The Washington herald., 1914-04-26
CHAPTER l.
THE ISLAND OF MONKEYS

IN the day that the "Dauphin" set sail from Mar
j settles there much muttering and furtive whis
~ pering amongst the sailors. Ii did lik
he rumbling that usually before mutiny, and
.esides, the well paid and well treated. NJ
better captain ever commanded ship held th
hearts of his men by stronger tie san did Captain
Barnaba Farandoul. As he walked the deck and be
of the peculiar actions the part of thu
sailors he was troubled and perplexed. Being wis,
man. he sought his wife, who always accompanied
him his trading voyages to see if she could hell
him fathom the mystery.
baby, he struck by strange look of uneasines:
and apprehension in her face
Have you noticed anything out of the way amongst
the s1os@ nsH SophieF he said
What is the trouble?"
"The omen" she said. "A black cat has been dscov-
cred in the hold. No one knows how it came there"
What heart for sailors wife!" he said
She was younger than he was, with dark, intense
eyes, and a face capable of herosm.
Again she looked down at her baby. 81 do not fear
for myself; it is for him"
"I am afraid. Yesterday l was walking along the
slope that leads to my sister Marias cottage when a
great hawk. sailing in the air above my head threw
his black shadow across my path just where about
to step"
cheer her. Yesterday, when was walking my way
10 the wharf, some lads near by blowing soap
bubbles, and beautiful hoated before my face In
saw reflected the sky and the clouds. waving trees,
glimpse of the sea- the CITY, minarets and towers. For
moment the small globe looked like the whole world.
Is not that good omen for the boy?"
Il do want him go in the world. I would
rather have him tend the olive trees in Italy"
"WhatF said her husband with gentle banter for
such sturdy seafarng man. grow up mollycodde? ?
was held down IN my youth, tied to my mothers apron
strings. Until grown, all l had ever done
was to kill mouse and spotted pig. My son shall
command bigger ship than this"
Besides, have you forgotten about his brth?
Her face frightened. "Ah yes that is true the caul"
Those who are learned pay little attention to this
curious phenomenon to the significance attached
it Science has explained it but then there are
many things in heaven and earth that science has
explained Every lowly mother knows (and. after all
the lowly the wise of the earth) that child which
is born with cau over its face is special child of
destiny, that is given powers beyond human belief
and that no harm can befall it.
Some weeks later the "Dauphin" had entered that
part of the Pacific Ocean known "Oceania, and
sailing due north from New Guinea. The fears of the
men had been a!layed and laughed away. The voyage
had been particularly prosperous one; the trade in
palm oIi and hemp had been brisk and Captain Faran
dous vessel engaged in carrying and exchanging
these products amongst the many small islands that dot
the ts rc:rt Some of these islands are clus-
tered closely together, and the rocky reefs between
them are SO t-eachercus to make it impossible for
large ship to enter, that the trade is left entirely
the smaller vessels. Indeed times ii difficult
steering for small vessel as the "Dauphin
About the middle of the afternoon of an unusually
not day. Tor they IN the region of the equator,
Captain Farandoul and his wife, Sophie, sitting
the deck together planning for the future of their boy
This last voyage he cld her had brought rich returns
and they had sucent TO take OF them in their
old age and to start the boy in life with better
chance than his father had ever had. An old fishing
N.
slight breeze sPrang up suddenly, soft at first
that 1t dimcu to tell what direction it from.
The captain wet his finger by putting it in his mouth,
then held up for moment until the cool feeling on
side of it indicated to him the direction from which
the wind rising.
Il did not think the wind would come from that
quarter" he said with slight feeling of uneasness,
for IN these regions seaman ignores the slightest
veering of the wind
He started Immediately for the front of the vessel to
take sweeping survey OF the sea, but he
reached Il TIE breeze grew stronger, and slight ripple
came the face of the waters that but
before had been as smooth as mirror Soon the wind
was blowing n saarp powerful G-sts, and the ripples
changed into szyy Tne vessel began pitch and
labor fearfuly, riding high the of
mountainous wave the next struggling pitifully in
the trough Of the
The captain with face that was calm though very
white, made his way about the decz directing the men
best could fo- CONSERVATION and fear upon
them and he had abandon ship discipline if he wished
control them all The sails quickly hauled in,
but there little cessation from the trghtfu pitching
of the boat.
Gut away the n.ainnast" came TIE cry from the
men who were working in the hold
The order did not from the captain, however,
and the men began to Ipore fl;r saying that II was
their only hope What he rad hoped was, that if
they struck the utrng rocks which they could
see straight ahead OF them there might : be ground
ing underneath, that TIE vessel might not entirely
sink and by climbing to the top OF the mast some of
them might be saved.
Suddenly there was q shock followed by a groaning
and strainng of the tbers and the brave little vessel
trenbed like a human being in great throe of
agony By this time the sea was mountains high, and
each broke after torrent of water
pouring down the deck.
Two or three faithful ones who had still remained
below came running with the tidngs that rock had
gored the side of the ship and the hold fast filling
with water
"To the pumps to the pumps for Gods saleeT cried
the captain hoarsely barely making his voice heard
above the awful clamor.
All hope abandoned, and each man, as is the
with mortals when earthly things fail turned his
heart to God and began to pray.
At the first lurch of the vessel Sophie whose mind
ever her precious boy had run hurredy to the
cabin where the child was sleeping. He almost
naked it her habit when the days were hot to
strip him of his garments that the fresh ozone
from the sea might give him strength.
As soon as the vessel struck against the rock the poor
distracted mother knew that her hour had come,
but with hope beyond hope, she resolved last