The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-10-02

we did not dare to be where we could
not watch the ship. We did walk
along the shore and ascend the giant
stairs in the afternoon, then, while she
watched the sea within calling dis.
lance of me, | managed to penetrate
the jungle with ak in hand, so that
finally made shift to cut down a
cocoa palm tree, and we gathered as
many delicious nuts as we could carry
and returned to the shore.
That night the sun set amid lowering
clouds. With sailors weather sense,
l was sure that we should have a
storm Pimball and Glibby sensed 1t
too. We could see them making things
snug allow and aloft. They were good
enough seamen, as far as that goes
The wind, If it came, would be of
shore, and there would be no danger
Of the ship being driven upon our reef,
but there were islands to leeward
which they seemed to have forgotten.
which I remembered.
explained all this to my little mis-
tress as l made things snug for the
night. She would be perfectly protect
ed by the overhang of the cliff and the
overturned boat. and l told her, al
though / left her alone in the boat
that the same overhang Of the Cliff
would protect me from the wind and
the rain If the storm broke. And so
after prayers again and long look
seward We went to sleep.
About midnight, so far as could
judge, I was awakened. The storm
broke with all the suddenness and in
tensty Of the tropics. Such peals of
thunder and such flashes Of lightning
l have never witnessed, although had
been in many storms throughout the
world. To sleep was impossible. Mis-
tress Lucy came out from her boat and
stood beside me as we leaned against
the cliff while the storm drove harm
lessly over our heads.
We could see the ship at intervals by
the vivid flashes Of lightning. She was
making fearful weather Of it. She
was always wet ship, and the huge
waves fairly rolled over her. Once she
went over nearly on her beam ends,
and thought she was gone. l didn't
view her position with great deal Of
regret either. Presently she drove off
before the wind with rag Of her fore
topsI still showing, and that was the
last we saw of her or her men. we
thought.
Storm bound under the lee Of the
| Ill
hours the next day, although our only
misfortune was the inclemency Of the
weather. for we We're completely shell
tered. and we had plenty Of the refresh
ing milk Of the cocoanut to vary our
other food. The second day after it
began the tempest finally blew itself
out, although the great surging seas
still broke tremendously over the bar.
rier reef and the spray shot score OF
feet or more above the crests of the
highest waves. 1t was only the reflex
of the storm. however, for during the
night the wind had subsidized into a
gentle breeze.
When we scanned the sea next morn.
ing there was. Of course, no sign of
the ship Our first inclination. and
there was none to say us nay now, was
to mount the stairs. cross the wall end
look for that cave. We had neither
chart nor record left. we had but our
memories to trust to, but we were both
agreed that the cave lay in the inner
wall and that the parchment said it
was the central one Of three adjacent
openings which gave entrance to the
treasure chamber And we could get
a bearing on it from the central hill.
Now ! had noticed that the coral
wall both on the outer and inner sides
was honeycombed with openings. riffs,
assures and caves which. by the way,
were more frequent and deeper Oh the
inside face. why know not We
should have been compelled painfully
and laboriously to search the whole
face of the cliff in it's extent Of fifteen
miles or so, but for the further direc-
ton of the parchment was thank
full that, sailor like, old Sir Philip had
given us the bearing. How did his
words run? Something like this. my
memory told me.
"Toe fynde ye mouthe Of ye tresur
cave take ye bearings alonge ye southe
of ye three Goodies on ye Altar Of
Skulls on ye middel hille VIII. ye line
strykes ye bigge knicke in ye vale
with ye tale palmme, his tree. bee
three hoales. Climbe ye stones Enter
ye centre. vt Is th.re."
Plainly our first duty was to descend
into the Enclosed valley and explore
the hillock in the center. l made no
doubt but that we should find some
sort OF an altar and more Of those curl
GUS stone images there. If they still
remained the rest Of our task would be
comparatively easy.
| With this determination. therefore.
we set out As did not know how
long our exploration would require and
as / rather thought we should have to
make day Of it, we started betimes.
Indeed. as we invariably retired short
" after sunset we naturally rose at
bleak Of day. I took along food
enough for the day, knowing that we