The Tupelo journal., 1912-09-20
<CepSrisht. 1870. hy Leuis Joseph Vaaes)
XIII.

AOOut miuW6y LILO Wow
ern and western extremes of the north
shore of No Mans Land, a little sandy
spit juts out, forming, according to
Appleyard, what you might call q
sort Of cove, If you don't care what
you say" To the west of 1t lies the
only good anchorage heal 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 smelly 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 a long race.
Only seamanship of a sort not In
Rptly to be called superb (but not less
no than the courage exhibited by both
men) eked out by Appleyard's inti-
mate acquaintance with the waters
s~hereabouts, 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, II
any, Appleyard entertained, remained
anscrutable.
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 on, 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 a little
alert and inclined to seek the touch
of each others shoulders. They were,
In the good old phrase, taking their
ives IN their hands in this phase or
their adventure; and the sense of this
clutched at their hearts with fingers
of ice. That they would be recognized
.(save Coast by Katherine rs 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 A%ppleyard 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 on
Pasque would find some means of es-
stock by wireless from the mainland.
1t was not more than an improbable
possibility, but none the less 1t held
Its need of danger, and they might
not forget it, though A%ppleyard had
argued and contrived plausibly
against ~mischance.
J, II the crew of the grounded vessel
.Ihe explained) chose to land on
Pasque, they would better their condi-
ton not at all-merely exchange a
comfortable cabin for the question
able freedom of q little two-by-four
island cut off from Naushon and its
habitations by the deep, swift currents
that scour Robinson's Hole. In an
other direction, 1t would profit them
as little to seek the cherries shelter
of the life-saving station on Nasha-
wena; it would require more than
man-power to free the cruiser from
the sticky clutches of the shoal, and
their chances of obtaining a tow be-
fore the storm abated We're positively
nil.
"You can tie to this" A%ppleyard had
summed up: they'll stay put till
morning. And then a while. ThatIl
give me time to tend to their cases
~properlike. Even should | fall down
there, we've got at the worst reckon
ing a clear eighteen hours. And II
that's not long enough for us to frame
I'D a suitable last act for this thrilling
draymah of crrrime and hooman
hearts. we amt fit wen to dope out
a scenario for a moving picture film;
and | for one will make up my mind
to shake the legit, and try to make q
dent in the two-a-day."
From which procurement Coast
0IeW WAdI COu4lOit HS OAAN
The bungalow occupied what was
apparently the brow Of the islands
highest ridge. something like a quar-
ter of a mile to the south OF the
farmhouse and near the southern
shore. AS they drew nearer Apple
gate slowed down to q cautious walk.
At q fair distance from the lighted
window both paused, as If seeking
some final word; then. without speech
ut would have been necessary ito
shrek to make oneself heard In that
exposed spot Coast caught the little
mans hand and gave 1t q long, friend
ly pressure. He turned and moved q
few PAGES toward the house. When
he looked back A~ppleyard had melted
into the darkness.
He passed q window Sc misted with
moisture that he could have seen lit
tie within had he wished OF stopped
70 look. He turned a corner. moved
past another window, and cane 10 q
door before which he stopped . 0ne