The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-26

"Oh, I'M all right. I feel restless
that is, l mean I will not be able to
sleep until night comes. and before we
climb Tie hill to survey our domain 1
want to find better quarters than we
now possess"
Perhaps were she less fatigued she
would have caught the vague anxiety,
the note of distrust. in his voice. But
the carpet Of sand and leaves on which
she lay was very seductive. Her eyes
closed. She nestled into a comforta-
bic position and slept.
The man moved the revolver out of
harms way to Il spot where she must
see it instantly, pulled his .sou'wcstcr
wfhcPv&src v&c.lh his S~.! eyes and walkou sif
west side Of the island. Except for
the cove formed by the coral reef, with
its mysterious palm tree growing ap-
parcntly in the midst of the waves, the
shape of the coast was roughly that
of the concave side Of Il bow, the two
visible eXtrcmitics being about three
/ quarters of mile apart.
He guessed by the way in which the
| sea raced past these points that the
! land did not extend beyond them. Be-
|
! BILE height, $50 or 20O feet. In the CEN
ter was the tallest hill, which seemed
to end abruptly toward the southwest.
On the northeast side it was connect
ed with rocky promontory by ridge
of easy grade. The sailor turned to the
southwest rs Offering the most likely
direction for rapid survey.
He was not surprised to find that
the hill terminated in q sheer wall of
rock, which stood out, ominous and
massive, from the wealth of verdure
clothing the remainder of the ridge.
Facing the precipice and separated
from it by strip of ground not twen-
ty feet above the sea level in the high
est part was another rock built emf
| .cncc quite bare of trees, blackened by
tic weather and SCARED in manner
that attested the attacks Of lightning.
The intervening belt was sparsely
dotted with trees, casuarinas, poon and
other woods he did not know, resem-
bling ebony and cedar. A number Of
stumps showed that the aX had been
at work, but not recently. He passed
into the cleft and climbed tree that
offered easy access. AS he expected
after rising few feet from the ground
his eyes encountered the solemn blue
, line of the sea, not half a mile distant
, He descended and commenced sys
I tematic search. Men had been here
Was there house? Would he sudden
: ly encounter some hermit Malay o
5 Chinaman?
: At the foot of the main cliff was
|. cluster of fruit bearing trees-plan
: tains, areca nuts and cocoa palms. /
d couple of cinchonas caught his eye. /
one spot the undergrowth was ran
and vividly green. The cassaya, Q
It tapioca plant, reared its high passio
e flower leaves above the grass, an
e some sago palms thrust aloft the
thick stemmed trunks.
d Here is n change of menu, at an
S, rate" he communed.
Is Breaking thick branch off poe
IL tree, he whitfield away the mine
lg stems. a strong stick was needful
o. explore that leafy fastness thorough
es A few cautious strides and vigOro,
- whacks with the stick laid bare Il
cause Of such prodigality In soil CO
|. cred with drifted sand and Jumps
ks black and white speckled coral. III
le- trees and bushes inclosed well--saf
guarded, in fact, from being choke
on with sand during the first gale tn
rs. blew.
ne Delighted with this discovery, mo
on precious than diamonds at the m
,rt ment for he doubted the advisabilit
Continued on mage 6.