The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

202 very old. But his age could not be de- termined. “Who are you?” I asked. “ We did ‘not think this island was inhabited.” “Tt was not inhabited until we came,” he answered. “I have been watching you. I feared you when you came, but not for myself. I feared you on account of my daughter.” “Your daughter! Have daughter here? ” “ Alas, yes, and a wife.” “But why do you remain in this place alone? Do you trade in fancy woods?” “Trade!” the man laughed scorn- fully. “I trade! With whom? Your vacht is the first vessel I have seen in fourteen years. No ship ever comes near this island. It is accursed.” “ Any devils, witches, or things lke that?” asked Ross, pointing at the kay bee. “T’ve seen them,” said the man. Which? ” “Those birds. Where did you cap- ture that one?” The professor grew so excited at this he could scarcely talk. With trembling lips he told how the big bird was caught. “TI never saw one fly,” said the man. “They cannot be captured. They are in the temple.” The kaybee let out his voice to its Jamit. “That must be an incantation,” said Ross. “ What do you mean by a temple? ” asked the professor. “Is there a ruin here that marks the habitation of an extinct race?” , “No, it is but a name my daughter gave the place. It is a strange island, this, gentlemen.” “Let us hear vour story,” I said. “ Will you have a cup of coffee and a cigar with us?” “Indeed yes, for it is long since I smoked.” He sat down on a fallen limb, put his naked feet out of sight under him as if ashamed, and drank the coffee. “Will you have something to eat?” asked Foster. “No, 1 am not hungry. There is plenty to eat on the island. It was the you a —— THE ARGOSY. cigar—the voices of men—the society. But, gentlemen, if you will permit me, I would say I do not wish to be selfish. “My daughter is alone, and perhaps alarmed at my absence, for she knows there are strange men here. We were afraid, but now I know you are gentle- men. If you will accompany me to my house, we may converse with more com- fort.” He was the first man we had met who did not seem excited upon seeing the kavbee. “Why do you say the island is ac- cursed?” I asked him. “Is there any- thing mysterious about it? ” “No, but it is accursed for marmers. I cannot understand how your yacht succeeded in getting so near. ‘There are reefs and shoals and hidden rocks out so far that a ship would not dare ven- ture.” | “A yacht does not have the depth,” I-explained. “I assume from your own security that there are no savages on the island.” ° “No man but me. No woman save my daughter.” “ But you spoke of your wife.” “Yea, in her grave. She is here— I talk with her in my lonely moments, but she will never speak to me again.” “Come on,” said Ross, who could not joke in the presence of this man, and his evident sincerity. “The gentleman wants us to go to his house. Let’s go.” “‘ Shall we take guns? ” asked Foster. “Not unless you are afraid of me,” was the answer. “ There are no ene- mies.” Somewhat abashed, Foster rested his gun once more against the tree. The old man led the way. After pass- ing through the woods, we came out upon a level space, but did not even then see anything of a habitation. We walked much farther than we had the previous night, and after pass- ing through a thi group of palms, reached a knoll. From here we had a magnificent view. : A little lake of clear water, into which a stream ran from the wooded hills beyond, and from which another coursed swiftly to the sea, with a pretty cascade on the way, formed a frontis- piece to the picture of a home. FS ECOMRiNIEloOO@ SS) (GO) awa