Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1909-12-03

OAAOAO ~ " anu AACA
bore off again.
Let us no go too near shore any
where" said Helen; and Miss Pat
murmured acquiescence.
No; we don't care to meet people,"
h remarked, a trif1e anXiously.
I'm afraid I don't know any to in
troduce you to-" l replied, and turned
away into the broadcast part of the
lake. The launch was capable of a
lively clip and the engine worked cap
italy. 1 had no fear of being caught,
even if we should be pursued, and
this, in the broad light of the peaceful
Sabbath afternoon, seemed the re-
hottest possibility.
It had been understood that we
we're to remain out until the sun
dropped int the western wood. and l
loitered on toward the upper lake
where the shores were rOugher.
That's a real island over there
they call it Battle Orchard-you must
have a glimpse of it."
ooh, nothing is so delightful as an
island!" exclaimed Helen.
lima had scanned the lake con
stantly since We started, as was his
habit. Miss Pat turned to speak to
Helen of the shore hat now swept
away from us in broader curves as we
passed out of the connecting channel
into the farther lake. lima remarked
to me quietly, as though speaking of
the engine:
There's a man following in a row.
boat"
And as [ replied to some remark by
Miss Pat, 1 saw, half a mile distant,
it's sails hanging idly, a sloop that an
swered Gillespie's description of the
Stiletto. It's snowy canvas shone
white against the green verdure of
Battle Orchard.
Shut off the power a moment. We
will turf here, Ijima'-and l called
Miss Pats attention to a hoary old
sycamore or the western shore.
"Oh, I'm disappointed not to cruise
nearer the island with the romantic
name,' cried Helen. "And there's a
yacht vel there, tool"
I already had the boat swung round,
and in reversing the Ourse l lost the
Stiletto, which chung to the island
shore; but l saw now quite plainly the
rowboat lima had reported as follow
ing us. 1t hung off about a quarter of
a mile and it's single occupant had
ceased rowing and shipped his oars
as though waiting. He was between
us and the strait that connected the
upper and lower lakes. Though not
alarmed I was irritated by my care
lessness in v%enturing through the
strait and anxious to return to the less
wild part of the lake. l did not dare
look yer my shoulder, but kept talk
ing to my passengers, while lima,
with the rare intuition of his race, I'M
derstood the situation and indicated
by gestures the course.
There's a boat sailing through the
green, green wood" exclaimed Helen;
and true enough, as we crept in close
to the shore, we could still see, across
a wooded point of the island, the sails
of the StilettO, as of a Dat of dreams,
drifting through the trees. And as l
looked l saw something more. A tiny
signal flag was run quickly to the top
mast head, withdrawn once and
flashed back; and as l faced the bow
again the boatman dropped his oars
into the water.
What a strengthening man." re-
marked Miss Pat.
H doesn't look like a native" I re-
piled, carelessly.
The launch swung slowly around,
cutting a half-circle, of which the Ital,
ian's BOAT was the center. He dallied
idly with his oars and seemed to pay
40 heed to us, though he glanced sew
eral times toward the yacht, which
had now crept into full view, and I'm.
der a freshening breeze was bearing
southwark.
Full speed, lima"
The engine responded instantly, and
we cut through the water smartly.
There was a space of about % yards
between the boatman and the nearer
shore. I did not believe that ne would
do more than try to annoy us by for
cling us on the swampy shore; for it
was still broad daylight, n we were
likely at any moment to meet other
craft. l was confident that with any
sort of luck l could slip past him
and gain the strait, OF dodge n run
round him before he could change the
course of his heavy skiff.
l kicked the end of an oar which
the launch carried for emergencies
and lima, on this hint, drew it toward
him.
You can see some of the roofs of
Port Annandale across the neck here
1 remarked, seeing that the women
had begun to watch the approaching
boat ~uneasily.
ITO BE C~ONTINUED0