Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-05-27

u.
but have vague idea-I have seem
He wr:nkled his brows and pressed
away the burrows with his hand. that
physical habit OF his when perplexed.
Il have it," he cried. 1T is anti
mony."
Miss Deane pursed her lips i'm dis
dain. Antimony! What was anti
mony?
so much fuss for nothing" she said.
1T is used in alloys and medicines"
be explained. ITO us il Is useless"
He threw the piece OF rock contemp-
tuOusly among the bushes. But. be-
ing thorough i'm all that he undertook
he returned TO the cave and again
conducted an inquisitIon The silver
hued vein became more strongly mark
ed at the point where Il disappeared
downward into collection OF rubble
and sand. That was all. Did men
give their toll. their lives. for tbisF So
it would appear BE that as it might
he had more pressing work. II the
cave still held a secret it must remain
there.
Iris had gone back 10 her sage knead.
ing. Shouldering the AK. be walked TO
the beach. Much debris from the steam
er was lying high and dry. 1t was an
easy task for an athletic man 10 reach
the palm tree. yet the sailor hesitated
with almost imperceptible qualms.
a baited rat trap" he muttered
Then he quickened his pace. With the
first active spring from rock to rock
his unacknowledged doubts vanished
He might find stores Of priceless util-
tty. The reflection inspired him.
Jumping and climbing like a cat. in
two minutes he was near the tree.
He could now see the true explana-
ton OF its growth In seemingly i'm
possible place. Here the bed OF the
sea bulsed upward in small sand
cay, which silted round the base OF
limestone rock so different I'm color and
formation from the coral reef. Ma
ture. whose engineering contrivances
can force springs 10 mountain tops.
managed to deliver 10 this isolated ref
uge a sufficient supply OF water TO
nourish the palm. and the roots. firmly
lodged i'm deep crevices We're well pro
tected from the waves
Between the sailor and the tree IN
tervened small stretch OF shallow wa
ter. Landward this submerged saddle
shelved steeply into the lagoon. Al
though the water i'm the cove was TWEEN
~ fathoms in depth. its crystal clear
ness was remarkable The bottom.
composed OF marvelously white sand
and broken coral. rendered other OBJ
jects conspicuous. He could see plenty
or fish. but 1ot a single shark. while
on the inner slope of the reef was
plainly visible the destroyed fore part
OF the Sirdar. which had struck be
yOnd the tree. relatively TO his present
standpoint. lie had wondered why no
boats were cast ashore Now he saw
the reason. Three OF them We're stun
fastened to the davits and carried
down with the hull.
Seward the water was not so clear.
The waves created patches OF foam.
and long submarine plants swayed gen
tly i'm the undercurrent
To reach Palm Tree rock -antici-
pating its subsequent name-he must
cross a space Of some thirty feet and
wade up To his waist
Pitched against the bole OF the tree
was a long, narrow case. very heavy,
Iron clamped and marked with letters
I'm black triangles and the broad arrow
OF the British government
Rifles, 10y all the gods," shouted the
sailor
The Sirdar carried "a consignment Of
arms and ammunition from Hongkong
90 Singapore. Providence had decreed
that a practically incxhaustlble store
OF cartridges should be buried across
the lagoon TO the island. And here
were rifles enough 90 equip half a com
pany. lie would not risk the precious
AK in an attempt 10 open the case. He
must 20 back for a crowbar
What else was there in this store
house thrust by Neptune from the
ocean bed? A chest Of tea. seemingly
three barrels OF flour. ut
terly ruined; n saloon chair smashed
from its pivot; a battered chronometer.
For the rest. fragments of timber in
with pulverized coral and
broken crocksry
\ little farther on the deep water
entrance 10 the lagoon curved between
sunken rocks. On one OF them rested
the Slrdar's huge funnel. The north
west section OF the reef was bare.
Alnong the wleckage he found a coil
Of stout rope and a pulley. He instant F.
" conceived the idea of constructing /.
IN aerial line 10 ferry the chest OF tea /
across the channel ne had fOrded
He threaded the pulley with the rope /
and climbed the tree adding a touch /
of artistic completeness TO the ruin OF I
bis trousers by the operation. lie had /
fastened the pulley high up the trunk I
before he realized how much more sim /
pie II would be TO break open the chest /
where IL lay and transport its contents /
n small parcels.
He laughed lightly. Il am becoming /
addle headed" he said TO himself /
Anyhow, now the Job is done, / may I
Is well make use of &c."
Reooiling the rope ends, he cast them I
across to the reef. IN such small WAYS I
10 men throw Invisible dice with death. /
With those two lines he would within 4
few fleeing seconds drag himself |
back from eternity.
Picking up the ak. he carelessly
stepped into the water not knowing