Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1913-11-28

perhaps not since the OLD Duccdneer
himself had walked along it beneath
the spreading trees.
For perhaps a mile we pursued our
journey across the top Of the wall,
winding in and out among the trees
through the jungle. the path evidently
seeking the most level direction. for
the top OF the wall was very much
broken and irregular.
At last we came to an open spot on
the inner edge overlooking the whole
island. and before us lay such a pic
ture as few eyes. at least of our race.
had ever looked upon. The wall ended
abruptly and fell on the inner or land
ward side AS precipit0usly as it rose
outwardfy and to SEA ward Before us
lay most enhancing valley. perhaps
three or four miles across and maybe
half as long again in the other direc- /
ton and which was walled about on !
every hand. 1t was sunk beneath this !
wall crest for perhaps 100 feet or more. /
In the center of the valley the land
rose little higher than the island
wall in Il very considerable HILL tree
crowned on the slopes. but largely bare
on the crest Through the valley ran
a brook which ended i'll little lake
which | suspected had some subter- +.
r2ncssn connection with the ocean. AS
| far as We could see and the whole
| circuit Of the island was now clearly
visible to- us the inclosing wall was
t.nbroken The valley was filled with
clusters Of trees and alternating
stretches Of grassy meadow.
We should have been hard put to it
! to DESCEND the wall to the valley were
it not for the fact that the same peO-
! pie who built the stairs that gave ae-
cess to the wall from the sea had built
d similar flight which led TO the valley
Before we essayed the descent of the
stairs we drank, our fll of the beauty
and mysterious charm of it all. In
deed. there was no sound that came to
us except the twittering of the birds
of which there were many. bri lantly
! plumaged. 6ittering in the trees. All
else was still. lonely. deserted. oppres
sively so in fact.
What think you of this?" My lady
broke the silence lis it not like the
crater of volcano?"
I NO" said / these are coral rocks.
and there is no sign of lava about
them, yet it has somewhat of the ap-
pearan:e. especially that fattened hill
lock in the center"
L have since talked with many men
and studied the writings Of the most
learned biologists. They have fan
: - ~ fhn
in the middle Of the valley. where we
saw the great altar Of sacrifice with it's
/ attendant idols later oH. was the orig
!, inal island, which was once surround
ed by a coral reef which was now be-
, come wall, and that some great up
heaval had lifted the whole up out Of
the water in ages gone by and that
j the barrier reef over which we had
! passed was the second attempt of the
land again.
r "What is to be done now?' asked my
!. little mistress.
!. 81 hardly know" l answered. What
t is exercising me most now is first of
: all. what is going on in that same mu-
\ tinous ship, and. next. how we shall
q finally get away from here"
e You are inpatient returned my
< lady, smiling
e Impatient for you, madam" / inter-
i rupted checking myself from further
self revealing speech just in time.
e Zone thing at time," she continued
y "By the favor of God. we have escaped
l. from the murderers and mutineers
|, We shall not starve upon this island
e and l have no doubt that sooner OF
e later you will devise some means Of
n our escape"
1t was past noon by this time.
made sure of it by looking at the sur
A. and confirming it by my watch. which
n | most carefully kept running during
all our sOjourn on the island, which
Is Indicated close on two bells, o'clock
Our talk of the ship recalled me to my
j. self.
ter postpone the exploration of the is
re land until another day and g6 bacl
I'd to our landing place. If l know tn
e men on that ship they will guess tina
we have escaped to this island AM
he they will bring her round to this side
N where we may have them under view
or and they U.S.
ct Think you that they can come a
It. us?' she asked, in sudden alarm.
as 81 think not | answered confident
ly. 'but still to make sure | shout
e. like to have them under Observa ton.
| Well. to make a long story short, W