Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-01-15
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IN THE CHINA SEA
A NARRATIVE OF ADVENTURE.
CHAPTER VIII.
Ey SEWARD W. HOPKINS
tCorYn1aur 1899 By ROBERT BoNNEns soNsJ
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face awakened me. I opened my eyes
and looked up. The sails hung loose
on the yards. Icould feel no motion.
I got ON my feet and looked around
me. ..,. e..
The yacht was grounded.
rubbed my eyes to make sure the
vision was true one.
There was land, sure enough. The
yacht had gone ashore on low, sandy
beach, where the gradually sloping
bottom led out about two hundred feet
to where the yacht had plunged hei
nose into the sand. On the land were
trees and green grass.
1t had not been very long since
had seen grass and trees in California,
but the grass and trees on that
island seemed the most inviting
and refreshing green had ever
looked at. 1t looked most luxurious
and cool in there. Whether this was
an island or part of the mainland i
could not tell. If an island, it was a
large one.
Had I been alone, I would, in my
eagerness, have jumped into the water
aud gained the land at once. But
some means was to be devised to ge t
Miss Arnold from the yacht in safety.
As yet, she was probably fast asleep,
ignorant of the fact that the coast Of
China was right under our very noses.
My wounded arm no longer troubled
me. The wound had been only a
slight one, aud all traces of soreness
had now Disappeared; and I felt !
could use the injured member as well
as the other limb.
1 went to the companion-way and
called her.
Perhaps she had been awake, or
perhaps she was a light sleeper. AT
any rate, she answered Immediately
in sweet, cherry voice, and said she
would be on deck soon.
"Hurry up, Miss Arnold" called.
~ want to show you something"
"All right, in moment" she RE
piled.
When she came on deck she gave
quick glance at the land and look OF
glad surprise came over her face.
"Why, we are landed" she ex'
claimed. "When did ryou discover
land?"
"When I awoke. In fact, I didn't
discover it at all. 1t discovered me.
I had been fast asleep since you left
me last night and did not know Q
thing until few minutes ago. We
simply ran aground.
care we stuck in the mud?"
"I don't know whether it is mud OF
sand, but we are fast enough. 1 fancy
the tide is ebbing, and the yacht will
soon list to one side.
Then we shall be upset"
POSSIBLY. But before that hap
pens I shall endeavor to reach dry
ground, Even now we haven't much
time to lose. The water is receding
rapidly. Do you not notice decided
lean to the yacht?"
why yes; We could coast down
the deck.
-, :, eve may coast off the deck and get
wet. We had better swallow q bit OF
breakfast and get ready to land. We
will wait, of course, as long as posi-
BILE, for every foot the tide recedes
means so much less water to wade
through" "
"Shall you carry anything ashore?"
eyes. To begin with, / expect to
carry you. Then 1 shall come back
and take whatever is portable. We
shall need many things if We stay on
land, particularly the foods that are
not perishable. will attend to them
at once"
I went below and hastily made up
large pack containing the things ]
thought we would need most. Mis-,
Arnold quickly prepared herself fo'
the landing.
got on the rail and jumped into
the water. 1t did not come above thu
tops of my big boots. She cautiously
stepped up and then, bending down.
clasped me around the neck. Taking
her in my arms as easily as though
she were baby, I splashed through
tne wafer TO lne SuOle.
"There you bare, me 'earty," I said
putting her down where she could ge
dry-shod. ''That was an act worthy
of sea captain"
'Indeed, it was; you are as strong
as o lion"
"Not quite. However, am strong
enough for present emergencies. Have
you the pistol?"
Eyes, I put it in my pocket after J
used it,"
every good. Now stand right here
until [ return. L may have to make
several trips to the yacht. I am even
going to bring the stove ashore"
"The stove! Why. what do you
want with the stove?"
"We have to remain here some time,
and it will do to make coffee and cook
things"
eff we are to remain here so long,
we shall die here" the said mourn
fully. "Why not leave the things un-
til we learn what kind of land we are
on? Then, if it proves to be an
island, we can sail away again without
putting back all the things"
"I don't know but your plan is
best" replied. ''But I must get
the rifle and cartridges. They are in
dispensable. Waltz
tramped into the water again and
boarded the yacht. / took q silk
pillow-bag and filed it with coffee,
sugar, rice and o few of the cans of
vegetables. found an Ak, which I