Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-01

islands that had ever known or read
about. But could not see the open
ing from the boat yet. The lagoon en-
closed by the barrier reef seemed to be
a quarter or half mile wide
The strangest part OF the whole
scene was that the island itself locked
ike whitish gray wall rising straight
up from the lagoon for, suppose, from
$50 feet in the lowest part to 300 feet
or more without break. Its top was
covered with greenery. 1t stood up
like a solid rampant of stone From
where we were | couldn't see the end
of the island. although from my inspec
ton of II the day before l judged it
might be six or eight miles long. and
as had sailed past 1t I estimated 1t
was about the same breadth ard near
~ circular in shape.
long distance away on the other
side and hard to be seen at all from
the level OF the sea in the small boat
lay other islands. family outlined on
the far horizon.
suppose ! must have thrashed
about somewhat when brought the
dingy to the wind and charged her
course. for presently my little mistress
awoke. She sat up instantly. and after
the briefest 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. It was a bleak, inhos-
| pitable looking place, that gray. rough
wall. In spite of its infrequent crust
ing OF verdure. / will admit. and she
| too, found it 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 mSst get ashore" said I, "a:
soon as possible. By the time thei
| debauch will have worn of they viii
either bring the ship here or send thu
boat after US. Afoat we can do moth
ing, ashore we may find some conceal
ment and probably make some de
Tense"
1T is a bleak looking spot"
Indeed, not n curl of smoke any
where betrayed the presence OF man
kind. Had 1t not been for dcpres
sions In the walls of the cliff here anG
there which were filed with vegeta
ton, one might have supposed the Ia
land to be nothing but a desolate AM
arid rock. but this treasured me.
thought it strange that there was n
mountain or hill rising from beyon
the top of the wall. but I was yet t
see how strange the island was.
But as Il was full morning now
decided that first of all the creatur
comforts had to be thought Of offei
ed to relinquish the tiller and prepar
something to eat. but Mistress LUG
took that upon herself. What we ha,
was cold, but there was plenty OF Il
and at my urging she ate heartily
For myself / needed no stimulus bu
my raging hunger. | wanted her b
be in fettle for whatever might haI
pen.
We had not much conversation tn
while. but ] do remember that she di
say she had rather be here alone wit
me than on the ship. whereat m
heart pounded. bet had sense enoug
TO say nsthing. Her loneliness an
heiplessness appealed to me. I Nigh
; have been bold under other circun
stances, but not now.
Well. We coasted along that barrie
reef good part Of the morning unit
. we reached the other end Of the ISLAM
and discovered to our dismay tina
there was absolutely no opening. d
break IN il through which We coul