Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-04-16

cier clad peaks heavenward to i'm
mense heights heights which In thai
region scared far above the snow line
But if the crests Of peak upon peak
were clothed in white their bases wore
garment Of different texture. Save
on the seaward terraces of stark rock
with their tide marked base of weed
covered powders, the densest vegeta-
tion 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 un.
til the tree growth yielded perforce to
harder Alpine moss 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
at 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 mile or more
westward of its twin, but he quickly
/ discovered from the conformation of
!! the land that the latter was really the
/ projecting cape of the inner waterway
He reasoned, therefore, that the deep
water channel flowed close to the north
ern shore until it was flung off by the
relentless rocks to seek the easier in
let behind the opposite point
4 He did not know yet whether the
ship was entering some unknown strait
or the mouth of narrow landlocked
bay. If the latter, the presence Of
the distant glaciers and the nearer for
rents warned him of a possible bar on
which the Kansas might be lost within
sight of safe anchorage. Not inspired
I guesswork now, but the skill of the
pilot, was needed. This crossing the
bar in broad daylight was as great a
trial of nerve in its way as the earlier
onward rush in the dark.
! Wind and sea had abated SO sensibly
/ that the Pacific rollers raced on un-
broken, and it was no longer a super
human task to make ones voice heard
along the deck.
So the captain aroused Walker with
a sharp order:
"Go and see if the donkey boiler has
good head of steam. We may have
to drop the stream anchor quick and
both bowers as we'll If Tollemache
is doing his work properly, go forward
and keep a sharp lookout for broken
water. Clear off 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 err
rand He found Tollemache seated on
an upturned bucket, in which the taci-
turn one had just washed his face and
hands.
"Haye you seen it?' demanded
Walker gleefully, while his practiced
eyes took in the state of the gauges
as he oyerran a number of oil taps
with niInble fingers.
"seen what?v asked Tollemache
without removing his pipe.
.sThe 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
fine wiv-ah ahead. Have We ev-ah
seen the Tyne? Well, just shove
Sooth sheels am Tynemouth few hun
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,
whence the ubiquitous donkey boiler
through one of its long arms would
| shoot forth the stockless anchors at
the touch Of a 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 sufficed. I.
"a respite" he growled to himself
'penal seryitude 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 of a small
sheltered bay. He speedily abandoned
the half formed hope that the Kansas
might have run into an ocean water
way which communicated with Smyth
channel. The rampant of snow clad
hills had no break, while hasty scru-
tiny Of the chart showed him that the
eastern coast of Hanover island had
been thoroughly surveyed. Yet it was
not in human nature that he should
not experience a rush of joy at the
thought that by his own efforts he had
saved his ship and some at least OF
| the lives intrusted to his care He
| was alone when the music of the
chains in the hawse pipes sounded In
his ears. The Kansas had plenty OF
room to swing, but he thought it best