Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-12-16

troduce you to-" / 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 l had no fear of being caught,
even IL we should be pursued, and
this, in the broad light Of the peaceful
Sabbath afternoon, seemed the re-
hottest possibility
1t had been understood that we
were to remain out until the sun
dropped into the western wood. and l
loitered S& toward the upper lake
where the shores were rougher.
That's a real island over there
they call 1t Battle Orchard-you must
have a glimpse of it,"
'Oh, 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 that 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, saw, half mile distant,
it's sails hanging idly, sloop that an
swered Gillespie's description of the
Stiletto. Its snowy canvas shone
white against the green yerdure Of
Battle Orchard.
"Shut off the power a moment. We
will turn here, Ijima"-and 1 called
Miss Pats attention to a hoary old
sycamore on the western shore.
ooh, I'm disappointed not to cruise
nearer the island with the romantic
name" cried Helen. And there's q
yacht over there, tool"
l already had the boat swung round,
and in reversing the course l lost the
Stiletto, which chung to the island
shore; but | saw now quite plainly tt Q
rowboat lima had reported as follow
ing us. 1t hung off about quarter of
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 / was irritated by my care
| lessness in venturing through the
strait and anxious to return to the less
wild part of the lake. / did not dare
! look over my shoulder, but kept talk
fn
| with the rare intuition Of his race, I'M
derstood the situation and indicated
| by gestures the course.
There's 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 Stfletto, as of boat of dreams,
drifting through the trees. And as
| looked / saw something more. A tiny
signal flag was run quickly to the top.
mast head, withdrawn once and
flashed back; and as I faced the bow
again the boatman dropped his oars
into the water.
| What a strengthening man." re-
| MISS dI.
HE doesn't look like a native" re-
piled, carelessly.
| The launch swung slowly around
cutting half-circle, of which the Ital
/ ian's boat was the center. He dallied
! idly with his oars and seemed to pay
no heed to us, though he glanced sew
eral times toward the yacht, which
had now crept into full view, and I'm
der a freshenfng breeze was bearing
southwark.
Full speed. lima
The engine responded instantly, ant
we cut through the water smartly
There was a space of about rs yard!
between the boatman and the neare
shore. i did not believe that he woulC
do more than try to annoy us by for
cling us on the swampy shore; for
was still broad daylight, and We wer'
likely at any moment to meet othe
craft. l was confident that with an,
. sort of luck l could slip past hin
! and gain the strait, or dodge and ru1
round him before he could change tn
/ course of his heavy skiff.
| kicked the end of an oar whic
the launch carried for emergencie
l and Lima, on this hint, drew it towar
him.
: You can see some of the roofs c
t Port Annandale across the neck here,
/ remarked, seeing that the wome
had begun to watch the approachin
boat uneasily.
l. CTO BE CONTINUED)