Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-04
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SINISTER ISLAND
BY .
PCHARtES WADSWORTH CAMP 4
Copyright :,
nodd, Mead & Company !
CHAPTER II
CAPTAINS Inlet.

Captains Inlet.
The Darl ercpt on through lhe
Snake. twisting and turning in tae
narrow channel between The marshe 5
Miller contrary TO his usual custom
)emainCd forward with Tony. his eve
fixed on The sombre island. which
little b, little they approached.
The sun had sci quickly bur It's
flames still smouldered in HE west
Aside from the island. caught IN the
'eart OF this baibaric after2 low. noth
,ng served 10 dlaw the eye except an
occasional melancholy ciump OF Span
'sh bayonels or palmettos The only
signs OF life came from the jewellers
Of The marsh--the Tapping Of a heron
disturbed by their passing, OF The fa
away. mourntul cries or unseen birds
Miller regretted The lhicEevine du5,;.
Nj al once the agents gossip had he.
come comprehensive Yet he did net
speak TO Tony To have done 50
would have assumed an undesirable
quality of sympathy, oil confession. He
forced himself against his inclination
10 return 10 his steamer clKil on the
upper deck. As he climbed the lad
der he saw the native send a startled
glance after him.
At last The boat took a sweepinc
curve to the east. The Snake widentd
and Strengthened. disclosing an unob
struct, | visi past he northern eud
of tho islam 10 ssld dunes. piled
again. tho loomy asho Of tie sun
set.
A swifter current caught thcm. Il
appeared to hurry the Dart. resisting.
into tie jaws Of the inlet.
Miller started up. Tony was stlair.
ms al the wheel. He seemed TO be Try.
ing 10 turn the boat over by The
marshes opposite the island, but The
current was 100 str0ns for him, or 10
engines 100 inefficient In spite OF all
he could do the Darl kept near the
land Leaning against the rail- Miller
watched the struggle and its issue
with feeling OF helplessness. Al
most before he knew it they were
drawn very nearso near that even
IN this rapidly waning light, The dark
mass defined itself a little Tor him.
He saw that the bank 1t he end
was higher han he had anticipated.
This appearance of height was in
creased by 4 heavy growth OF cedars,
whose tops had been beaten by HE
prevailing wind from the dunes and
The sea into an unbroken upward
slope. Beneath this soft, thick. ard
green roof the ancient TRUNKS Wrilhed
and twisted like forest setting Tor
some grim. Scandinavian folk la,.
Behind the cedars palme.tos thrust
their tuIted tops in nsolent contrast
and here and there one OF those glib
let like pines lifted itself. denifed.
Isolated suggestive.
That first close inspection made Mil.
II =.
offering with confident promise shell.
ter for things lha would hide. for
chines that should be hidden /, car
lied TO him. moreover, y definite men.
ace for the dislurber of tina. 10 which
the island had opened its refuge To
land To penetrate this Jungle. would
call for more than physical courage;
would, IN short, demand 4 moral ESQ
lnIIOn which without warning ne
iound himself wondarinS II he possess
ed
Suddenly the line was broken. An
opening nearly hundred yards wide
had been torn through the deDse mas,
4 small pier stretched fropi II 10 the
channel, and from the SHIRT the clear.
ing sloped gently upward 10 Il colon.
ial dwelling. The building was indIs.
l.ncl in this fading light. hui Miller
inew il fee fhe plantation house where
NoyeY had lived and ruled before tn (,
war;
ltlwas painted white. The 1an nnr.
tioI1 was Two stories high with slDp.
Ine Iaitic roof from the center Of which
u fquate cupola arose. High. slender
coDumns supported the roof of wide
'frandah. Wings OF one story curved
II The ends. stretched from either side.
r That houses absorb and retain PEI,
sonaliiy iss scarcely debalable Tn.
passing OF these eighty yeafs--ihc az.
,ivifies and rumoured cfueliies ef The
l EARLIER ones. tile silence and deseriion
Of The later had given to this house
IN air ut weary sorrow which readied
MILLER almost palpably. A single listt
n the left hand wing. yellow, CLIMBER