Year: 1876

Brandon was happy in his conjecture
and right in his theory. All who know
ANYTHING about the construction and nature
' d sand islands such as this are aware that
he winds and waters work perpetual
changes. The best known example of this
i the far.famed Sable island, which lies
| If the coast of Nova Scotia, in the direct
track of vessels crossing the Atlantic be-
tween England and the United States.
Here there is repeated on q far larger scale
tbe work which Brandon saw on Coffin
Sland. Sable island is twenty miles long
and about one in width-the crest of vast
heap of sand which rises out of the oceans
bed. Here the widest storms in the world
rsge uncontrolled, and the keepers Of the
| Geht house have but little shelter. Not
long ago an enormous flagstaff was torn
from out its place and hurled away into
he sea. In fierce storms the spray drives
Al across, and it is impossible to venture
out. But most of all, Sable island is fa-
nous for the melancholy wrecks that have
uken place there. Often vessels that have
he bad fortune to run aground are broken
b, but sometimes the sand gathers about
hem and covers them up. There are nu-
nerous mounds here which are known to
onceal wrecked ships. Some of these
have neen opened, and the wreck beneath
has been brought to view. Sometimes also
aher severe gale these sandy mounds are
tsra away and the buried vessels are ex'
posed. :,
Far away in Australia Brandon had
heard Of Sable island from different sea
captains who had been in the Atlantic
trade. The stories which these men had
to tell we're all largely tinged with the
supernatural. One in particular who had
been wrecked there, and had taken refuge
for the night in hut built by the British
government for wrecked sailors, told some
Wild story about the apparition of negro
gho walked him up at the dead of night
and nearly killed him with horror.


With all these thoughts in his mind
Brandon approached the wreck and at last
Etood close beside it.


1t had been long buried. The hull was
bout two.thirds uncovered. A vast heap
sand still clung to the bow, but the
fern stood out full in view. Although il
must have been there for long time the
blanks were still sound, for they seemed tc
AVE been preserved from decay by the
and. All the caulking, however, had
scome loose, and the seams gaped widely
there were no masts, but the lower part Of
he shrouds still remained, showing tha
ae vessel was brig. So deeply was i
buried in the sand, that Brandon, from
where he stood, could look owe: the whole
deck, he himself being almost on leve
with the deck. The masts appeared tt
have been chopped away. The hatchway'
were gone. The hold appeared to b.
filled with sand. but there may have beer
only layer of sand concealing something
beneath. Part of the planking OF the decl
as we'll as most of the taffrail on the othel
side had been carried away. Astern ther'
was a quarterback. There was no sky
light; but only headlights set on the deck
The door of the cabin still remained ant
vas shut tight.


All these things Brandon took in at (
glance. A pensive melancholy came owe
him, and feeling Of pity for the inani
mate ship as though she were capable o
feeling. BY natural curiosity he walked
around to the stern to see if he could reat
her name.


The stern was buried deep in the sand
he had to kneel to read it. On the sid
nearest him the letters were obliterated
but he saw some remaining on the opposite
sAde. He went over there and knelt down
There we're four letters still legible ant
part of fifth. These were the letters:


VISHN


Great heavens!' cried Brandon, start
ing back-"the Vishnu !"