Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-01-15

'"There is one thing L overlooked" "
I said, "and it is something that must
be done"
"I must anchor the yacht, for at
full tide she might float off,
"Yes, that is true," she replied.
Once more I splashed my way to
the yacht. I took all L could carry,
with the anchor to drag, and started
inland again.
The anchor was too heavy; I left it
in the sand.
eft may hold or it may not" said,
."but that is the best can do"
"Are your feet wet?" she inquired
anxiously, when I joined her.
"No. Cha Fong knew trick OF
two when he bought these boots; they
are waterproof"
"That Is good. Now what shall we
do, now that we are on land?"
"The very first thing is to get 6
comfortable spot and sit down to talk
over the situation. There seems to be
plenty of comfortable spots. Let Il:
go up there on the knoll and get unde,
the big palms"
"very well. Let me carry some.
thing"
"You can carry the rifle. This pack
is too heavy for you. I can manage
that. guess you'll have to take the
Ak, too."
Thus equipped, we made our way tc
the spot l had pointed out, and put
down our loads.
"Well, we are on land, at least. We
are on the land, it is true; but what
land? This ls a strange part of the
world. The widest men may live
within few miles of a great town. II
this is China-and lido not see how il
can be anything else-we are not in
any part that is familiar to me. Sc
we cannot be near Hong Kong. If we
meet with savage men, we are no bet
ter off than before"
"NIiss Arnold" I said, eve can
meet with no more savage men than
those we have already met. / do not
fear the meeting with men so much as
I do wild beasts. And as for this be.
ing China, it is certainly the mainland
or an island on the coast. Do you
know OF any island that might fill the
bill?"
"I know the island of Formosa is
east of Hong Kong nearly two days
sail. The island of Hainan is about
the same distance west. These islands
are both large and inhabited In
fact, they contain large cities. Then
Hong Kong itself is on an island, but
there are no parts of the island left in
pristine simplicity such as We have
here. You could not go in any part
of the island of Hong Kong without
meeting people. My knowledge of the
China Sea reaches no further. If we
are not on Hainan or Formosa or the
mainland, then / do not know where
we are"
1 sat down on log to think
Miss Arnold sat on the other end OF
the log and looked tine disconsolate-
ly.
"I don't see but one thing for us to
do" I said, soberly.
"What is that?" she asked.
=, eve must make tramp for it. We
may not be far from human .habitation,
and we may. But sitting here will,
not help us out any. They will not
come to us. We must go to them"
IT am ready to do anything you
think is BEST" she said.
"By following the coast" 1 con
tinued, eve may reach tishingvil
lage. We may at least chance upon
hunting-party. We cannot make rapid
progress. In the first place, it will
not be safe to leave any of our sup
plies behind, for we may lose them,
More than that, we don't want to lose
time in countermarches. So we must
carry our pack as we go. 1t will moi
do, either to tire you, so we must b,
content to do little every day until
we fetch up somewhere.
Miss Arnold was very pale. My
plan was not particularly reassuring,
"But what of the yacht? Shall we
not continue to use it?"
IT have thought of that, but I dc
not as yet give up the idea that this
land is inhabited. If we do not find
traces of human presence by nightfall,
we will consider q plan of taking the
yacht along the coast with us. / am
SO poor sailor, however, that I do
not care to risk our lives in it. I have
heard that the China Sea is frequently
swept by terrific typhoons, that come
up without warning and destroy every
thing in their paths. A very insigniti.
cant squall would be more than match
for my poor seamanship, SO we had
better be content on land"
every we'll, just as you say"
"Let me reconnoiter."
I walked few steps into the thioket
and performed q semicircle around the
spot where Miss Arnold stood.
The land upon which we had drifted
was very fertile. Great Towering trees
and bushes grew in abundance as far
as the eye could see. Everywhere, on
every hand, were countless myriads OF
gay-colored and beautiful flowers,
Ferns of the most beautiful pattern
grew thick around hassocks or rocks.
There were not many of these rocks,
but the few to be seen were as white
as ealabaster Their highly polished
surfat es contrasted beautifully with
the rich green of the MOSES and ferns
that clung to them. Along the coast
the way seemed clear enough, but to-
get inland one must fight his way
shrough the Jungle. The air was fra