The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, 441 ‘Tt can’t be done, sir,’’ the sailor declared. ‘‘I tried that when I was here before. A. goat couldn’t get up them rocks.’’ ‘But I believe there is something behind the cliffs,’’ Thorne said. ‘‘I don’t know whether it’s a basin of water, connected with the ocean by this inlet, or whether it’s land. ‘There’s something there. And then, from the top of the cliff we’d have a better chance of seeing land, if there’s any near ; or ships if they sailed by.”’ However, he had to admit that so far as could be seen on this side of the island, there was no possible path to the summit of the cliff. They had occupied the cave near the inlet a week before Thorne felt strong enough to go for the valise he had hidden where Sydney and he had stayed the night of the wreck. He went alone, found the bag, and carried it back to the inlet. As he started to cross he saw that the tide had just turned and was now making strongly into the tunnel. At low water, as now, the entrance to the mysterious passage was high enough for a good sized boat to get through. Had the cutter been whole he would have been tempted to explore the place. Stepping out upon the further bank he noticed, for the first time, that the plateau in front of the cave was deserted. Neither the officers of the Naida, the cook, nor the two sailors, were in sight. Captain Latimer had not moved from his bed since being brought to it, and he was never left alone. But as Thorne hastened up the bank of the inlet he heard loud voices and a sudden fusillade of pistol shots from the direction of the beach. Startled by the sounds, he sprang upon a boulder and strove to gain a view of the shore. All he could see was a crowd of men struggling, nearly a quarter . of a mile away, and who were friends and who enemies he could not tell. ‘Look out for yourself, Thorne !”’ he heard Pepper shout. ‘‘ These fiends have got the best of us.’’ There was a hoarse cry from Atwell, and Thorne saw the mutineer and several of his gang running up the incline toward him. ‘‘Look out for the cap’n!’’ Sessions commanded. Thorne fired a shot at the mutineers, checking their advance, and darted back to the entrance of the cavern. ‘The opening was so narrow that but one of the attacking party could approach at atime. With his revolver, he was practically master of the situation. As he entered he glanced in the direction of the captain’s bed. It was empty, nor was the wounded man anywhere in the cave.’ While trying to understand this strange disappearance, he heard a step outside. He ran to the mouth of the cavern. Atwell was coming stealthily up the path. Thorne cocked his revolver instantly, but the mutineer saw him. ‘Hold on, sir!’’ he shouted, holding up his hand. ‘‘I ain’t armed. I’m here for a talk.’’ “Well, talk quick.’ — ‘Well, sir, me an’ my mates have been livin’ on t’other side of the island, an’ we didn’t have no chance to save any of the brig’s stores. We waut our share of them er in the cave and the compass an’ sextant that was in the locker of the cutter.’ CONNICGLOOKS. CO)