The Ordway new era., 1922-02-10

I me N24lL> OH l44E AOA IL >-tNt - -
| cove were 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 auns
| itself across her deck like a white
winding-sheer. Surprisingly. the yes
sci was a very small one, little
sloop. indeed. much like the fragile
pIeasure-boats that cluster under the
Sausalito shore at home. The single
mast had been broken of short. and
the stump of the bowsprit was visi-
/ Bile. like Il finger beckonins for rescue
[ from the crawling sand.
Poor forlorn little boat," / said.
What in the world do you suppose
brought such mite Of thing to this
unheard-ot spot:"
Perhaps she belonged 10 the copra
chap One man could handle her"
What would he want with her?
small boat like this is better for ish-
1 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 rockss And besides'-here the
puzzle OF Crusoe recurred 70 me and
seemed to link itself with this-"then
how did he get away himselff"
We roxed in close under the port
bow Of the sloop, and on the rail l
made out = string OF faded letters. !
began excitedly 10 spell them out.
'I-sl-oh. Island Queen. You
see she did belong here. Probably she
brought the original porcine Adam
and Eve 10 the island"
Luckily forgot the snake. though -
remarked the Honorable Berthe with
unlooked-for vivaciry. For so far Aunt
James trembling anticipations had
been unfulflled by the sight Of sin
Gle snake, a fact laid by me TO the
credit OF -. Patrick and by Cookie TO
that OF the pigs
Snakes u jes' be oysters on de half
shell TO dem pigs declared Cookie.
A. We rowed away from the melan-
ch1ly little dere!.ct I saw that near
by q narrow gully gave access 10 the
-a7 OF the ciiT. and I resolved that
/ would avail myself of this path 10
visit the Island Queen again. Ny mind
continued 70 dwell upon the unknown
figure Of the copra Eatherer. Perhaps
the loss % his Sloop had condemned
him 10 weary months Or years OF soli-
tude upon The Island, before the rare
zIImmer OF A sail or the trail Of
steamers smoke upon the horizon
gladdened his longing eyes.
suddenly I turned 10 Cuthbert Yane.
How do you know. really, that he
ever did leave the island:" I demand
81.
'.Who-the copra chap? Well, why
else was The cabin cleared out 50 care
fuliy-no clothes left about OF any
ihing:r
That's true I acknowledged The
last occupant. Of the hut had evident
Is made a very deliberate and order
" business Of packing up TO go.
We drifted about the cove for
while, then >teered into the dim mur-
muring shadow Of the treasure-cayern-
Mr. Yane indicated the point at which
they had srrived in their exploration
IL4biA- INK A->A-4ES tkFFAl.A, A-tA-4 TIT
ledge.
The place held me with its fascina-
rion. hut 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.
A we nsared the beach We saw q
figure pacing IL Il was Dugald Shaw
And quite unexpectedly my heart be-
gan to beat with staccato quickness-
Ducald Shaw. who didn't ike me and
who never looked at me-eIcepJ just
sometimes. when he was perfectly sure
didn't know ir-there he was. wait
ing for IL. and splashlng into the
foam 10 help Cuthbert beach the boat
lie for whom thousand years ago
the skalds would have made saga
The h y. hailed him cheerfuily
rs We >prans OUT upon the sand. But
the Seotchman WAS unsmiiing-
Make haste after your tools, lad
he ordered We'll have fine work now
TO yet inside the cave before the turn
Those were his words: his tone and
his grim look meant. so in spite Of
all my care you are being beguiled by
a minx-"
II was his tone that answered.
-Oh. don't scold Mr.. yane,' I i'm
plored- Every paradise has its ser
pent. and "a there are no others here
suppose l am II. OF course all lady
Serpsnts who know their business have
rod hair pOn-r blarue Mr. Vane for
what was naturally all my fault"
Not a line OF his face changed. In
deed. before my most vicious stabs
ii never did change.
TO be sure il seems unreasonable
10 blame the lad" he agreed soberly,
.shuf -be, he harnans To ha rudar my