The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-08-14

Ine shores rose as -abrunflv -s6d
seemed as unbroken, and signs Of hu.
man habitation were equally lacking.
further, though the El Rio lay OF the
snores all morning. no trace of life an
peared on the cliffs. Boats sent tn
!econnoiter reported several good land
ing places, but found nothing to show
tnat any Of them had been used.
Meanwhile, the impatience Of the
passengers. especially that of Mrs.
Archman, steadily mounted. The crew
seemed to catch the infection of the
excitement. The whole ship was fever
ish' as If all on board felt they were
on the verge of some thrilling event.
Captain Bunker yielded at last to the
apparently unanimous feeling and ran
back to the first anchorage.
once there the impatience of the
passengers could no longer be CON
troiled. A boat was dropped over
board, gangway was let down. and
tney all prepared to disembark.
Captain Bunker regarded the move
ment with very apparent dissatisfac
ton. Vainly he endeavored to dis
suade Mrs. Archman, at least. from
going ashore.
Madam" he said, "you don't know
what you are going up against. You're
weak and you can't possibly climb
those rocks, and you're apt to get
drenched, too. There are always
squalls and showers wandering about
these Islands. Let the young ones go
II they must, but you stay here"
Stay herel Stay here! When my
husband may be dying, won't do it ="
Dying nothingr Captain Bunker's
Irritation got the best of him. Hes
safe and sound. If he's here at all.
There's no sense in your killing your
SELF He talked on, but Mrs. Arch
man turned a deaf ear, and at last he
was obliged to give up.
The landing party, as finally made
up, included Mrs. Archman, Miss
Denslow, Bess, Lord George, Harry
and Collins. AS they climbed into the
boat, the steward, Price, appeared with
two huge baskets of provisions, which
he placed under the thwart.
Harry stared at the baskets amazed
ly. Great Scott. Price" he exclaimed
whats that?"
That, sir? That's supper, sir.
thought maybe you'd be late in getting
back and would be glad of bite. sir "
"A bite! Is that what you call Q
hitnp Thara'S e;
here. However, let 1t stay, now It's
here. Climbing is hungry work"
A moment later the boat was showed
of and rowed swiftly shoreward
AS it drew close to the shore, long
deep slit cut slantingly into the cliff
became apparent. From the Ell Rio
it was invisible, its entrance blending
into the rocks on either side. From
boat, closer in, it was still invisible
except from narrow zone directly
opposite the opening. Fifty feet to
right or to left, its headlands melted
so smoothly into the background that
even the closest scrutiny had difficulty
making out the line of juncture.
Inside its mouth, even at the outer
verge, the water was almost lakelike
in its stiffness, and little farther in
II became CLASSY. 1t was beautifully
transparent, showing myriads Of fish
darting through it like black shadows
ing feathery sea growths.
At its base, hundred yards inward,
lay strip of sandy beach, across
which trickled tiny stream to whose
incessant action the cleft was clearly
due. Behind the beach the gorge rose
plainly grading into the ridged surface
of the mountain within no very great
distance.
The five adventures disembarkeo
and stood looking about them, taking
in the surroundings. When they
turned back to the boat the lunch has
kets had been landed and Collins was
instructing the coxswain to go back
to the ship and to come ashore again
at six o'clock.
When the boat had gone, Harry bent
to pick up one of the lunch baskets
An expression Of surprise came over
his face Great Caesars ghost !" he
exclaimed What on earth has Price
put in this thing?" He turned back
the cloth that covered the contents
and peered in. "Wtll you look al
thisY" he demanded. "Cansl Cans
Cans! Why, the fellows put in tor
of corn beef. And half ton Of hard
tack. Holy Moses. What does he
think we are? A North pole relief ex-
pedItion?"
Collins gazed at the contents OF the
baskets blankly. Then he turned
quickly and shouted down the cief,
after the boat. which had just disDp
peared around the curve. Again he
shouted. but the boat did not come
back. When he again faced his sur
prised companions, his face was lined
with anxiety or anger. Nevertheless
he forced laugh.
81 wanted to get a man to help carr!
rho basket" he explained But