The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-06-30

The Hynd Horn ran nearer ana
nearer to the island, and the cap
tain. who was forward. glass at oye.
suddenly lurched like a drunken
man He made a new focus and
looked again.
MY Godr he cried,-"palms.
Mr.. England was at his elbow.
THE tropics!' said he sweetly.
This is the devil. Mr.. England"
said the captain.
IT begin to think 1t u.s." said Mr..
England. Sir, the loan of your
glass"
Mr.. England looked long. and
eagerly, and his heart leaped and
bounded, but he kept countenance.
Sir" said he, these waters are
familiar to me, ana we are in inn
| minent danger of our lives; we are
| in the midst of shoals and reefs
| -"
Condemn that sextantw cried
the captain.
Sir" said Mr.. England, II beg
| you to let me take the wheel be-
fore all is lost"
I'VE will turn back" said the
| captain He was dazed at finding
his ship SO far to the southwark.
| st were foolhardy to turn back"
| said Mr.. England. I'VE have no
\ sextant, and the compass has prov
| ed as tickle as woman. / beg you,
sir, let me take the wheel There
| is not a moment to lose. We can
| talk as-as we save our lives"
| The two gentlemen hurried aft,
| and Mr.. England snatched the
| wheel from the helmsman's hand.
And now, sir, what do you In
tend? asked the captain.
| THAT island" said Mr.. England,
'1s a great putting-in place for
ships short of water and supplies
1t is inhabited by gentle race Of
of islanders, who will treat us with
courtesy"
Mr.. England, when the captain
had gone forward, patted the wheel
and smiled: "Oh, the simplicity of
steering through imaginary shoals
and reefs!"
Presently the captain cast the
lead.
Mr.. England" he cried, there is
no bottom"
Thank God!" Mr.. England called
back. "Then we are in the chan
mel"
The Hynd Horn was now skirt
ing the shore of the island within
three cable lengths. Lady Pelham
was standing close to Mr.. England.
TT is a sweet place." said she.
"Sweeter than you know, lady,
said he. do you notice anything
particular about the scene?"
MIR. England" cried the lady, in
excitement, ut is MOTT cannot be
] YOUR island?"
IN the midst of doubt" said Mr..
:. England, 1--WE must turn to the
poets"
He raised his shapely head proud
ly and turned his eyes on the lady,
Princess" he said,
81 am monarch of NIL I survey,
MY right there In none to dispute
From the center nn round to the
nm lord OF the fowl and the
|
"You terrify me-" said Lady Pei
ham, when you look like that"
"Oh, my lady" cried Mr.. Eng
land. my good. my blessed ang FL
how can terrify your"
II have given you my trust
said Lady Pelham. 'and I will not
fear you any more"
Nature had done much to concea,
the narrow mouth of the tortuous
harbor into which Mr.. England
steered the Hynd Horn. Islands
: were so placed that the channel, in
any direction, was blocked by some
of them; and so close were they tc
one another and the main land that
to even a near glance they gave the
appearance Of being one unbroker
shore.
A quiet came over the Hynd Horn
and only those men who were pre-.
pairing the anchor spoke at all. Mr.
England, his lips pressed tightly to-
gether to keep back any show OF
triumph, turned the wheel with del.
icate movements of his white hands
Lady Pelham stood close beside him
She was very pale.
For a long time that ribbon OF
still water continued between its
twin vegetable hedges, and Their
came a turn, beyond which every
thing spread. The channel opened
into a great placid fan. dotted
thickIy with wild fowl. The shore
ahead rose to the dignity of hill
and discovered among its waving
palms a well-ordered village OF
deeply thatched cottages. But no
atom of humanity was stirring, aud
that land-locked, fan-shaped basin
had been as peaceful as paradise,
save for the intrusion on its shining
surface of an ominonsly powerful
ship. painted as black as the pit.
Lady Pelham, poor dove, stood
close to the snake and trembIod.
Mr.. England" said the captain
In deep voice, what place is
this?"
"a harbor,r said Mr.. England.
sweetly.
| sir" said the captain, Il would
feel safer on the high seas without
rudder or compass than In such a
harbor."
| Mr.. England stepped back from
the wheel releasing the spokes.
/ You are too late. captain" he
said jauntily. .The channel up
which we have come is now divided
lby an invisible chain of iron, re-
treat Is cut OFF, and furthermore
futhermore. we--are--aground"
1t was true. The Hynd Horn.
either from being left to her own
guidance. or from some last subtle