West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-01-24
Forty Years
Between
BY LLOYD
cODyr10At bv The $. S. Meclur, %

TS33rSi Hadow.
G&d 'It's horrible to call him
n deserter," said Francis.
Don't let's do It." said the captain.
We have to say something, SIR" re-
piled the first lieutenant helplessly.
"one can always lie, 1 suppose" said
Hadow.
There's nothing 1 wouldn't do my
self for Jack Garrard," said Mr.. Fran
els.
why not say he was kidnapped here
by h hill trlbeT' said uadow. I'VE
aren't certain sure he wasn't. and no
one can deny but what he might have
been"
But the admiral would be bound TO
Inquire into IT," said Mr.. Francis.
Sooner or later he'd send a ship"
Trust Jack to do his own lying
when she gets here said uadow.
Besides, he'll be sick of the whole
thing and only too glad to step aboard"
But won't we be asked why we
didn't rescue him?' asked Francis.
mo, no; 1 have it.' cried the captain.
tits certainly n case for stretching n
point. sir" said Mr.. Francis.
Enter in the log said the captain,
speaking very slowly and thoughtfully,
shat passed Midshlpman John de
Vigne Garrard, failing to report him
self at the expiration of his leave, was
afterward discovered TO have been kid
mapped by the hill tribes of Borabora
Island. On my threatening to land n
party to recover him l was dissuaded
by King George, who cleared himself
Of any personal responsibility in the
matter and who promised, II only 1
would give him time, to recover the
man without bloodshed or any cost to
his maJesty's government. The king
urged that the use of force would i'm
peril the officers life, which otherwise
be had every confidence would be
spared"
Every good. SIR said Mr.. Francis.
you'll give old George a flaming
character" added Hadow.
"Very good, sir" said Mr.. Francis.
pile IL on about his reverence for the
queen and the way he gave beef to the
ship" said Hadow.
And what then, sirT" inquired Mr..
Francis.
"Well, you know said Hadow, my
orders here leave me n pretty wide
latitude. You can't tie down n survey
ing ship In wild waters the way you
can a simple patrol. BY George, sir.
I'll lay the ship back here in nine
months and retake Master Johnny Gar
rard."
You may count, Captain Hadow, on
u most loyal and hearty support"
said Mr.. Francis.
THANK you said the captain. "and
you Will pass the word along that the
subject is not II to be discussed"
quite so, sir" said the first lieuten-
ant.
mot a wordv' exclaimed the captain.
Though you might coach the king a
bit about the hill tribes; but, OF course,
not n whisper that we're ever coming
back"
o. mo. sir" said Mr.. Francis.
This must go no farther than you
and me-" said Hadow.
TT shall not. sir" returned the first
lieutenant.
I'VE shall sail tonight at the turn Of
the tide" said tire captain.
VERY good, sir" said Mr.. Francis.
.
1t was not nine months-lt was nf-
teen and some days 70 spare-before
the Dauntless again raised the peak Of
Borabora and backed her mainyard or
the settlement.
1t was morning when Hadow raised
the island, a feecy speck Of cloud
against the sky line, and he shortened
sail at nee and fingered out the day.
so as TO bring him up to it by dark.
After supper every light on board was
doused and the great hull. gliding
through the glass smooth water, merg.
ed her steep sides and towering yards
and canvas into the universal shadow.
BY 10 the ship was hove to close
ashore, and the lights Of the little set
Element glimmered through the palms.
The warm night. laden with exotic
fragrance and strangely exciting In
the intensity of its stiffness and beau
ty, hid beneath lis far reaching pail
the various actors of an extraordinary
drama. With pistols buckled to their
hips, Brady. Winterslea. Hotham and
Stanbury-JOnes, four officers Of the
ship, together with Hatch. a 1lnty
faced old seaman who could be trust
ed, all slipped down the ladder into the
captains gig and pulled with mufled
BAR for the break In the reef. Pick
ing their way through the pass with
the surf on either hand roaring in their
ears, they slowly penetrated the lagoon
and headed for the kings house. The
shelving beach brought them 20 n stop.
and, all jumping out 70 tighten the
boat, they drew her over the single
and made her painter fast 70 n pan
danus tree. Then. acting In accord
nDce with a pr-econcerted plan. Win
terslea was sent forward 20 track down
their prey. while the rest huddled to-
gether to await his return.
Ten minutes, twenty minutes. passed
IN palpitating suspense. a girl drew by
wreathed in flowers. She looked out
TO sea, then up at the stars and shrauk
again into the shadow. From the
neighbOring houses there came the
sound Of mellow voices and Of laugh.
ter. A pig rooted and rustled among
a heap Of cOcOanut shells. Half on
hour passed. and from FAR across the
water. as faint and silvery as some 81
On signal the ship sent her message
Of the time-six bells.
Painting and crOuching. Winterslea
CROPPED hls way among them.
Come" be said.
They followed him iu silence. uuloo8-
ing their holsters and grimly ready. A
pair Of handouts cllnked ln Hatch's
furrnor THav fuHnf.H ff. Fr.r fr.afb.
Of tried and resolute mcn. Injured to
danger aad accustomed to give and re-
ceive an @uudiuching loyalty.
"Therci" said Wiuterslea.
The path opened out ON n little clear
ing among the trees and showed them,
sot on high. the outlines ~ n native