The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-10-07

| suppose | must have thrashed
about somewhat when | brought the
dingy To the wind and changed 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 ut the land toward which we
were edging i'll 50 far as the wind
would allow. 1t WAS d bleak. inhos-
pita bic booking 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.
We must get ashore said |, las
soon as possible. BY the time thejt
debauch will have worn off they will
either bring the ship here or send the
boat after us. Atioat We can do moth
ing. ashore we may find some conceal
ment and probably make some de
Tense.
1T is IL bleak looking spot.
Indeed. not ii 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 were filed with vegeta
ton. one might have supposed the is
land to he nothing but deSOlate and
arid rock. but this treasured me. |
thought it strange that there was no
mountain or hill rising from beyond
the top of the wall, but | was yet to
see how strange the island WIS.
But as it WAS full morning now |
decided that first of all the creature
comforts had to be thought of. | offer
ed to reIinQuiSh the tiller and prepare
something t. eat. but Mistress Lucy
took that upon herself. What We had
was cold. bat there was plenty of it,
and at my urging she ate heartily
For myself | needed no stimulus but
my ragin" hunger. wanted her 70
be in fettle for Whatever might hap
pen.
We had not much conversation the
while. but | do remember that she die
say she had rather be here alone Will
me than on the ship. whereat my
to say nothing Her loneliness an(
helpIessuess appealed to me. nigh
have been bold under other circum
stances. but not now.
Well we coaSted along that barrie
reef Il good part of the morning unit
we reached the other end Of the i>laut
and discovered to our di>lnay tina
there WAS absolutely no opening. ~
break in it through which We coul,
make our way. When we reached tn
lower end my lady was for Saiin;
around OH the other side. but this di'
not dare We had heard nothing frOu
the ship or her boats. and | didn't pro
pose To arouse any pursuit by comm
within possible range Of her glasses
did not know where the Rose of De
Won lay.
Madam said | ut last there
naught for us but to try to go over tn
reef in some fashion. AS examine
the island Yesterday through III
glasses | couldn't see any opening /
the reef ON that side. and. although
never saw ar heard of Il case like III
before | make no doubt but what Il
reef is continuous and there Is nn a.
cess To the island except over il. An
come to think Of it. S'r Philips cha
showed no opening either
Il recall that the reef completely e.
circles the. island i'm the map. Assem-
ed my lady.
Then We must even pass over it ;
we can. | have had some experien'
in taking Il boat through the surf. an
although il Is Il prodiGious risk. | b
lieve i can take this one over. | THU
we shall win through if you will 5
perfectly quiet and trust to me-
Il will do whatever you tell NE
she said with most becoming and u
usual maekneSS. Il think know
trust You entirely. Master Hampton.
Very WE'LL. said | quietly. and ms
God help us
Fortunately the tide was making
ward the shore of the island Sele
ed a spot where the huge. rolling way
seemed 10 break more smoothly tn
elsewhere. which argued great
depth of water over the barrier. IL
roughneSS ana fewer poSSlDiillieS
being wrecked on the Jagged points
the coral reef. DOuSing the sail. l
shipping the tiller and rudder and pt
ing the oars with all my strength af
an unuttered prayer | shot the boat
rectly toward the spot ! had chOs
Just before | reached il | threw
oars inboard. seized one of them. VIII
wished TO use as a steering oar, a
stepped aft past my lady. who SAT
little forward and well down in
bottom Of the boat. braced myself