Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-01-07
addition in vuinly trying to IntsrrOgato

addition In vAinly trying to lntsrrOgatO
DuponceAu.
There was no doubt but that In the
direction Of the beach we were practically
impregnAble. Invaders would first have
to climb the rocks and then splash
through the water, or. II they came by the
eauseway, pass the narrow deile at the
base Of the cliff. In either case we would
have ample chance to defend ourselves,
and even if they succeeded in reaching
the Ships side we would have the advan-
tage Of being six feet above them. l
pulled In the rope ladder that still hung
over the side and slowed it away In 9
cupboard in the cabin. When we had
done everything precaution could suggest
We three gathered on the forward deck
and sat with ON backs to the sea, facing
the shore.
The night was clear and cool; there
was little sound beyond the regular throb-
bling of the waves on the beach and the
occasional distant call OF bIItern from
the marshes up-river- AS l Listened to
the talk Of the other two, I realized that
describabie fascination Of Duponceau's as
readily as l had done
But l say put in Islip at last, do
you mean to tell me that yOE came all the
way over here without any luggage, that
you let those chaps land you just as you
were, without anything elsef"
without anything else save little
bex Of papers"-Duponeeau smileG-"and
each paper worth many thousand times
its weight In gold"
"why," said Islip. what kind Of Sc
curities were thoseF''
"See how l trust yOu," returned the
other. 1--WE hid the box In the ground
back In the woods, between two roots OF
a hemlock, one pointing south by the
compass, the other west. The hemlock
Is ten PAGES west Of a SCARED fir that was
stripped Of its sea branches by lightning"
II know the tree" said l.
Rodney rubbed his hands joyfully. I'VE
gods and little fishes, think of 1t Ever
since l was a boy I've wanted to have
my hand In a buried treasure. We used
to hide tin cans In the back yard, just
to dig them up again. And now to think
that I've come across 4 real treasure !!
What would those other boys say!"
Here's one of them now" put in. II
used to do the very same thing myself"
Duponceau was smiling again. you
can both take 1t lightly" he said, "be-
cause you do not know. Many men, aye,
many governments, would give almost
anything for a chance at that box out
there"
Better and better. The higher the
interest, the more sport for US, said
Rodney. i've always wanted to be mixed
up in an international ARRAY. I'm more
than ever glad decided to come to the
Penguin, for more reasons than one"
and he looked across slyly at me.
l could not help liking him, even II he
was in love with Barbara; he was SO
open and frank about everything.
After a time Duponceau went below
for a two hours nap, and 1slip and l sat
on deck, smoking and chatting. About
midnight the air grew colder, and we
walked to warm ourselves.
do you think" said Rodney, finally,
that we might go on a hunt for that
treef My eyes are fairly itching to fol-
low that trail, and we might reconnoitre
the enemy's position you know. We
could make tracks back to the Ship II
there was any need"
wait till Duponceau comes up, and
we'll ask him." suggested.
In time, at the end Of his midnight nap
Duponceau came on deck, and gave uA
permission to take a survey OF the shore.
IF need you," he said, "I'll make the
call of the osprey-listen :" and he sent
forth a long, quavering cry that was
echoed back to us, from cliff and beach.
Armed with revolvers Rodney and l
slipped out of the Ship, forded the lake,
and, keeping as close as we could to the
rocks, for the night was bright with stars,
headed towards the pines.
We said not a word, but tip-toe, lead
ing, he following, we skirted the woods
until we came to the SCARED fir. There
1 turned to look back; the beach lay q
bright silver field sloping to the sea-
which rippled like quicksilver beneath the
stars. The beach was empty as me des-
ert, and still, save for the tapping waves
'Ten PAGES to the east" whispered
Rodney, and, with infinite caution, We
tiptoed through the pines. The trees are
very thick there; we felt as II ploughint
into an unknown screen. We came t
the hemlock, and crouched on the sea sid'
Of it, some instinct telling us that there
was need of caution. On hands anC
knees crawled foot farther, and behelC
a white tent, its gulde-ropes running t.
the hemlock's roots. Islip pulled himsel
up beside me.
Ito be continued.)