Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-20
CHAPTER Wiz.
has her cycles. wheth-
er for good or III. The Kansas,
having run the gantlet of many
CHAPTER VIII

was dispensing The nearer blue Of
the ocean carpet spread an ever widen
Ing circle until it merged into vivid
green. Then, with startling sudden
ness, the curtain was drawn aside on
a panorama at once magnificent and
amazing.
Almost without warning the ship
was found to be entering the estuary
Of q narrow ford. Gaunt headlands
carved on q titanic scale out Of the solid
rock guarded the entrance and already
shut out the more distant coast line.
Behind these first massive walls, ev-
erywhere unscalable and rising in sep
arate promontories to attitudes Of per-
haps 400 feet an inner fertilization Of
precipitous mountains flung Its gla-
cier clad peaks heavenward to I'm
mense heights-heights which In that
region scared far above the snow line.
But II the crests Of peak upon peak
were clothed in white their bases wore
4 garment Of different texture. Save
on the seward terraces Of stark rock,
with their tide marked base Of weed
covered bowlders, the densest vegeta-
ton known to mankind imposed ev-
erywhere first barrier to human prog.
ress far more unconquerable than the
awesome regions beyond. Pine for
ests Of extraordinary density cram
med each available yard Of space I'M
til the tree growth yielded perforce to
harder Alpine mess and lichens. This
lower belt Of deepest green ranged
from 500 to 1000 feet in height as
conditions were adverse or favorable,
and waterfalls abounded.
Courtenay, after an astounded glance
ut the magnitude and solemn grandeur
Of the spectacle, had eyes for naught
save the conformation Of the channel.
The change in the wind was caused, he
found, by the northerly headland thrust
ing its giant mass a mile or more
westward Of Its twin, but he quickly
discovered from the conformation of
the land that the latter was really the
protecting cape of the inner waterway.
He reasoned. therefore. that the deep
water channel flowed close to the north
ern shore until 1t was flung OF by the
relentless rocks to seek the easier In
let behind the opposite point.
He did not know yet whether the
ship was entering some unknown strait
or the mouth Of q narrow landlocked
bay. II the latter, the presence Of
the distant glaciers and the nearer tor
rents warned him Of q possible bar on
which the Kansas might be lost within
sight Of safe anchorage. Not inspired
guesswoEk now, but the skill Of the
pilot, was needed. This crossing the
bar in broad daylight was a. great
trial Of nerve In its way as the earlier
onward rush In the dark.
Wind and sea had abated 20 sensibly
that the Pacific rollers raced on up-
broken, and it was no longer super
human task to make ones voice heard
along the deck.
So the captain aroused Walker with
q sharp order:
"Go and SEQ II the donkey boiler has
a good head Of steam. We may have
to drop the stream anchor quick and
both bowers as we'll. II Tollemache
d doing his work properly, go forward
and keep q sharp lockout for broken
water. Clear OF the tarpaulins, and
be ready to lower away the instant !
sing out"
Walker, who, had been gazing spell
bound at the majestic haven opening
up before the SHIP. hurried on his er-
rand. He found Tone1aehe seated on
an upturned bucket slnswhich the taci-
turn ono had just washed his face and
hands.
Have you seen it7" demanded
Walker g1eefuliy. WHILE his practiced
eyes took In the state Of the gauges
as he overran q number Of oil taps
with nimble fingers.
"Seen whatr asked Tollemache
without removing his pipe.
1.-THE land, my bonny lad. We-ah
wunnin' wight in now"
We've been doing that for hours"
eyes, but this Is diff'went. The'aw's
a fne wfv-ah ahead. Have ye evan
seen the Tyne? Well. just shove
Sooth sheels an Tynemouth few hum
dred feet high-ah an you've got It
Now, don't twy to talk or you might
cwack yo face"
With this Parthian shaft of humor
he vanished toward the forecastle,
whencesthe ubiquitous donkey boiler
through one of its long arms would
shoot forth the stockless anchors at
the touch Of lever. Tollemache, who
had already glimpsed the coast. stroll
ed out on deck and bent well over the
side in order to look more directly
ahead. He could see one-half only of
the view. but that sufhced.
"a respite" he growled to himself
penal servitude instead Of sudden
death"
And indeed this was the true aspect
Of things, as Courtenay discovered
when he had successfully brought the
ship past three ugly reefs and drop
ped anchor in the backwater ora small
sheltered bay. He speedily abandoned
tho half formed hope that the Kansas
might have run into an ocean water
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