The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-24
FORTY XEARS RETN7EE'N
By LLOYD OSBOUl2NE.

Copyright by the IS. s. Mcclure Coz /
ssAh, if that had been any one but
himl = exclaimed Captain Hadow.
IT'S horrible to call him desert
err said Francis.
.fDon't let's do it" said the cap
- We have to say something, sir,o
replied the first lieutenant, help1essly.
One can always lie, l suppose"
uThere g nothing wouldn t do my
self for Jack Garrard, +" said Mr..
Francis.
here y the not iii ha be was sad Ha9ao
"We aren't certain sure he WASH It,
and no one can deny but what he might
"But. the admiral would be bound
to inquire into it, said Mr.. Francis.
"sooner or later he'd send ship
when she gets here" said Hadow. q Be-
sides,s he II be sick of the whole thing
and y en1y too glad to step a ab9ardir b9 a. wa
didn t rescue him9'' asked Francis.
"No, no, have itl'' cried the cap
Tits certainly a ga case for stretching
tain, speaking very Slowly and thought
fully, "that Passed Midshipman John
do Vigne Garrard, failing. to report
himself at the expiration Of his leave,
was afterward discovered to have been
,, bora island. On my threatening to
land a, party to recover him I was dis,
suaded by King George, who cleared
himself OF any personal responsibility
in the matter, and who promised, it
| only would give him time, to recover
the man without bloodshed or any cost
urged that the use Of force would i'm
peril the officers life, which otherwise
he had every confidence would be
spared.''
livery good, SIR" said Mr.. Francis
| :"You'H give old George a flaming
character, added Hadow.
FFSy Fsy egoea oa about Sia hs Ms snis
the queen and the way he gave beef to
the Ship" said Hadow.
"And what then, sir9" inquired Mr..
Francis
"Well, you KNOW said Hadow, "my
orders here leave me pretty wide latl-
ship in wild waters the way YOU, can
a simple patrol. By George, sir, II lay
the ship back here in nine months and
retako Master Johnny Garrard.'
"You may count, Captain Hadow, on
our most loyal and hearty support, - said
"ThanE you, said the captain, "and
you will pass the word along that the
subject is not one to be discussed.'
"Quite so, sir,'' said the first lieu,
tenant.
"Not a word!' exclaimed the cap.
tain, "Tho you might coach the king a
bit about the hill tribes. But, Of course
not q whianar that wa 'ra auor rom in q
"No, SIR" said Mr.. Francis.
"This must go no further than you
and me-" said Hadow.
& It shall not, sir,'' returned the first
lieutenant.
1--WE shall said tonight at the turn Of
the tide,' said the captain.
Every good, sir,' said Mr.. Francis
It was not nine months-it was ffteer
and some days to spare-before the
Dauntless again raised the peak of Bora
bora and backed her mainyard on the
settlement.
1t was morning when Hadow raised
fdad Ind skxsy Ssey sgefa Sa s5oa9 Of eos
sail at, once and fingered out the day, se
as to bring him up, to it by dark. AT
ter supper every light on board wa:
doused, and the, great hull, gliding thrt
the glass-smooth water, merged he1
steep sides and towering yards and can
| By 10 the ship was hove to close
ashore and the lights of the little set
tlement glimmered thru the palms. Th'
warm night, laden with exotic fragrance
, and strangely exciting in the intensit,
Of its stiffness and beauty, hid. beneatl
Of an extraordinary drama. With pis
tolls buckled to their hips, Brady, Win
terslea, ,Hotham and Stanbury-Jon ones
: four officers of the ship, together witt
| Hatch. a finty-faced old seaman VIII
could be trusted, all slipped down tn
!; with muhled oats for the Break IN tn
reef. Picking their way thru the. pass
r with the surf on either hand roaring il
! their ears, they slowly penetrated tn
! lagoon and headed for the kings house
, , The shelving beach brought them to
,, stop, and all Jumping out to Tighten tn
! and made her painter fast to panda
. nus tree. Then, acting, in accordanc
! with a preconcerted plan, Wintersle
3 was sent forward to track down thei
! prey, while the rest huddled togethe
! to await his return.
;. Ten minutes, twenty minutes, .passe
. in paipitating suspense. A girl drey
4 by wreathed IN flowers; she looked OH
:. to sea; then up at the stars, and shranl
: again into the shadow. From the neigh
Q boring houses there came the sound Q
a mellow voices and Of laughter. A pi
q rooted and rustled among a heap o
= eocoanut shells. Half an hour passed
+ and from far across the water, as fain
+ and silvery as some elfin signal, th
T ship, sent her message of the time
: six bells. --
: Painting and crouching, Wintersle
: groped his way among them.
= "Come,' he said. ..'s<
They followed him in silence, unloo!
9 ing their holsters and grimly ready. !
n pair of handouts clinked in Hatch
T Jumper. They inhaled the deep breat
l of tried and resolute men, Injured t
y danger, and accustomed to give an
receive an unfinching loyalty.
"There!' said Winterslea.
The path opened out on little clea
ing among the trees and showed then
set on high, the outlines of a natiy
e, house. Like all Tahitian houses, it wa
ip ip on the model Of a bird cage, and II
oval wall of bamboo, set side by sid
let thru vertical streaks Of light frol
the lamp or fire within. As the whol
party drew nearer they heard, dee
below them on the other side, the plea
ant sound of falling water, and rea
lied that the cliff they were mountin
overlooked little river at it's foo
Here, in exquisite seclusion, Jack Ga
rard had chosen the spot for his mora
suicide.
i L. L = v~ -