The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

440 . A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. ‘So Mr. Thorne says that, does he?’’ asked Sessions curiously. ‘‘ And what do you and Jessop say ?”’ “Why, sir,” replied the Englishman awkwardly, ‘‘ as we looks at hit, we ain’t bound no longer by our harticles. Mr. Thorne, ’e’s ahired of us both, an’ wot ’e says goes.”’ , ‘Oh, that’s it, is it? ‘Then I reckon we’ll accept the offer, eh, Pepper ?’”’ ‘“‘ ‘That’s my mind,’’ responded the third mate. ‘‘ Thorne’s got as much to fear from Atwell and his crew as we have. We'd best join forces, say I.”’ They laid Captain Latimer upon a piece of sail cloth that had been in the cutter and carried him to the cave where Thorne and his two companions had established themselves. It was right beside the tunnel at the head of the inlet, and the entrance could be easily guarded. Thorne was yet too stiff and,lame to do any work himself ; but under his supervision the two sailors had performed wonders. ‘The rope he had used to lash himself to the raft on the night of the wreck, and which he had had the forethought to bring ashore when he found his valise, was rigged across the treacherous inlet. With this life line it was an easy matter to cross. The two sailors had brought across the inlet a great quantity of the wreckage Thorne had saved the morning before, and the cave was partially filled with bales, casks, and boxes. Part of the Naida’s cargo had been sew- ing machines and farming tools. ‘The first named were of no use to them, of course ; but some of the latter had been cast up by the sea, and Thorne had carefully saved them. Casks of meat and bread from. the brig’s stores were’ piled in the cave, too; and Jessop had found time to gather some cocoanuts -from a grove up the coast and cut off the tops of several cabbage palms, They were well supplied with food. ‘If we only had arms and ammunition,’’ sighed Pepper, after he and Tonio had brought up the articles they had saved from the wreck. ‘‘If we only had ¢hem, we'd be in first rate circumstances—for castaways. If I had a good Marlin repeater—or a Winchester—I’d agree to settle with Atwell and his whole gang, if they attack us.’’ : ‘As it is, we haven’t a blessed thing to defend ourselves with,’’ said Sessions gloomily. | ‘““ Not quite,’’ interposed Thorne. He brought out from the cave his re- volver, newly cleaned and oiled. Every chamber was loaded.: “I’ve got a valise hidden up the coast yonder,’’ he added, ‘‘and among other things in it are two or three boxes of cartridges. I’ll go after them before long.”’ But it was several days before he felt well enough to undertake the jaunt. Meanwhile an off shore gale had blown almost every vestige of the wreck away from the island. ‘They could rescue no more of the brig’s cargo. But they had already got together a great pile of broken spars and plank and cordage on the shore, beside the supplies in the cave. Nothing had been seen or heard of Atwell and his friends, and they hoped ‘the long boat had left the island and been blown so far away by the storm that the mutineers would not land again. ‘Thorne talked with Jessop about making a journey of exploration around the island and of trying, if possible, to scale the cliff. (COMME LOCO KS 3