The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-31
he decided to follow his example and
turn In,
CHAPTER III,

CHAPTER III.
1.-THE storm is DER, the night Is ned,
roared strong bass voice, with faint
imitation of the air OF the song the words
of which are quoted. "'Up all nam
mocks.' as they say in the navy. or as
they used to when tried Uncle sans
sea boarding house. Rouse out, jennings.
and see as strange a sight as VIII ever
greet your eyes, no matter no" long
you may chance to live. and such as you
will probably never see again."
How is the windT' asked the young
man, as he crawled sleepily out OF his
bunk
wind! There is no wind, mo lord"
replied Rivers, with dramatic gesture.
Are you not satisfied with what we had
last night? If not you must have an
appetite for weather that is quite beyond
my limited capacity"
20 I had enough Do not think for
an instant that am dissatisfied replied
Ralph, as he rapidly dressed himself
you will need few clothes" said
Rivers. 1T Is quiet and hot. Come along
now, and see where we are"
Ho preceded the younger man on deck,
and turned cxpectant of the surprised
look which he knew he should find upon
the others face.
He was not disappointed
When Ralph Jennings reached the
deck OF the brig Tigress and gazed out
upon the rail, he rubbed his eyes Wig
orousy to be sure that he was not dream m
ing
Before him, and close to the brig was
grass. Not 100 yards away, narrow
river wound It's way along, and over
beyond, on the further bank, were masses
of trees and underbrush. He followed
the course Of the river to the left, only
TO see high mountains rising In the dis
ance.
There is where we came In" said
Rivers, pointing to the right I'VE must
have followed the course OF the river,
for there is the mouth not quarter
Of mile away, and the open sea be-
yond. We could not have possibly come
over there" pointing to q tremendous
bluff that rose from the river bank on
the port quarter OF the brig. We are
on small island. There is the main
river, take 1t. running under tho bluff
How do you know that 1t is an Is
land?" asked Jennings.
II have been aloft," replied Rivers;
that Is" he added, with laugh, what
remains OF aloft," and he pointed up
ward.
Ralph's eyes followed the others hand
and saw that both fore and main top
nasts had gone torn clean OFF by the
force OF the wind.
by Jove!" he said. ut made a clean
work of 1t, didn't 1t? Not a. bit OF rig
ging left beyond the ma sthead."
Not as much as a rope-yarn big
enough to wind around your finger"
They stood silent for a. minute or two
and gazed about at the surroundings.
There seems to be building OF some
sort, on shore there tsehind that tall
chimney" said Jennings. pointing to the
right OF the high bluff which lowered
above them.
It was large. rambling building. COW
cred with vegetation, and partially hid
der, from view In tho gorge in which 1t
was situated. Behind 1t rose another
height almost equal to the bluff
Yes. That is an old sugar planta-
ton. When I say old it would be more
correct to say disused. Things that are
disused down in this part OF tho world
soon grow old remarked Rivers.
ut Is a strange thing that the storm
seems to have done little or no harm
here" continued Ralph. waving his hand
toward the shore. II see trees here
and there that have been blown down.
but there does not appear to have been
any general damage. such, ut least, as
ono would expect from what we passed
through last night" He turned and
looked up and down the river.
There are two possible reasons" re-
marked the other, as he stood with his
hands In his pockets. "One Is the height
of the land close to the sea, which pro-
tects the low land back of It. The other
is that. like all natural phenomena in
this part OF the world 1t may have
ceased or wound up Its efforts In that
tidal wave which left us high and dry.
That would do no particular harm here.
as the river banks are high enough to
keep 1t in, and then there is the river
bed; you see how little water there is In
1t now. 1t had that to MI up before
doing anything else. We were undoubt-
eddy upon the end OF 1t, and having
deposited US here. for some good and
sufficient reason Of its own, 1t departed
as 1t came. suddenly and mysteriously."
well. whatever the facts are. we shall
be none the wiser by standing here and
talking about It, Look on shore there!
DO I not sec some figures coming down
the path by the brick building there?"
asked Ralph, indicating the direction OF
the tall chimney and the surrounding
houses.
You surely do" replied Rivers. as he
stepped to the companionway and took
up his spyglass. Two men. one white
and one black, and n young white wo-
man. They have seen us, and 1t has
brought them all up standing"
(ro be continued tomorrow