The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-11-06


lay other islands, family outlined on
the far horizon.
! suppose must have thrashed
about somewhat when I brought the
dingy to the wind and changed her
course. for presently my little mistress
awoke. She sat up Instantly. and after
the hriefest acknowledgment of my
good morning and the briefest reply
to my inquiry as to how she did she
stared at the land toward which we
were edging in so far as the wind
would allow. 1t was a bleak. inhos-
pitable looking place. that gray. rongh
wall In spite of its infrequent crust
ing of verdure. | will admit. and she,
too. found 1t so After she had stared
hard at the land she cast an anxious
glance to leeward. but, of course, could
make nothing of the distant islands
there.
I'VE must get ashore said l. "as
soon as possible BY the time their
debauch will have worn off they will
either bring the ship here or send the
boat after us. Afoat we can do moth
ing. ashore we may find some conceal
ment and probably make some de-
Tense"
ut is a bleak looking spot"
Indeed, not a curl of smoke any
where betrayed the presence of man
kind Had II not been for depres-
kions in the walls of the cliff here and
there which were filed with vegeta-
ton. one might have supposed the is
land to be nothing but desolate and
arid rock, but this reassured me |
thought it strange that there was no
mountain or hill rising from beyond
the top of the wall. but l was yet to
see how strange the island was
But as it was full morning now
decided that first of all the creature
comforts had to be thought of. offer
ed to relinquish the tiler and prepare
something to eat, but Mistress Lucy
took that upon herself. What we had
was cold, but there was plenty of it,
and at my urging she ate heartily.
For myself ! needed no stimulus but
my raging hunger. | wanted her to
be in fettle for whatever might hap
pen
We had not much conversation the
while, but do remember that she did
say she had rather be here alone with
me than on the ship, whereat my
heart pounded, but had sense enough
to say nothing. Her loneliness and
helplessness appealed to me. might
have been bold under other circum-
stances, but not now.
Well, we coasted along that barrier
reef a good part of the morning until
we reached the other end Of the island
and discovered to our dismay that
there. was absolutely no opening, no
break in it through which we could
make our way. When we reached the
lower end my lady was for sailing
around on the other side, but this did
not dare. We had heard nothing from
the ship or her boats, and | didn't pro-
pose to arouse any pursuit by coming
within possible range of her glasses
] did not know where the Rose of De-
Won lay
Madam" said at last. there is
naught for us but to try to go over the
reef in some fashion. As examined
the island yesterday through the
glasses ! couldn't see any opening in
the reef on that side. and, although |
never saw or heard of case like this
before. | make no doubt but what the
reef is continuous and there is no ac-
cess to the island except over it. And
come to think of it, Sir Philips chart
showed no opening either"
II recall that the reef completely en-
circles the island In the map" assent
ed my lady
Then we must even pass over it as
we can. | have had some experience
in taking boat through the surf, and,
although it is prodigious risk, l be-
lieve can take this one over. | think
we shall win through If you will sit
perfectly quiet and trust to me-"
81 will do whatever you tell me-"
she said with most becoming and un-
usual meekness, II think-I know-I
trust you entirely, Master Hampton"
Every WELL" said I quietly. land may
God help usl"
ward the shore of the island. select
ed spot where the huge, rolling waves
seemed to break more smoothly than
elsewhere, which argued greater
depth of water over the barrier. less
roughness and fewer possibilities of
being wrecked on the jagged points of
the coral reef Dousing the sail. un-
shipping the tilIer and rudder and pull
ing the oars with all my strength after
an unuttered prayer | shot the boat di-
rectly toward the spot | had chosen
Just before reached 1t | threw the
oars inboard. seized one Of them. which
| wished to use as steering oar. and
stepped aft past my lady, who sat a
! little forward and well down in the
bottom of the boat braced myself in
the stern sheets and waited We were
racing toward that reef with dizzy
speed, rising with the uplift up the
wave | had just time for one word.
! IF we die" | shouted. remember
that | have heen Vour trua aarvant a