The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-10
CHAPTER XXI.
AND wherever the flag snail lly'
Glorytng between sea ana sNy

ana wherever the flag shall ily' ys
Gloryng between sea ana sNy ~
Makes the might of Britain Rno"n'
Britairs, hold your own! y, Il.
Juan's instructions" said his lotrdtship.
For the treasure, read Hector Dane,
anchored In shrapncl Bay. Beware,
shark his gate, and the Cauldron. 70
the left Of the nngrole on the Hoot. Fun
down the stones with care. me mead mead
points straight ut four hundred PAGES.
Dig here and you shall ma, unless me
rnt1-ap havo destroyed. II so, your
labor isRvain.n'
Give lifted mir Of binoculars and
took long look at the Gilt. k, 4
mo flagpole there" no said.
but Juan Gaskara may fI.ye meant
the Hind Hoof" suggested the doctor,
Then why anchor in Shrapnel Bay,
doc. l5
Gently" put in his lordshp. 7 have
got the map in my head pretty well. In
the first place, you cannot expect q flag
pole to withstand wind, weather and
decay Tor eighty years or more. II Gas.
kara meant that cliff we shall find traces
OF the pole choked away under the
foliage. If he intended the Find Ioof
there can be no safe anchorage IN Pearl
Bay" 3s
Leckburn glanced ut his watch. Rising
lnzlly, he struck match and touched
the printing OF the little brass gun. There
was d puff /. a flash and a roar, The time
had come for tho men to return to tho
ship. IA III Il s
Six figures came running across the
sand. In AS they shouldcred the boat into
the water another man shouted. Ihey
waited for him, and then rested on til air
Ga rs, as IL reluctant to pull to the ship.
Leckburn whistled sharply through his
fingers to recall them. The oars dipped
into the azure water and they rowed
alongside.
i"six missing Hcc.," said Give hoarse--.
~. U II s8
"They'll stay, then" answered Dane.
I'm certain Ned will not go back on
his word. l5
There seemed to be no doubt on that
point. The boat was soon swinging from
the davlts, and the men were answering
to their: names. Johansen. Brown, Hag-
get, all able seamen; Dodley, ships car
pen ter; Gondy and Burke, stokers, had
not returned. Leckburn's judgment had
not been at fault; the gold fever had
indeed got some hold
Peril Island was little world In itself.
lighted bytits own sun. heated by Its
own natural fires; kind of exotic hot
house, filled with luxurlant plants and
flowers a land where there was no win
ter; a fairy isle set in an azure sea. They
could come to no other conclusion. All
| organic life--anmals and plants at
Ileast-requires warmth. light and mois-
ture. Peril Island had light, but It was
! a light weak in heat. The warmth must
come from subterranean fires. It was a
volcanic isle at the peak fifty named
Birthstone Hill by the dead b,lccaneer,
amply proved And towards evening q
gentle rain began to fall and lasted until
the break Hof dawn. G A $a
They rather SHE'D at their breakfasts,
except the imperturbabl Leckburn, who
| devoured tho share Of three. Flannels
and white ducks had taken tho place Of
furs and heavy twecds. When Leckburn
announced the fact that he was going
ashore there was delight; when he an
nounced that only two could go with
him there were groans. s tia iE
II mean two Of the crew" grinned
Lcckburn. It'll take Mumps and Hoo
ton. You'll have to stay with Burnand.
doc. and 90 with the next trIp."
WHY Mumps and not the doc. 2" asked
Give.
stay. want the Lascar with mo. and
I want Marsden to remain. The others
may go on the same terms as yesterday
| Ruby, Marsden and the impossible fat
thing OF yours. Hec., will have to walt
Take your rifles. a shotgun or two, and
let N1umps pack some lunch. I should
advise you to put on thick boots and
leggings. Bring your bathing toys as
well. I'm keen on a swim" ~
They were too eager to set foot on the
enchanted Isle to waste much time. They
chafed at the slowness Of Lnokbmrn. who
kept them waiting a good half hour
I.eckburn did not tell them that he had
been clearing the ammunition cases, and
carefully scaling them up lie took
their abuse without O murmur. Ruby,
with an expression OF resignation on his
black face, gazed longingly at tho boat
MS she danced away, towing q long spar
behind her.
Tho Lascar blew kiss that sounded
like the crack Of a whip, The nose Of
the boat touched the white sand. Lcck-
burn leaped out. and, Selling the painter,
dragged her. men and all, waist high,
It was an effort Of strength that did
even the giant credit. e 45
| Now, Mumps," he said. get that spar
out and hitch couple of puleys to her.
Hootcn dig a holc to plant her In. Peril
Island may not become a paying colony
for bit, but we're going to add her to
the one and only British Empire"
The dripping pole was hauled ashore.
They had noticed that the sea round
Peril Island was like the Mediterranean
practically tIdeess. About thirty 1ards
|
to shovel up rhe sand A pick vas soon
needed, for a foot below the surface they
came to a soapy white deposit which de-
fed tho spade. Then they steadied the
pole into position, and Leckburn made
fast the Union Jack.
The twclvc-pounder on the yacht fired
blank, and with rousing cheers, Peril
Island was added to tho long list Of
British domnons beyond the seas, 1t
was only a little speck Of earth. useless
probably, and shut away from al human
intercourse by vast leagues of sea and
ice.
"Gentlemen," said his lordship. ''you
are now on British soil"
Sand you mean, old chap" said Give
IT don't think they'll be fSunnlns cheap
| trips here for blt."
| 'IIold on" laughed his lordship. II
have here the draft Of annexation. You
must all sign It. I've got my fountain
pen somewhere Fond II. You'l notice