Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-01-14
a tall sapling.

ny. she followed MIN III the upWdTu
curve of the ascent, for the grade was
not difficult and the ground smooth
enough, the storms of hears having
pulverized the rock and driven sand
into it's clefts The persistent inroads
of the trees had done the rest. Beyond
the flight of the birds and the scam
pering of some tiny monkeys over
head, they did not disturb a living
creature.
The crest of the hill was tree-cov-
cred, and they could see nothing be-
yond their immediate locality until
the sailor found q point higher than
the rest, where a rugged collection of
hard basalt and the uprooting of some
pooh trees provided an open space
elevated above the ridge.
For a short distance the foothold
was precariousy. jerks helped the girl
in this part of the climb. His strong,
gentle grasp gave her confidence. She
flushed with exertion when they stood
together on the summit of this ele-
waited perch. They could look to ev-
cry point of the compass except
small section on the southwest Here
the trees rose behind them until the
brow of the precipice wa sreached.
The emergence into sunlit panor-
anna of land and sea, though expected,
was profoundly enthralling They ap-
peared to stand almost exactly in the
center of the island, which was cres-
cent-shaped. 1t was no larger than
the sailor had estimated. The new
slopes now revealed were covered
with verdure down to the very edge
of the water, which, for nearly mile
Stewards, broke over Jagged reefs
The sea looked strangely calm from
this height. Irregular blue patches on
the horizon to south and east caught
the mans first glance He unslung the
binoculars he still carried and TO
cused them eagerly.
"Islands!" he cried, land big ones,
tool"
How odd!" whispered Iris, more
concerned in the scrutiny of her inn
mediate surroundings. jerks glanced
at her sharply. She was not looking
at the islands, but at a curious hollow,
quarry-like depression beneath them
to the right, distant about three hum
dred yards and not far removed from
the small plateau containing the
well, though isolated from it by the
south angle of the main cliff.
Here, in a great circle, there was
not a vestige of grass, shrub, or tree,
nothing save brown rock and sand. AT
first the sailor deemed it to be the
dried-up bed of a small lake. This
hypothesis would not serve, else it
would be choked with verdure. The
nit stared up at them like an ominous
| Fl rt f.
tention to it, for the glorious prospect
mapped at their feet momentarlly
swept aside all other considerations
"What beautiful place!" MUIR
INJURED Iris. 81 wonder what 1t is
| called"
! Limbo"
The word came instantly. The sail
or's gaze was again fixed on those dis
tant blue outlines. Miss Deane was
dissatisfied. .,-
"Nonsense!" she exclaimed I'VE
are not dead yet. You must find bet
ter name than that"
well, suppose we christen it Rain
bow Island?"
"Why Rainbow"
"That is the English meaning of
Iris in Latin, you know"
$50 it is. How clever of you to think
of it, Tell me what is the meaning OF
Robert in Greek"
He turned to survey the northwest
side of the island. IT do not know ne
answered. at might not be far-fetched
to translate it as a ships steward:
mental"
Miss Iris had meant her playful re-
tort as a mere light-hearted bubble.
1t annoyed her, a young person OF
much consequence, to have her kindly
condescension repelleo
ST suppose so," she agreed; "but I
have gone through so much in few
hours that I am bewildered, apt to for
get these nice distinctions"
Were these two quareling, or hlrt-
ing? Who can tell?
jerks was closely examining the
reef on which the Sirdar struck. Some
square objects were visible near the
palm tree The sun, glinting on the
waves, rendered it difficult to dis
Germ their significance.
What do you make of those?" he
inquired, handing the glasses, and
blandly ignoring Miss Deane's peut-
lance Her brain was busy with other
things while she twisted the binocu-
lars to suit her vision. Rainbow
Island-Iris- it was nice conceit.
But "menial" struck discordant
note. This man was no mental in ap-
pearance or speech. Why was he so
deliberately rude?
'I think they are boxes or packing
cases" she announced.
'Ah, that was my own idea. 1 must
visit that locality
How Will you swim?"
NO" he said, his stern lips relax
ing in smile, Il will not swim; and
by the way, Miss Deane, be careful
when you are near the water. The la
COON is swarming with sharks at pres
emit I feel tolerably assured that at
low tide, when the remnants of the
gale have vanished. 1 will be able to
walk there along the reef"
"Sharksi" she cried. I'm there!
What horrible surprises this speck of