The Red Cloud chief., 1905-09-15
Rainbow island.

He readily explained the creation of
quarry and cav By telling them Of the
vein Of anthony imbedded in the rock
near the vault. Anthony is one Of the
substances that covers a multitude of
doubts. No one, not excepting the doc
tors who use it, knows much about it,
and in Chinese medicine it might be a
chief factor of exceeding nastiness.
Inside the cavern the existence Of
the partially completed shaft to the
ledge accounted for recent disturb
ances on the face of the rock, and new
corners could not, of course, distinguish
the bones of poor u. s." as being the
remains of a European.
Anstruther was satisfied that none of
them hazarded the remotest guess as
to the value Of the gaunt rock they
were staring ut, and chance helped him
to battle further inquiry.
A trumpeter on board the Orient was
blowing his lungs out to summon them
to luncheon when Captain Fitzroy put
q final query.
Il can quite understand" he said to
Robert, that you have an affection for
'iiiS "'l'i navy va Il tih 4 w
know why you lay claim to the island.
You can hardly intend to return here"
He pointed to Roberts placard stuck
on the rock.
Anstruther paused before he an
swered. lie felt that Lord Ventnor's
dark eyes were fixed on him. Every
body was more or less DESTROYS to have
this point cleared up. He looked the
questioncr squarely in the face.
"In some parts Of the world" he said,
"there are sunken reefs, unknown, I'M
chartcd, on which many n vessel has
been lost without any co%ntributory
fault on the part of her officers"
"Undoubtedly."
"Well, Captain Fitzroy, when I was
stationed with my regiment in Hong
kong | encountered such a reef and
wrecked my life on It. At least that
IS how 1t seemed to mt then. Fortune
threw me ashore here after a lorS and
bitter submergence. You can hardly
blame me If / cling to the tiny speck
of land that gave me salvation"
"No," admitted the sailor. He knew
there was something more in the al
legory than the text revealed, but 1t
was no business of his.
Moreover continued Robert smil-
ineiy, "yoy see l have Il partner"
There cannot be the slightest doubt
about the partner" was the prompt re-
ply.
Then every one laughed, Iris more
than any, though Sir Arthur Deane's
gayety was forced, and Lord Ventnor
could taste the acidity of his own smile.
Later in the day the first lieutenant
told his chief of Anstruther's voluntary
statement concerning the court martial.
Captain FitZroy was naturally panied
) by this unpleasant revelation, but he
took exactly the same view as that eX-
pressed by the first lieutenant in Rob-
ert's presence.
Nevertheless he pondered the matter
and seized an early opportunity of men,
tioninS it to Lord Nentnor. That dis
tinguished nobleman was vastly sur
prised to learn how Anstruther had cut
the ground from beneath his feet.
Yes" he said, in reply to Che sailors
request for information, II know all
about 1t. 1t could not we'll be other
l wise, seeing that next to Mrs. Costobell
l vas the principal witness against
, him"
I "That must have been awkward for
> you," was the unexpected comment.
Indeed! WhyT"
Because rumor linked your name
with that Of the lady in a somewhat
%outspoken way"
"YOu astonish me. Anstruther Ger.
tainly made some stupid allegations
during the trial, but l had no idea he
was able to spread this malicious re-
> port subsequently,"
I II an not talking Of Hongkong, my
1 lord, but Of Singapore, months later"
Captain Fitzroy's tone was exceed,
9 ing dry. Indeed, some people might
Z deem IL offensive,
His lordship permitted himself the
9 rare luxury Of IN angry scowl.