The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-06-30

The island was perceptibly nearer.
Capt. Harper was forward staring
through the glaBL Running along
the waist Langford joined him on the
forecastle.
Can you make nut anything?" said
the young man, catching the old one
by the arm.
AYE" was the answer.
"Is she there?" he asked, hoarsely,
his heart in his mouth.
There is a figure on the weather
side of the fire yonder."
"a fgure!" aslied Langford, trem-
bling so he could scarcely control him
self. "Is 1t woman?"
Il can't tell. It's too far or"
'Give me the glass"
81 make out another figure. There
are two of them," returned Harper,
slowly lowering the glass and hand
ing 1t to Langford.
Two" cried the other, rapidly TO-
cusing the glass, disappointment in
his tone which lie strove to keep out
of his heart. You are right" he
said at last, there are two figures,
but It's impossible to make them out"
He handed the glass back to the
captain, who in his turn fixed it again
upon the island.
"They are going down the hill," said
Harper. Il have lost them among the
trees. We are approaching swiftly"
he continued. 'Mr Hoffman, half
speed, If you please"
Bells tangled below as Mr.. Holtz-
man rapidly set the indicator and the
speed of the yacht was quickly
checked. She still approached the is
land with sufficient rapidity, however,
and after perhaps Is minutes Of easy
going, Capt. Harper signaled her to
stop, fearful of any nearer approach.
What now?" asked the owner.
81 think we had better not chance it
nearer, sir" said the captain. 1T is
not more than a half-mile to the
shore. Shall l call away the launch,
or will you be rowed?"
The launch was slowed amidships;
the gig swung from the davits. 1t
would be quicker to take the gig.
"I'll be rowed," said Langford.
And in a moment the voice of the
boatswains mate could be heard call.
ing away the crew. All hands we're
on deck The conversation between
the captain and the owner had been
heard by many, and their tenor COM
municated to all. Consequently when
the gig manned by six of the best
oarsmen in the ship dropped alongside
and Langford descended to the stern
sheets and took the tiller in his hand,
the crew spontaneously manned the
rail and sent him off with three ring.
ing cheers.
1t did not take the men long to
cover the distance between the mo-
tionless ship and the island. AS they
approached the latter, they perceived
the barrier reef, which, unless they
could find an opening, would effectual-
ly prevent their getting on the shore.
Langford swung the boat about at a
judicious distance from the reef, over
which the sea always broke with more
or less force, and closely scrutinized
the line Of foam. The coxswain of
the boat who rowed the stroke oar
also followed with his eyes the jagged
reef. 1t was he who detected the two
figures on the beach of the island wa
wing palm branches and apparently
pointing. He called the attention Of
Langford to the figures, and suggest
ed that the inhabitants were trying to
show an opening through the barrier
Following the indicated direction
presently smooth water was d1scov-
cred. Langford headed the boat for
it. The men bent to their oars, and
soon parted the quiet waters of the
lagoon. The two figures stood in
plain view upon the beach still too far
for those in the boat to make out who
they WERE Langford could only see
that one was taller than the other;
that both were dressed in some sort
of loose tunic that fell to the knees
and left the arms bare. He was dis
appointed, and yet hopeful. The sus-
pense was almost unbearable. The
men we're doing their utmost, seeing
the anxiety in his face, but their ut
most was too slow for the impatient
man.
CHAPTER XIV.