Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-12-08

oarsman. More than ever he locke
like the island god. Every day b
grew more brown and brawny, NOR
superb In his physical vIgor.
The cliffs on the north shore of tn
cove were considerably higher tina
on the other side. The wreck la
close in, driven high upon the nal
row shelf Of rocks and sand at tn
base Of the sheer ascent. Sand ha
heaped up around her hull and fun
itself across her deck like q whit
winding-sheet. Surprisingly, the yes
sci was a very small one, a llttl
sloOp, indeed, muNh like the fragil,
pleasure-boats that cluster under tn,
SausalitO shore at home. The singl,
mast had been broken OF short, ant
the stump of the bowsprit was visi
BILE, like a finger beckOning for rescue
from the crawling sand.
Poor forlOrn little boatl" I said
what In the world do you suppose
brought such mite Of thing to this
unheard-of Spot?"
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 very bulky
cargo"
"Then why leave her strewn about
on the rocks? And besides"-here the
puzzle of Crusoe recurfed to me and
seemed to link itself with thls-"then
how did he get away himSelfT"
We rowed in close under the port
bow of the sloop, and on the rail
made out string Of faded letters. /
began excitedly to spell them out.
'T-S-l-oh, Island Queen! You
see she did belong here. Probably she
brought the original porcine Adam
and Eve to the island"
Luckily forgot the snake, though! !"
remarked the Honorable Berthe with
unlOoked-for vivacity. For SO far Aunt
James trembling anticipations had
been hnfultilled by the sight OLA sin
gle snake, fact laid by me to the
credit of st. Patrick and by Cookie to
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 / saw that near
by narrow gully gave access to the
top of the cliff, and l resolved that
/ would avail myself of this path to
visit the Island Queen again. My mind
continued to dwell upon the unknown
figure Of the copra gatherer. Perhaps
the loss Of his sloOp had condemned |
him to weary months or years of soli- |
tude upon the island, before the rare
glimmer of 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 islandY" l demand
ed.
"Who-the copra chap? Well, why
else was the cabin cleared out so care
fully-no clothes left about or any
.hing?"
That's true" l acknowledged. The
asst occupant Of the hut had evident
Y made very deliberate and order
y business Of packing up to go.
We drifted about the cove for
While, then steered into the dim MUIR
nuring shadow of the treasure-cavern.
1r. Vane indicated the point at which
hey had arrived In their exploration
mong the assures opening from the
edge.
The place held me with its fascina-
ion, but we dared not linger long, for {
S the tide turned one man would have
ouch ado to manage the boat. SO we
lid through the archway into the |
right sunshine of the cove, and
eaded for the camp.
AS we neared the beach we saw a
CURE pacing 1t. 1t was Dugald Shaw.
md quite Unexpectedly my heart be-
an to beat with staccato quickneSs.
)ugald Shaw, who didn't like me and
Tho never looked at me-except just
ometimes, when he was perfectly sure
didn't know it-there he was, wait
1g for us, and splashing into the
pam to help Cuthbert beach the boat
he for whom a thousand years ago
ne skaldS would have made saga
The b. Y. hailed him cheerfully
S we sprang out upon the sand. But
he Scotchman was unsmiIing.
snake haste after your tools, lad"
e ordered. well have fine work now 7
} get inside the cave before the turn"
Those were his words; his tone and
Is grim look meant, $50 In spite of
1 my care you are being beguiled by
minx-"
1t was his tone that l answered.
"Oh, don't scold Mr.. Vane!" l i'm
ored. EVERY paradise has it's ser
mt, and as there are no others here
suppose am 1t. OF course all lady
rpents who know their business have
d hair. Don't blame Mr.. vane for
hat was naturally all my fault"
Not a line Of his face changed. In
ed. before my most vicious stabs
never did change.