The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-11-01
Copyright. 1910. by Louis Joseph Vance.
CHAPTER XIII.

shore of No Mans Land, little sandy
spit juts out. forming, according to
Appleyard, what you might call a
you say" To the west Of it lies the
only good anchorage near the island
one that can be termed such solely
when the winds blow from the south.
Into the poor shelter of this cour-
tesy harbor, under the pilotage Of Ap-
pleyard (who asserted that he found
his way half by guess work and half
by sense Of smelD the Echo fought
her way and as her anchor bit into
the bottom and her cable tautened
brought up staggering, like a spent
runner at the close of long race.
Only seamanship Of a sort not in
aptly to be called superb (but not less
SO than the courage exhibited by both
mem eked out by Appleyard's init
mate acquaintance with the waters
thereabouts, could have brought the
Echo through in safety.
Coast took ashore with him a new
sense of respect and admiration for
his companion. What emotions, if
any, Appleyard entertained remained
inscrutable.
Driving the boat through a quarter,
ing run of surf, they made an uncom-
Portable though not dangerous land
ing on the west side of the sand spit
drew the dory far up and set off. side
by side, wet and weary, for the Cold
Lairs-as they had christened, by
common consent, the abandoned fish.
ing village.
They stumbled up to and through
its empty street, a little wondering. a
little apprehensive. more than little
alert and inclined to seek the touch
of each others shoulders. They were
in the good old phrase, taking their
lives In their hands in this phase OF
their adventure; and the sense of this
clutched at their hearts with fingers
Of ice. That they would be recognized
(save Coast by Katherine as the men
who had been on the island In the fog
seemed little likely: SO far as they
knew. neither had been seen but by
the Chinaman whom Appleyard had
stunned; and it was improbable that
he had caught clear sight of either
There remained, however, a hundred
| masked dangers growing out of Black
stocks certain distrust and misgiv
ings, with a far-fetched possibility that
the men stranded on the shoals of
Pasque would find some means of es
cape and communicate with Black
| stock by wireless from the mainland
It was not more than an improbable
| possibility, but none the less 1t hele
Its need of danger, and they Nigh
not forget 1t, though Appleyard hat
| argued and contrived plausibly
| against mischance.
| Che explaineO chose to land OF
| PasQue, they would better their condi
ton not at all-mere1y exchange {
| comfortable cabin for the question
able freedom Of little two-by-fou
island cut off from Naushon and 1T
habitations by the deep, swift currents
| that scour Robinson's Hole. In an
other direction, 1t would profit then
| as little to seek the cherries shelte
| of the life-saving station on Nasha
wena; 1t would require more thai
man-power to free the cruiser from
| the sticky clutches Of the shoal, ant
their chances of obtaining a tow be
fore the storm abated were positivel.
| NIL
"You can tie to this" Appleyard hat
| summed up: they'll stay put til
morning. And then a while. That'l
| give me time to tend to their cases
| properlike Even should I fall dowl
there, we've got at the worst reckon
ing a clear eighteen hours. And 1
that's not long enough for US to franz
up suitable last act for this thrilling
| draymah of crrrime and hoomal
hearts, we amt fit even to dope GU
q scenario for a moving-picture film
and for one will make up my mine
to shake the Iegit, and try to make
| dent In the two-a-day."
From which announcement Coas
drew what comfort he could.
The bungalow occupied what wa
apparently the brow Of the island
highest ridge. something like quar-
ter of mile to the south OF tn
farmhouse and near the southern
shore As they drew nearer Apple
i gate slowed down to q cautious walk
At a fair distance from the ughte'
| window both paused. as If seeking
some final word; then, without speed
| ct would have been necessary t
shrek to make oneself heard In tina
exposed spot) Coast caught the nttl
mans hand and gave It long. friend
| ~ pressure He turned and moved
few PAGES toward the house. Whe'
he looked back Appleyard had melte'
into the darkness.
| He passed a window so nisted witt
moisture that he could have seen Lit
tie within had he wished or stopPet
to look. He turned a corner, moves
past another window, and came TO
door before which he stopped lon'
minute, not hesitant, but pulling him
| self together, realizing but on tn
whole not sorry that he now stoo'
! alone, had only himself to look t
whatever the emergency the next few
hours might give rise to. On the 9th
er side OF those panels were the onl.
/ two beings In the world who coult
! strike upon his heart-strings ever!
| chord in the gamut Of the emotions
| and he must be prepared to eXper
fence them all and show himself IN
| moved. at least oUtwardly.
Lifting his hand. he knocked loudly
/ -