Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
By James Francis Dryer

were too busy pulling and every minute the
sun climbed higher up that blue bowl that was
darts he stuck into the back of our backs
Pancakes and peppermint! wasn't it tough?
We felt as if a million little arrows tipped with
carbolic acid were being pushed into our
shoulder blades but Cameron kept going,
doing his turn with the rest and taking
glance ahead as If he expected land to appear
at any minute.
Mackey saw it first
Land ahead" he roared, and took a
three-minute spell to look at it. 1t was there,
sure small island by the look of it, but
didn't care how small it was just then. We
wanted a sand patch the size of a Harlem fiat
where could stretch ourselves out at full
length to get the kinks out of our bodies.
We grounded the boat a sandy beach that
ran between the water and the scrub tina.
stretched inland to the foot of black rock
that ran like big fish fin across the island
and diVed into the water about 300 yards from
the spot we landed it.
"Uninhabited," growled Cameron "One of
the smaller islands of the Cook Group. I guess
it's not more than few acres in area"
We started to walk along the beach after
we had pulled the boat out of reach of the wat
er. That stretch Of white sand looked mighty
inviting after the boat.
We walked to the point where the black vol
canic rock dipped into the ocean. The tide was
out, and only few feet Of Shiny coral lay be-
tween the straight face Of the rock and the
water; but Captain Jack, who in front.
started to climb over the slippery track to get a
peep at what lay on the other side of the
He got about half way, when he stopped
suddenly, dropped on his knees and started to
roll up the sleeve of his jacket.
What is it?" asked Steele
Cameron didn't answer He was fiat on his
stomach then, with one arm thrust into lit
tie basin of water that the tide had left in a
hollow in the rock. Presently he got up and
turned toward us, and he turned, the
flashed something he held in his hand. Gee!
/ was certain that the girl clairvoyant
just then! She had been watching Cameron.
breathing quickly as If she suspected that some
thing was going to happen and when the sun
light fell upon the little article he held in his
hand, she let out shrek and sprang toward
him
'iBeatrice!" she screamed. "oh. it's hersl
Its hers!"
sure. I'll wager she never enough Of that
locket to identify II from the spot where she
was standing but she had hit the bulls by
tie bit of gold that Cameron he'd hshed out OF
the basin. had on 1t the initials ''B. F., Octo-
Der o." and Miss Barbara had told us the night
before that Beatrice was IS years old on that
date
cried II is hers! Oh she must be herei"
Cameron caught her by the arm and put up
his finger BE quiet" he said. Your voice
can be heard a half-mile away"
He drew the girl iato the shelter OF a patch
OF grub. and follow ed mighty quick. The
finding Of that little lockeNright after the sleep
walking stunt Of the early morning was rather
mystifying That beach looked as lonely as
Coney Island in blizzard, and that barrier Of
rock gave us the sort Of feeling you get when
you see something wriggling under a blanket
II looked as II II hid things
When we had climbed into the shelter OF the
scrub where the Llama vines were plated that
thickly that you couldn't see the white beach
Cameron turned 10 Barbara Eotson.
When did your sister have that loeket7" he
asked.
when we were at St. KidA pier" sobbed
the girl. Il haven't seen her since then. You
know were confined in separate cabins"
Captain Jack strangled a word that
made an attempt to come up as a vent TO his
temper. then he turned TO the rest Of US.
Hamilton has haunt IN this group Of
islands" he said. "and II looks as II we've been
lucky enough to fall upon f. II. M; s. Vulture
chased him Ground her last year when he had
Queensland. and II he's here Well. I'm for
making call
Anybody who likes to stay here can stay"
continued Captain Jack. There's a path up the
other side Of that rock. II my eyes didn't de-
the girl. you had better stop under cover TIL
we come back"
that bit OF gold, and the look on her face made
Murphy that mad that he nearly broke his neck
over llama vine rushing toward the foot OF the
rock.
We climbed across the coral rocks 70 the
foot OF the rock, and there the path just
as Cameron had said. Spirits OF nitre! Wasn't
II a path? 1t curled round the rock like little
four-inch shelf Of stone, and It was as slippery
as a politician before election. We held on by
our toes clinging to the roots Of creepers and
clutching at bits OF rock that projected here
and there from the SIN Doth face.
Il wasn't nice Job climbing that path Not
muchl II got narrower as we climbed higher
and at last we had TO turn sideways and creep
along II with our faces jammed hard against
the rock. And the tho ught OF the darned abyss
behind us II slipped backward didn't i'm
prove nerves.
Moxon stopped when we had gone about
halfway, and he looked AZ Cameron Il guess
I've had enough" he snarled. I'm not Sir
Galahad"
Captain Jack glared At him without speak
ing but Steele, who was climbing behind the
mate had his say. You'll have 70 get back
by climbing over me. you lubbsr," he cried. Tn
going straight on. and II you don't move I'll
push you OFF the shelf"
Moxon looked at IN . little American engineer
for a minute, made a movement as II 70 turn
back then changed nj p mind suddenly and went
on again. But II was tough climbing rust there.
Cameron turned an elbow in the track and
for half a minute he yas out Of our view. Mac
kew was next to CAPITA IN Jack, and when he
reached the corner OF the trail he stopped and
whistlsd softly. and we crawied up TO where he