to be sure that he was
awake The deck seemed to be much
dirtier than when he had left it, and
there were strange, s-un-bIackened
faces turned upon him from every side.
Not one of them did he know save only
Joshua HIrd- Had the ship been can
tHred in his absence? Were these
Sharkey's men who We're around him?