Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-11-10
"Can ! 60 ashoregr She nsked

Il dunno. Wei see It's a convict
settlement for the Brazils. an they're
mighty partic1ar about lettin' people
land, but they'll 'ardly object TO
nice young lady like you 'avin' a peep
at EN-"
As his tone was unusually gruff,
not to say jeering, she resolved to
find an opportunity of seeking Ho-
zier's advice on the cableGram prob
lem. But the portent of the blood red
water was not to be disregarded. New
er was Delphic oracle better served by
nature The Andromeda began to roll
ominously. Masses of black cloud
climbed over the southern horizon.
At midday the ship was driving
through a heavy sea. AS the day
wore the weather became even more
threatening. A sky and ocean that
had striven during three weeks to
produce in splendid rivalry blends of
sapphire blue and emerald green and
tenderest pink were now draped in a
shroud of gray mist. With increasing
frequency and venom vaulting seas
curled over the bows and sent stinging
showers of spray against the canvas
shield of the bridge Instead of the
natty white drill uniform end canvas
shoes of the tropics the ships officers
dOnned oilskins. sou'weSters and sea
boots. Torrents swept the decks. and
an occasional giant among waves
a. ~
under which every rivet ratified and
every plank creaked. Despite these
drawbacks the Andromeda wormed
her way south. She behaved like the
stanch old sea prowler that she was.
Iris of course, thought that she was
experiencing the storm of century.
Badly scared at first, she regained
some stock of courage when Hozier
came twice to her cabin, pounded on
the door and shouted to her such
news as he Thought would take her
mind off the outer furies. The first
time he announced that they were
Just Crossing the line" and the girl
smiled at the thought that Neptune's
chosen lair was uncommonly like the
English channel at its worst. On the
second occasion her visitor brought
the cheering news that they would be
under the lee of Fernando Noronha
early next morning. She had sufficient
sea lore to understand that this i'm
piled shelter from wind and wave, but
HOzier omitted to tell her that tht
only practicable roadstead In the is
land being on the weather side would
be rendered unsafe by the present ad
verse combination of the elements. II
fact, Coke had already called Watts
and Hozier into council, and they had
agreed with him that the wiser plan
would be to bear in toward the island
from the east and anchor in smooth
water as close to South point as the
lead would permit.
AS for Iris wild foreboding that the
ship was intended to be lost Philip
did not give it other than passing
thought. Coke was navigating the An
dromeda with exceeding care and no
little skill. He was first rate prac-
teal sailor, and 1t was an education
to the younger man to watch his han
ding of the vessel throughout the
worst part Of the blow. About mid
night the weather moderated. 1t i'm
proved steadily until u troubled dawn
heralded some fitful CLEANS Of the
sun. BY that time the magnificent
peak of Fernando Noronha was plain
ly visible. Coke came to the bridge
and set n new course, almost due west.
Soon it was possible to distinguish the
full extent of the coast line. Houses
appeared and trees and green oases of
cultivation.
There was a strong current setting
from the southeast, and the dying gale
left its aftermath in long swell, but
the Andromeda rolled on with ever
increasing comfort. Even Iris was
tempted forth by the sunshine.
Coke was not on the bridge at the
moment. Mr.. Watts was taking the
watch. Hozier was on deck forward.
Suddenly the captain appeared. He
greeted Iris with genial nod.
"Ah. there you are" he cried. "Not
seen you since this time yesterday.
Sorry, but there'll be no goin' ashore
today. We're on the wrong side Of
the island. an it 'ud toss you bit If
you was to try an land in eether Of
the boats. Take 'er in easy now. Mr..
Watts. That's our anchorage-oveI
there" Ald he pointed to the mouth
of Il narrow channel between South
point and the Isle des Fregates, the lat
ter Il tiny islet that almost blocks the
entrance to shallow bay into which
runs a rivulet of good but slightly
brackish water.
The ship slowed perceptibly, and
Hozier busted himself with the lead
which sailor was swinging ON the
starboard side from the small plat
form of the accommodation ladder
Iris did not know what was said, but
the queer figures repeated to Coke
seemed TO be satisfactory. Headlanda
and hills crept nearer. The rocky
arms of the island closed in on them.
A faint scent as of sweet grasses
reached them from the shore. Iris
could see several people, nearly all of
them men In Uniform lurrvinp about