Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1913-11-21

there.
I'VE must get ashore" said |, "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 u.s. Afoat we can do moth .
ing, ashore we may find some conceal
ment and probably make some de-
fense.''
1T is a bleak looking spot
Indeed. not curl of smoke any
where betrayed the presence of man
kind. Had it not been for depres-
sions in the walls Of the cliff here and
there which We're filed with vegeta-
ton. one might have supposed the is
land to be nothing hut Il desolate and
arid rock. but this reasSured me l
thought it strange that there was no |
mountain or hill rising from beyond !
the top of the wall. bat | was vet 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 til.er 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
help!essness appealed to me. might
have been bold under other circum-
stances. but not now.
Wen. 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
q the island yesterday through the
7 glasses l couldn't see any opening in
the reef on that SIDE and. although l
I never saw or heard of case like this
e before, l make no doubt but what the
a reef is continuous and there is no &C
cess to the island except over, it. And
e come to think of it. Sir Philips char,
S showed no opening either
Il recall that the reef completely en-
e circles the island in the map" assent
l. ed my lady.
d Then we must even pass over it as
e we can. l have had some experience
Y in taking boat through the surf. and
@ although it is .prodigious risk. I be
= lieve | can take this one over. | think
r. we shall win through if you will ST
perfectly quiet and trust to me-
d II will do whatever you tell me.
n she said with a most becoming and I'm
j. usual meekneSS. 81 Think know
# trust you entirely. Master Hampdon.''
ID Very WELL" said quietly. land ma,
~ God help us!'
" Fortunately the tide was making tc
IN ward the shore of the island. | select
ed a spot where the huge, rolling wave
~ seemed to break more smoothly tina
20 elsewhere. which argued a create
"A depth Of water over the barrier, les
20 roughness and fewer possibilities @
being wrecked on the jagged points q
ro the coral reef Dousing the sail, III
of shipping the tiller and rudder and pull
at ing the oars with all my strength afte
n an unuttered prayer l shot the boat
id rectly toward the spot l had chosel
~ Just before l reached it l threw th
n oars inbOard. seized one of them, whic
no | wished to use as steering oar, an
stepped aft past my lady. who sat
10 little forward and we'll down in tt
cd bottom of the boat. braced myself j
hit the stern sheets and waited. We wei
I'M racing toward that reef with dizz
ct speed. rising with the uplift up tt
as wave. I had just time for one word
m IF we de- l shouted. ''rememb'
m that l have been your true servant a
nd ways"
&C. She nodded her head. her eyes gil
it tening, and then l lost sight of her
nd huge roller overlook u.s. The little boz
it rose and rose and rose with a gidd
ar furious motion. Suddenly it began
turn. If it went broadside to the re
nd
,m it we should be lost, but had foreset
,at the danger. l threw out my oar al
on with every pound of strength in arr