The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 45: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee ee ee a A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, 429 ‘‘See—there is something on it,’’ said Sydney. ‘It’s a plank from some ship’s hull—why, that’s a name !”’ The paint was almost worn off, but some of the letters were still traceable. JUA FR San F Thorne uttered a stifled exclamation. ‘What is it, Mr. Thorne?”’ cried Sydney, startled by the look on his face. “It is—it must be !’’ he murmured. ‘“ What is it? What do you mean?’? ‘It is a part of the wreck of the Juan Fernandez, of San Francisco. My father sailed in that vessel from America. Jessop saw the wreck on the shore of the island where he was cast. We are on that island now !”’ CHAPTER XII.—INTo THE TUNNEL’S Moura. ‘THEN the island is inhabited !’’ exclaimed Sydney, after an instant’s silence. ‘‘I am so glad.”’ ‘ It may be inhabited,’’ returned Thorne seriously. ‘‘ Jessop said not ; yet he could not explain the appearance of the man who rescued him other- wise. ‘There was no other spot of land visible from this island, he declared. a ‘“‘It is wonderful that we should fall upon it.’’ ‘“It is coincidental, but not wonderful. We knew it was somewhere near us, and the typhoon drove us in the right direction; that is all. We should not have suspected its proximity had we sailed by in the night.’’ Thorne paced back and forth before the fire. He was excited. - His face was flushed, his hands trembled. “This must be the place,’’ he repeated. ‘‘If there were ¢wo islands in these waters, some navigator would have found them ere this. And if this is the spot, my father is here! Miss Latimer, you cannot realize what that means to me,’’ ‘“No, I cannot,’’ she said sympathetically. ‘‘ But I shall be glad for your sake if he zs here.’’ ‘“ He must be !’’ exclaimed the young man, almost wildly. ‘‘ Don’t disturb yourself so, Mr. Thorne,’’ she said. ‘‘See; you must be wearied. Iam almost exhausted myself, and faint, too.’’ : “Ah, forgive me!’’ he cried. ‘‘ This discovery has made me forget.’’ He brought the water soaked valise to the fire. Sydney had spread her tattered skirts before the blaze and was now comparatively dry. one watched him curiously as he opened the bag. ‘I’m afraid I did not get the most important things, after all,’ he said deprecatingly. ‘‘The water had already flooded your cabin when I got there.’’ “My cabin?”’ ‘‘ Yes,’’ he responded, with a smile. ‘‘I hope you will pardon the lib- erty. JI ransacked your quarters for what I thought you might most need— the small articles, of course. I couldn’t bring much in this bag.”’ COMME DOOKS