Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-25

where 10 would DO the InOSb SooN
most harm, as you prefer. NO one
saw him-nO one knew.
But on his return, turning cor
ner, he ran full tilt into Ensign Neal
Hardin himself. Neal sprang upon
the mufied figure and tore the en-
veIoping cloak from Hernandez
grasp.
"You!'' cried Neal. leaping for
Hernandez. i've got you now.
They struggled like tigers. but
Neal took no chances. This was no
test bout. He wanted TO make sure
of his man. He called for help. Help
came. A dozen men pounced upon
Hernandez. He fought with admira-
BILE strength and coolness-and they
pinned him down and bound him.
When he was safely chained, Neal
rose TO his feet.
Annette and Mrs. Hardin were be-
hind. looking on.
We've got him." said Neal, brief
IN. He gave an order. Search the
ship" he said.
The ship was searched, and within
the next quarter of an hour Inez and
the Brute, each in the clutch OF many
powerful men, came into view on
deck.
Lock the woman in a cabin"
commanded Neal. land keep guard
upon her day and night. Place this
big man in irons-then take him
and the others to the lazarette."
The Brute in turn was ironed. An
nette exclaimed piteously as she wit
messed the operation. Finally they
set the Brute upon his feet and
prOdded him from behind. Whimper-
ing, holding out his manacled hands,
he came toward Annette, mumbling
ever mumbling.
Not him, Neal" cried Annette.
Remember that he's saved my life
and yours"
Can we take a chance?" queried
Neal.
I'm sure" she answered.
KNOCK off his irons" said Neal,
"but keep the others on"
"Confound it, Hernandez kept say
ing to himself, "luck's against me- I'd
have landed these people on another
unknown isle-Td have corralled the
ship-Td have marooned them and sail
ed Off could have done it-but now
I'm liable to be marooned myself. But
no-no," he cried vehemently, they
cannot beat me. I've been in tighter
holes-they have not beat me yet"
All night he lay, chained heavily. SOL
itary, in the lazarette, working out his
own salvation-nOt eternal, but mate
rial And he always came to one con-
clusion-''TH beat them yet"
All night the pilot puzzled his head
over his compass. IT could have sworn"
ne told himself. that our course was
wrong-but no." he added, consulting
mis- compass for the hundredth time,
we're headed for Lost Isle"
As dawn broke, in the crows nest
aIoft, the lookout shaded his eyes with
shaded his mouth.
Land ho-' he cried, Land ho.''
Neal heard him and hurried to the
pilots side. Cant be Lost Isle" he
exclaimed.
Must be-" said the pilot, we're
headed straight for her-straight as the
crow flies. sir. But 1 cn't understand
Il, either-blest if +"
The sentence was unfinished. With
terrific shock the vessel crashed into
an unseen reef-an unknown reef, for
they had ventured into uncharted seas
The shock was tremendous. 1t threw
Annette from her upper berth-it threw
even the sprawling, weighted Herman
dee across the floor of the lazarette.
Neal understood the danger. The
shock was too terrific to be ignored. 1t
meant a wreck-it would be a matter
OF minutes only before she filled.
Man the boats" he cried, "order all
on deck Make haste"
He rushed i'm person to Annette's
door and threw it open. In person he
lifted Annette and her mother into
the first boat. Inez also was included.
IL was lowered safely. Neal turned to
his crew. Get the lazarette prisoner"
he commanded. drag him into this boat
here. Be about it now
Hernandez. in a frenzy of fear. had
been beatins with his chains upon the
barred door of the lazarette They
dragged him forth. his face working
with fear and rage, and bundled him
into the second boat--the Brute leap
ed in behind. Half day down the side
something happened-the gear broke.
The boat dropped-its one end still
held to the tackle-and plunged its hu-
man burden into the sea beneath
Hernandez, heavy with his irons,
chung TO the Brute. The Brute was
still paragon of strength. With both
Hernandez hands upon his brawny
shoulders-with the dragging weight of
AANAAAaAA0G- AAoAS upon Ulflls ne swan.
with even, steady strokes, toward the
shore-swam for an hour, tirelessly,
like some huge dog.
Suddenly his feet touched sand
Neal and Annette stood upon a strip
of beach, staring all about them. This"
said Annette, must be Lost Isle-and
the admiral was right is deserted.
Unless we find a Robinson Crusoe here
-possibly-my father"
Neal shook his head. I'm not sure
it's Lost Isle" he commented, land
I'm not sure it's deserted. See thai
turn in the short line-let's round the
corner and have better look"
Around the corner, some three-qar-
ters OF a mile away, a group of naked
natives clustered greedily about a FIRE.
Above the fire somethlng-horribly
gruesome-turned and turned upon a
slowly-revolving spit. Scattered about
upon the ground, were human skulls
One of the natives held up his arms.
uttering cultural sounds and pointed
off the shore. The whole crowd broke
into a run-reached the shore and wait
ed.
Two men staggered from the water to-
ward the beach.
The group of natives set up a yell
Of triumph here, then, were two
more human skulls--two more gruesome
forms to be turned upon a spit over a
hot fire. Yes. Mariners were quite
right These were indeed, uncharted
cnaS- ETnruaudaZ and the Rrute were