The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-12
CHAPTER III.
Moonlight and Mist,

amazing rapidity.
Not being in any particular
haste, we steamed leisurely down
the Gulf Stream. We combed the
Virgins and the Lesser Antilles
thoroughly. Not an island but
was inspected, and proved accord
ing to the map. Old Captain Dor
valid knew them every one.
However, by the time we had
reached st. Thomas and Charlotte
Amelia, with it's fragrant breezes,
Brinsmade was ready to go ashore
and escape from the yacht for a
period; and from then, until our
great adventure, we not only veri-
fled the chart, but did the old
tourist as we'll.
1t was a beautiful night-beau-
tiful only as such night can be in
the tropics. We had finished din
ner and were sitting on deck.
Presently a white haze began to
rise family on the starboard bow;
gradually growing more distinct.
until we could see plainly that 1t
was for of some considerable ex-
tent.
Hello! what's that" said
Brinsmade.
Maybe it is the Elusive Is
Iand!" Mrs. Leighton laughed.
Maybe 1t is" Brinsmade re-
sponded, and raised his head to
his orderly.
MY compliments to Captain
Dorwald, and ask him to step
here" he said.
The captain came and saluted.
What do you make of the fog
yonder?" Brinsmade asked.
II don't know what to make OF
it, SIR" Dorwald replied. There
is nothing in the atmosphere to
produce fog. 1t is unusually clear
tonight, even for the Caribbean
"Is it fog, or is it a mirage"
Rosalind asked.
ITS a fog, Miss Brinsmade."
Lets have closer look at
it," said Brinsmade.
AYE, aye, sir" the captain re-
sponded.
The yacht slowed down until it
was simply making hecdway. We
were in the fog now and a more
impenetrable mass l have never
beheld. 1t was chilly and l no.
ticed Rosalind draw her light
wrap around her bare shoulders.
Il think this is absurd, Fred,
said she. please put about aid
let's get out Of this awful thing"
'In a minute, Rosalind, dear"
he answered.
A sailor doomed out of the fog
and saluted.
Captain Dorwald's compli-
ments, sir, and he would you come
on the bridge"
Come along, Dick" said Brins-
made.
I'VE all will come along" Rosa
lind exclaimed. Justine and l
aren't going to stay here alone
We grouped our way amidships
and up to the bridge.
81 can explain this fog now,
SIR" said Dorwald. There is an
icy current here, and the warm
winds of the tropics, blowing over
it, produce the fog"
81 see," said Brinsmade. 1T is
just such fog as we had in New
York harbor last January, when
even the ferries were out of bust
ness"
Precisely, sir--and that was
by day"
How far have we Gomez" said
'In this fog, sir?-possibly half
a mile.
Then, sharply as it had begun,
the fog ended-and we floated out
into the quiet moonlight and al
placid sea.
And there, full in view before
us, rising at least $50 feet above
the waves, was a rocky island
unchartered, and solitary behind
its veil of mist.
The Buccaneer steamed slowly
along, keeping the fog line
which was about 100 yards from
the coast-just on the starboard
quarter. The island was some
thing over a mile in length on our
side, then it bent abruptly at right
angles. When we rounded the
turn, we saw no evidence of
sullen rocky heights
still continued.
After about two miles, the is
land ended, the ship swung to
port, the fog also, the rocky
heights also. Another mile of the
same smooth water, the same
rocky heights, the same fog, and
we turned the third corner and
bore away on the last leg.
! speak of corners, but 1t will
be understood what / mean-they
were corners only in the sense of
a change of direction. The island
was, in effect, a rounded parallel
ogram, two miles long and one
mile wide, completely encircled by
a bank of fog and an icy ocean
current half a mile in width.
This is positively the most re-
Polling coast line / have ever
SEEM" Brinsmade remarked, as
We neared the end of the circle.
Nothing but an aeroplane can
land on that island"
Hold on a moment, Fred ex-