Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-01-26

hardship, oftentimes with SO mucn
danger from uncharted reefs in the UNI
known seas that they were one and all
wildly anxious to return from the, 10
| them, aSnless wandering If he had
quest, they would have shared his
esgerneFs. but he kept it To himself,
as he had keat his own counsel in
San Francisco, ard he straitly charged
ms sailing matter to say nothing of it.
Consequently the lookout on the
fore-topmast cross-tree on certain
! summer morning, catching sight of a
dim, blue haze on the horizon far OF
to starboard, made no report, of 1t.
l. What was the use? 1t would only de-
lay matters and they: were within a
few weeks of Honolulu now, and an
other fortnight beyond Hawaii would
bring them back to the United States,
FOR which they all loaged with the de-
sire OF nen who had been away from
home and confined to the narrow
decks of a cruising ship for over a
year.
Something's to whether it. was
Providence, or not he was somewhat
doubtful in his mind afterward-
brought Langford on deck before his
usual time for rising. The watch was
IN charge of a rather sleepy, stupid
] second officer, unimaglnative and un-
obse:y'nt. He had. not noticed the
land which IT was difficult.to see from
the deck at any rate, especially as 1t,
did not lie between the yacht and the
sun, and as it had not been reported
from the masthead. he knew nothing
of it.
Langford had found sleep impos-
sible. The year of search, the constant
disappointment. the pressing senses OF
mystery. the feeling that his conduct
was indeed irreparable had preyed
upon him. He was thin. worn, nervous
and irritable. He walked up and down
the deck in the cool of the morning
thinking Fer three years practically
he had had this woman before his
eyes as the goal of his efforts Now
she was gone. and he must concen-
'trate his life upon something else. He
;,aZed languidly and indifferently
about the horizon. his Impractical eve
noticing nothing for 4 time. Sudden
y.rhowever. staring off to- starboard
listlessly during a pause in his steady
tramp. he thought he caught glimpse
of light He looked idly in the direc-
zion whence the reflection had come
1or few moments and saw 1t again:
thin cloud of smoke, or was 1t haze.
rose above it. He was puzzled by 1t.
of course, and stood staring. The CON
centration In his gaze. he thought, dis
covered to him a cloudy blink in the
gray OF the dawn which might mean
land. He knew there was no land
| charted in those seas, for he had care
fully studied the chart the night be-
fore. saying nothing to anyone, for he
had become somewhat sensitive about
the matter ~.
He ran down the companion ladder
into his cabin and fetched thence a
new and powerful glass, which. upon
.lls return to the deck. he. focused
nEen the distant point of light. BY
the aid of those powerful binoculars
he made out what it was. He was d
sman OF quick decision and purpose.
He called the officer to him, pointed
to the light, and handed the glass to
Idbe1 man in question. =
f. What do you make of that, MIR.
HoltZman?"
The officer took quick look
through the glasses, handed them back
to their owner, and said laconicatfy:
Land! Fire! Smoke. SIR"
Head the yacht, to that island at
once.v I
Very good sir said the officer.
turning to the man at the wheel and
ordering the helm to be put aport. /.
The. yachts bows swung slowly
round until the island and the light
were both dead ahead.
. Now 'iIr. .Holtzman,", said Lang
ford, when the maneuver was COM
pleted. who is at the masthead?" /;
I'll see. sir. answered the second
officer, stepping forward.
Bring him to me-" said the owner
as the officer turned away.
In. a few moments the officer came
back to the quarterback followed by
one of the seamen. The man looked,
very much frightened. for Langford
was In a towering passion. and when
he was In a passion he was not a. /.
pleasant spectacle. !,
I. Did YOU. see that island yonder?"
began, the owner. tiercely.
ssJ-or--av
|. t'..Answer mew Is
Yes, sir" said the man, desperately. /,
You did?" G
Yes, sir"
why didn't you report it,"
The man hesitated. shifting from
one foot to another, muttered some
thing about wild goose chase. Car
ried away by anger, Langford ,sprang
at him, and would have done him bod
lily violence, had he not been quickly
restrained by the second officer.
Mr.. LangfOrd, SIR. said Hoffman.
grasping him tightly. recover your !,
self, sir
The check was sufficient. -
Go forward, cried Langford, con-
trolling himself with difficulty. mir.
Holt2man. send for Capt. Harper
Very good, SIR" answered the off,
Ger. -
And meanwhile you are to keep
straight for that island until further
orders" !:
In a few moments the old captain
presented himself before the owner.
{ Harper" began the young man, i'm
periously, 1.-The lookout this morning
deliberately failed to report that land.
that island yonder. want him disrat- !
ed and his. nay stonned PINT him in