The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-25

l
Of the island and could run down the
other side. BY the time it was fairly
dawn | had made enough southing to
place the north end Of the island be-
tween ourselves and the ship. l steer
ed the boat toward the land.
My hopes were high and felt kind
of exhilaration at our escape, although
was by no means inclined to mimi
mize the possibilities of peril we might
soon be compelled to meet The island
was our destination, however, and for
1t therefore | determinedly headed my
small craft with its precious and still
peacefully sleeping cargo.
The island was unlike any l had ever
looked upon. In the first place. like
most Pacific islands, it was inclosed
by barrier reef, over which the
waves broke in whitecaps as far as !
could see. supposed that somewhere
there would be an opening in the reef
through which we could sail. That
was invariably the case with all such
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 looked
like whitish gray wall rising straight
up from the lagoon for. l 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 l couldn't see the end
Of the island. although from my inspec-
ton Of it the day before judged it
might be six or eight miles long. and
as had sailed past it estimated it
was about the same breadth and near
ly circular in shape.
! A 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 thrashsa
)bout somewhat when / brought the
)ingy to the wind and changed her
lourse for presently my little mistress
woke She sat up instantly. and after
lie biefest acknowledgment Of my
,ood morning and the briefest reply
10 my inquiry as to how she did she
Itared at the land toward which we
were edging in so far as the wind
would allow. 1t was bleak, inhos-
Vital bic looking place, that gray, rough
lall. In spite Of its infrequent crust
)4y Of verdure, will admit, and she,
! 70. found it so. After she had stared
Lard at the land she cast an anxious
Elance to leeward, but, Of course, could
Elake nothing of the distant islands
there.
We must get ashore" said |, "as
soon as possible By the time their
lebauch will have worn of they will
either bring the ship here or send the
boat after US. Afloat we can do moth
Ing. ashore we may find some conceal
ment and probably make some de-
Tense
1T is bleak looking spot"
Indeed, not a curl Of smoke any
where betrayed the presence Of man
kind Had it not been for depres-
Bions in the walls Of the cliff here and
there which were filled with vegeta-
ton, one might have supposed the is
land to be nothing but desolate and
arid rock, but this treasured me. l
thought it strange that there was no
mountain or hill rising from beyond
the top Of the wall. but was yet to
zee how strange the island was.
But as it was full morning now l
decided that first of all the creature
comforts had to be thought Of. ! Offer
ed to relinquish the tller and prepare
something to eat. but Mistress Lucy
took that upon herself. What We had
was cold, but there was plenty of 1t,
and at my urging she ate heartily.
For myself needed no stimulus but
my raging hunger. l 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. l might
have been bold under other circum-
stances. but not now.
Well. we coasted along that barrier
reef good part Of the morning until
we reached the other end of the island
md 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.
l 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 I examined
the island yesterday through the
glasses I cOuldn't see any opening In