American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-10-21

superb In his physical vigor.
The cliffs on the north shore Of the
cove we're considerably higher than
on the other side. The wreck lay
close in, driven high upon the mar
row shelf of rocks and sand at the
base of the sheer ascent. Sand had
heaped up around her hull and flung
itself across her deck like a white
winding-sheet. Surprisingly, the yes
sci was a very small one, a little
sloop, indeed, much like the fragile
pleasure-boats that cluster under the
Sausalito shore at home. The single
mast had been broken off short, and
the stump Of the bowsprit was visi-
BILE, like a finger reckoning for rescue
from the crawling sand.
Poor. forlorn little boatI" / said.
what In the world do you suppose
brought such a mite of a thing TO this
unheard-of spot7"
Perhaps she belonged to the copra
chap. One man could handle her,
what would he want with her? A
small boat like this Is better for fish,
ing and rowing about the cove"
perhaps she brought him here from
Panama, though he couldn't have
counted on taking back a very bulky
cargo"
"Then why leave her strewn about
on the rocks? And besides"-here the
puzzle of Crusoe required to me and
seemed to link itself. with this-"then
how did he get away himselff'
We rowed in close under the port
bow Of the sloop, and on the rail- I
made out a string of faded letters, I
began excitedly to spell them out.
"I-s-l-oh, Island Queenl You
see she did belong here. Probably she
brought the original porcine Adam
and Eve to the island"
Luckily forgot the snake, though I'
remarked the Honorable BERTHE with
u~nlooked-fOr %piyacity. For so far Aunt
James trembling apticipations had
been unfulflled by the sight Of a sim
gle snake, a fact laid by me to the
credit Of St Patrick and by Cookie 70
that Of the pigs.
Snakes d jes' be oysters on de half
shell to dem pigs" declared Cookie.
AS we rowed away from the melan-
chOly little derelict 1 saw that near
by a narrow gully gave access to the
~" Of the ellff, and I resolved that
| would avail myself of this path to
visit the island Queen again. Nc nine
continued to dwell Upon the unknown
figure OF the copra gatherer. Perhaps
the loss Of his sloop had condemned
him 20 weary months Or years of soli-
tide upon the island, before the rare
glimmer Of a sail or the trail OF a
steamers smoke upon the horizon
~gladdened his longing eyes.
Suddenly turned to Cuthbert Vane.
How do you know, really, that he
ever did leave the lsland?" I demand
ed.
"Who-the copra chap7 Well, why
else was the cabin cleared u so care
fully-no clothes left about or any.
thingf"
That's true" l acknowledged. The
last occupant of the hut had evident
ly made a very deliberate and order
ly business of packing up to go.
We drifted about the cove for q
while, Their steered into the dim muir
muring shadow of the asure-cav
Mr.. Vane indicated the point at which
they had arrived In their exploration
among the assures opening from the
ledge.
The place held me with its fascina-
ton, but we dared not linger long, for
as the tide turned one man would have
much ado to manage the boat. SO we
slid through the archway into the
bright sunshine Of the cove, and
headed for the camp.
AS we neared the beach we saw 9
figure pacing 1t. II vas Dugald Shaw
And quite unexpectedly my heart be
gan to beat with staccato %quickness
Dugald Shaw. who didn't like me and
who never looked at me-except just
sometimes, when he was perfectly sure
! didn't know it-there he was, wait
ing for us, and splashing into thu
foam to help Cuthhert beach the boa
he for whom a thousand years age
the skalds would have made a saga
The b. Y. hailed him cheerful,
ms we sprang out upon the sand. Blu
the %Sc0tchman was unsmiling.
Make haste after your tools. lad
he ordered. wen have fine work nov
TO get inside the ave before the turn
Those were his words; his tone ant
his grim look meant, $50 In spite o
al my care you are being beguiled b!
n minN-"
II was his tone that | answered.
oh. don't scoid Mr. Vane." ] i'm
>plored. Every paradise has its ser
pent. and as there are no others her
| suppose | am II. OF curse all lad,
sernents who know their business hav
red hair. Don't blame Mr.. Vane 70
what was naturally all my fault"
Not a line OF his face changed. In
deed. before my most vicious stab
II never did change.
ITO be sure IL seems unreasonable