The Wrangell sentinel., 1909-07-15

wave recede and leave a path of opales- cent pebbles in its wake. There were jewels for all the world and to spare as long as the water bathed the stones.
 So, walking leisurely, I came in time to the far end. and looked across the har- boring rocks to the ship. To my surprise, young woman stood on the deck, and 1uttering from a splinter of the mast was a white handkerchief She was look ing across at me. her hands shading her eyes from the sunset glitter at my back, and as she saw me look up she waved her hand beckonngly. The easy path to the ship lay through a small break where the rocks joined the cliff. but this break was some distance of. With a smile for what saw must have happened to the skipper. I climbed over the near est rocks and stood on the edge of the little inland sea. Sure enough, the tide in rising had covered the causeway to the cliff. and was pouring in, fast filling the harbor. like the bowl of a flooded fountain. The water was not yet deep it barely covered the path by which the explorer had come, and even of the rocks in front of it it was scarcely up to my knees.
 The woman of the ship called. I'm marooned. I came by the path and for soi all about the tide. What shall do:' She pointed towards tn" way she had come. but I was in rough clothes and quite used to a wetting, so l waded ln and, crossing the shallow bowl, quickly scrambled on 10 the high deck. l stood up dripping and laughing.
 VOu fhnuphr ynu'd for sail " I asked, but didn't think you'd sail so far from land!"
 The grill saw now that she couldn't be more than 20-looked quizzically at me for second then smiled, and finally laughed
 Tt was such a very real ship" she said. that l couldn't resist the call. fell asleep sitting against the gunwale, and when l woke up the water was over the path-not very far over. but quite enough to ruin these forever" She pointed to her kid slippers. "I was grow ing desperate when 1 saw you on the beach,"
 was studying the slippers. there was no question but that the salt water would ruin them. She inspected them also.
 Tt was very foolish of me to wear them, but I had no idea of going far when l left the club. The first thing 1 knew, l caught a glimpse of the water. and then I forgot the slippers and walked on until 1 came to that cliff and from there I saw this little harbor and this boat, and I couldn't resist that, could 7"
 l shook my head. Nobody could re sist it."
 ''I had just about come to the point of taking them of and wading in," she went on. and then finished when I sighted you.'
 T can go away again." I suggested.
 No" she said slowly; I'd rather you didn't do that. There must be some other way out of it.
 There are several other ways" I an- swered I've often studied the problem from this very deck
 I thought she looked a little bit sur prised. Do you often find people ma rooned here-girls, I mean?"
 No. but I've often wondered what should do if I did. To tell the truth. I've never found any one here before. but the ship looks as if she ought to be in- habited. She's a good ship, and once belonged to pirate chief
 How do you know that?" she asked.
 By the oaken chest below-deck. It has the pirate look, though there's noth- ing in it."
 "Yes." she said "I made an exploring trip and found the chest"
 Don't you agree with me, then?"
 Again there came that quizzical look in her eyes. and then the smile.
 "Yes,' she said 'it must have belong cd to pirate" She stopped short and the smile spread from her lips to her eyes Shall I tell you secret? When I fell asleep here an hour ago 1 dreamed of pirates. of a real old-fashioned buc- cancer who came up out of the cabin fully armed, pistols in his pockets and in his hands and a pistol clenched in his teeth The funny part of it is that he was exceedingly polite to me. Do you ever have such foolish dreams as that?"
 Often: buccaneer calls on me every other week. I'm only waiting for the chance to ship with one. I think their ghosts must still inhabit Alastair."
 The girls hand stole up to capture some loose strands of hair, and for the first time I noted the fine spun gold in the sun.
 "Alastair?" she repeated. ''Oh. 90 this is the beach of Alastair-and you" She paused. You must be the man they told me about at the club-you live in a cottage at the far end of the beach, and write books, and never come out of your she'll"
 I bowed. "I am the man." I said, "anG wonder is my home" I pointed west