The St. Johns herald., 1922-02-23
CHAPTER ".
The Isle of Fortune.

1 great gleam1ng OrO or the CrOp1C moon was blinding as the sun. Away to the faint translucent line of the horizon rolled an infinity of shining sea. Straight ahead rose a dark conicaI mass. It was the mountainous shape of Leeward island.
 Everybody was cranlng to get a clearer view. Hail, isle of Fortune !" exclaimed Miss Browne. l think my aunt would not have been surprised if 1t had begun to rain doubloons upon the deck.
 q bet we don't put it over some on them original Argonaut fellers, Ley?" cried Mir. Tubbs.
 Higher and higher across the sky line cut the dark crest of the island as the freighter steamed valiantly ahead. Sheer and formidable from the sea rose line of black cliffs, and above them a single peak threw it's shadow far across the water. Faintly we made out the white line of the breakers fOaming at the foot of the cliffs.
 We coasted slowly along, looking for the mouth of the little bay. Mean while we had collected our belongings, and stood grouped about the deck, ready for the first thrilling plunge into adventure. My aunt and Miss Browne had tied huge green veils over their cork helmets, and were clump- | ing about in tremendous hobnailed boots. All the luggage I was allowed to take was in a travelling bag and a gunny-sack, obligingly donated by the cook Speaking of cooks, I found we had one of our own, cOal-black ne gro with grizzled wool. an unctuous voice and the manners of an old-schoOl family retainer. So far as know his name was Cookie. I suppose he had received another once from his spon- sors in baptism, but if so, it was bur jed in oblivion.
 Now a narrow "leaming gap ap- peared in the wall of cliffs, and the freighter whistled and lay to. There began a hustle at the davits, and shouts of Lower awayl" and for the first time it swept over me that we were to be put ashore in boats. Aunt Jane burst out in lamentation. She would not, could not go in a boat. She had heard all her life that small boats were most unsafe. Why didn't the captain sail right up to the island as she had expected and put us ashore? Even at Panama with only little way to go she had felt 1t suicidal -here it was not to be thought of.
 But the preparations for this des- perate step went on apace, and no one had hastened to succor beauty in dis tress.
 Then Aunt Jane clutched at Mr. Shaw's coat lapel as he went by, and he stopped long enough to explain pa- tiently that vessels of the freighter's size could not enter the bay, and that there really was no danger, and that Aunt Jane might wait if she liked till the last boat, as it would take several trips to transfer us and our baggage. supposed of course that this would include me, and stood leaning on the Iullf MdlOAlnS bnC Sl OOoI 1uOC tO Q dark speck on the water, when MT. Vane appeared at my elbow.
 Ready, Miss Harding? You are to go in the next boat with me. T asked especially"
 "Oh, thanksI" cried fervently. He would be much nicer than Mir. Tubbs to cling to as l went down-indeed, he was so tall that if 1t were at all shallow place 1 might use him as a stepping stone and survive. hoped drowning men didn't gurgle very much meanwhile Mir. Vane had disap- peared over the side, and sailor was lifting me and setting my reluctant feet on the strands of the ladder.
 "Good-by, auntie!" cried, as be- gan the descent. Don't blame your self too much. Everybody has got to go some time, you know, and they say drowning's easy"
 With a stified cry Aunt Jane for sock Mir. Tubbs and flew to the rail. was already out of reach.
 "Oh, Virginia !'' she walled. "Oh, l my dear childI If 1t should be the last partingI"
 "Give my jewelry and things to Bess' babyl" I found strength to call | back. Then the arms of the Honor able Mir. Vane received me. The | strong rowers bent their backs and | the boat shot out over the mile or two | of bright water between us and the island. Great slow swells lifted us. | We dipped with a soothing, cradle like motion. I forgot to be afraid. in | the delight of the warm wind that | famed our cheeks, of the moonbeams that on the crest of every ripple were spllntered to a thousand dancing