The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-06-18
Porto BellO Gold

The double lens etched distinctly
a rugged spread OF Land, shelving up
out of the sea from a succession of
yellow beaches on the east to a Sc
ries of small hills which eliminated
in a range of considerable height
along the westward side, running al
most due north and south. The in
terror seemed to be heavily forested !;
the trees climbed the mountains to
within the last few hundred feet of
their SUBMITS, which were bare rock,
precipitous in the case of the mid
most and highest, cloud-hung giant
which dominated the island.
Nearing its shores, / deserted the
tangled masses of trees which clothed
most of its surface. A few conifers
shot up to goodly stature, but the
greater part of the forest growth was
gnarled, wind-tortured dwarfs. mis-
shapen abortions of trees. The whole
effect of the place seen from offshore
was sinister and forbidding repulsive
as the silent ferocity which emanated
from the blind man Pew.
My great-uncle turned over the con-
duct of the ship to Martin and crossed
to where Peter and / stood, staring
about us.
"Starboard, Master Martini" called
my great-uncle as he Joined Peter and
me. "Starboard your helm, If you
please. Aye, on to this shoal here.
We shall have three fathoms and less
to careen in. Bid them drop the an
Choir"
Martin bawled an order. A whistle
piped, and there was great clatter
and rustling of rope running loose, a
mighty splash that drove the birds
in tumult into the air; and the Royal
James swung to her cable close under
the lesser islands shore. My great
uncle waved one hand over the bull
wark.
skeleton island this is called,
Robert" he said. 81 tell you because
you demonstrate so grewsome an
interest in the more horrifying cpl
sodes of our past. But / regret 1
must confess that I know Of no au-
thentic detail to account for the no
menclature. Pirates have a way of
naming spot to suit themselves,
without rime or reason, if the fancy
once moves them"
MAY we land?" 1 answered, ignor-
ing his gibe.
"Suit yourselves" he returned with
a shrug. 81 must have all my men
busy aboard here, however, and can
spare none to guide YOU"
ia, ja," urged Peter. ave shoodt
some goats, eh?"
eff you please" agreed Murray.
"Ben Gum will find you a brace of
light muskets preferable to our rack
blunderbusses. I'll have the gig put
oversize, and you may row yourselves,
if you will. / desire above all things,
Robert, to deal gently with you.
Therefore I ask you to believe 1 am
considering your own safety when l
require your promise to be aboard
again not later than an hour after
shutdown"
.'Why, what harm"
The Walrus Slated past us, her can
vas in a slovenly mess allow and aloft
a dozen men bowling orders and coun-
ter-orders from poop, waist and
fo'csle, Flint in his red coat strutting
the poop and adding his own below
to the din whenever the confusion
showed signs of dissolving.
My great-uncle's eyes strayed
across the narrow gap of water be-
twixt the two vessels.
"Well, damme, it's been - of
a voyage, Murray" shouted Flint.
eve are here" returned my great
uncle urbanely.
"Aye, and what to do wi our
selves?" Flint called back. "Blast
me for a - - if I can see
what five hundred - - are
to do VII months on their hands, and
naught but rum-drinking' and quar-
rellin for diversion"