Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-20

forced to own up that the island, dis
covered to the day, was not Ltd,
Wood cay. No humiliation goes deep
er with sailing man than having t
nsk his way. Besides, who was there
to ask In that sOlitudeY Doubtless 9
cornornnt flying overhead knew It
but no one thought to ask him.
However, We were i'm luck, for nftel
sailing about II bit, we came upon two
lonely negroes standing up In theii
boats and thrustingI long poles into the
water. They were sponging
melancholy OF occuprtions--and they
looked forlorn enough In the still
dawn But they had smile for our
plight. II was evidently good joke
10 have mistaken Sapodilla cay for
Little Wood cay. OF course we should
have gone--"so." And 80" we pres
emily went, not without rewnrding
them for their information with two
generous drinks of old Jamaica rum.
One of our reasons for seeking Lit.
tie Wood cay. which 1t proved had
been close all the time, was that 1t is
one of the few Gays where one can get
fresh water. Good water here" says
the chart. We wanted to refill some
Of our Jars. and so we landed there.
glad to stretch our legs. while old Tom
cooked our breakfast on the beach, I'M
der sapodilla tree.
Now that we knew where we were,
it was clear. but by no means careless
sailing to our camp. We were making
for what Is known as the Wide Open
ing, q sort of estuary into which a
listless stream or two crawl. through
mangrove bushes from the interior
swamps.
Here, q short distance from the
bank, on some slightly ascending
rocky ground, under the spreading
shade of something like stretch of
woodland. Charlie, several years ago,
had built a rough log shanty for his
camp--one of two or three camps he
had thus scattered for himself up and
down the .'out islands," where nearly
all the land is no mans, and so every
mans land. The particular camp at
which we now arrived he had not Wis
tied for long time.
Here Tom brought us our dinner
and the dark began to settle down
upon US, thrillingly lonely. and full of
strange, desOIate cries of night crea-
lures from the mangrove swanpS that
surrounded our little oasis for miles
Sailor lay ut our feet, dreaming of to-
morrow's duck. His masters thoughts
We're evident! in the same direction.
How are You with gum he
asked, turning 10 the boy.
"Oh, won't brag. had better wait
til tomorrow. Bat, of course, you will
have to lend me gun"
81 have beauty for you-iust your
weight" replied Charlie. his face
beaming as It did only at the thought
Of his guns, which he kept polished
like jewels and guarded as jealousy
ms violinlst his violin, or an Arab his
harem.
Dawn was just breaking as ] felt
Charles great paw on my shoulder
next morning. He was very serious.
For q moment. as ! sat MP, still half
asleep, thought he had news Of To-
bias. But it was only duck.
was scarcely dressed when, Tom
arrived with breakfast, and in q few
minutes we had shouldered our guns
and were crossing the half mile
peaty waste that divided US from the
mari lakes Ahead of US. the crew
were carrying the skiffs on their Shout
ders. and very soon we were each
seated in regulation fashion on can.
vas chair in front of our respective
skinIs. With our guns across our knees
and negro behind us TO do the pol
Ing.
Charlie went ahead. with Sailor
standing in the bow quivering with ex-
icltement. The necessity Of absolute
silence, Of course. had been impressed
upon US all by the most severe of all
sportsmen. Tom (who was polling mel
and / understood that our job, and
also that of my companion, was to
steal behind one mangrove copse after
another till we had got on the other
side of a quackiDg flock of teal
which might then be expected to take
flight In Charles direction and rush
by him in a terrified whirlwind. This
not very easy feat Of stalking we were
able to accomplish, thereby winning
Charles immense approval and put
ting him in splendid temper for the
rest Of the day; for, as the wild cloud
swept over him, he was able to bring
down no less than seven. Like true
sportsman, in telling the story after
ward in John Saunders snuggery. he
averred that the number was ninel
The days that now followed for a
week might be said to be accurate
copies Of that first day. But they were
none the less delightful for that-for
there Is a sameness that il far indeed
from monotony-though will confess
that, for my own tastes, toward the
weekend the carnage Of duck began
to partake little Of that latter quail
ity. Still, Charlie and Sailor were so
happy that ! wouldn't have let them
suspect that for the world.
Besides, had my wonderful young
friend, to whom I grew daily more at
tached. found myself feeling drawn
to him az can imagine young IA
Their is drawn to young son! and
sometimes I seemed to see In his eyes
the suggestion of confidence he was
ON the edge Of making me--a whim-