, 1926-05-19

expect the maindeck 10 be cleared ana
staging rugged oversize for resheath-
ing and calking."
He drove them until midnight, then
sent them reeling to their hammocks.
In the morning a systematic plan
of occupation was arranged. BY Cou-
peau's advice a handful of the more
amenable of the Crew-mostly negroes,
Portuguese, Italians and Frenchmen
of the south-were organized as an
afterguard. and the remainder were
divided into squads headed by men
selected for skill at some special
trade. one squad We're to overhaul
the sails and cut and sew from spare
canvas a suit for the new mizZen,
which a second squad were to hew on
the slopes Of SypElass mountain and
transport to the ship. A third squad
We're to repair all exterior damage TO
the hull a fourth were to recalk the
started seams; a fifth were to attend
to whatever internal repairs were
necessary.
Coupeau was placed in charge of
the work ab~oardship, and the rest of
us carried Colonel O'Donnell's body
to the top Of a small hill east of the
head of the inlet. There, in the midst
of u grove Of pines, we laid him to
rest. Twas a noble situation for a
wanderer who had never reached his
goal, with the clashing boughs and
the distant thunder of the surf to
sound a requiem until the end of time
and a view over green meadows and
dwarf woodlands to the white rim Of
the beach and the blue sea, shining
In the sun.
Yesterday seemed years past. I
blinked my eyes, looking from the
peaceful garb Of nature to Moira's
slim body huddled in prayer beside
the mound of raw earth amongst the
pine needles. On the edge of the grove
the men who had dug the grave were
playing a gambling game with the
~plne-cones. Peter leaned on a musket.
g~ravely compassionate. My great
uncle. his eyes puckered In thought.
was staring out to sea. As | watched,
he twitched my coat sleeve and drew
me to one side.
Il shall leave you to amuse your
self as you choose for the remainder
OF the day" he said. ""Tis for you
and Peter to safeguard the maid. l
must ascertain, n possible, what hath
become of Flint
And them" I asked.
Them" His eyebrows arched in
surprise. why. then, Robert, we
shall continue as we have done hIth-
erto.".
"You must pursue this insane
scheme?"
lie was as patient with me as II
| were a fractions child.
"'Tls no insane scheme but a
coup OF high politics Of fascinating
import, my boy. | own to dlssap.
pointment II doth not appeal TO YOU
more readily. What? Shall we cry
quits, simply because OF shlpwreck?
And after every move hath turned as
we plotted It shouldr"
| shook my head hopelessly. but de
clded to try again.
"Bethink you / argued. "the long
boat can speedily be made weather
light. In her we might reach"
~ - AVN F'AA lAAAAAAf Hf lANfI~
rupted with n hint Of Iron In his voice.
You little know me. Robert. II you
reckon me one to turf back from whal
| have begun-in especial, this mat.
ter which consummates the ambition
Of my life"
"But we"
This time the Iron was uppermost.
boy, you are essential to my
plans. Much as | love you, / But
wen not talk on that plane. I am
none for threats. Let It suffice that
you are not TO mention the subject
again"
He wheeled around and left me.
and with his escort Of ~tarry.breeks
strung out behind him was soon bur.
led In Ie underground on the lower
TANKS Of the hill.
The sun was past meridian when
Peter and ! Induced MORA TO aban-
don the unmarked mound, and to d.
vert her mind We led her on n tramp
TO the shoulders OF the Spyglass.
where a score OF the James men al.
ready had felled u giant FIR and were
looping the branches from the trunk
preparatory TO removing the bark. In
the forest near by we killed a mess
Of birds, and Peter skillfully broiled
them over an open fire, and after that.
since she professed to enjoy the NJ.
lence Of the mountain side. we pressed
on, beyond hearing OF the ringing ax.
blndes. and finally came TO the foot
OF the steep pinnacle Of rock which
was the lens Of the spyglnss.
Here we would have halted, but
MORN had heard the story OF the
watch the pirates maintained from
the summit. and she insisted on com.
plotting the ascent, despite the late
ness OF the hour. And we. because
we were for doing anything that would
plense her that day and relieve her.
grief, consented.