The Nerve of Foley, and Other Railroad Stories

marked Mr. McKay, as the thre

I'm afraid we have; but we

ull?" aske

replied Terence, who then proceeded to give Mr. McKay a graphic d

feel to-day?"

etter," replied

lared Andy, pointing to

de is 21° 4' 15" S. and the longitude 134° 17' 14" W. of Greenwich. As I suspected, we are on the fringe of the Low Archipelago, well away from the Great Circle route between Panama and New Zealand, and equally remote from the regular track

on't mind," o

e safe," added Terence, and Ellerton

ssive?" said Andy. "I

plendidly sheltered-too much so-for what with the rocks behind us and the palm groves on

for the dry season," replied Andy. "Once we've finished with the wreck we can set to a

," replie

ring ashore?" a

t beastly bull tossed a lot of stuff overboard. We've

ing another

the by, Andy, you might tell Quexo to build a fence between the rock and the edge of this terrace.

nloading the boat will take all our spare time before l

e meal. This over, the inhabitants of the Nameless Island indulged in a siesta

ay, as the three lads prepared to set off to the wreck.

placed in the boat, while the bunting, lamps, a portable galley, and a set of blacksmith

nd see what is in the fore

y examination showed that the part of the cargo nearest the open

We'll be able to knock up a decent hou

ng implements," s

dy. "I know; it's what the

" asked

-otherwise

xclaimed Terence, and the lads burst into a f

time," observed Andy. "

ow

ea, and, all being well, I'll

ng and the charter-party; they will give

ts, but, being in Spanish, the apprent

-for some blooming insurgents more than likely-30,000 rounds of ammunition, and-hullo, this looks dangerous!-two tons of dynamite; building and railroad materials, agricultural imp

lated Ellerton. "That is, prov

give us time and good weather, and we'll leave pre

aimed Terence. "It wil

he side, and received the rest of the articles that the lads h

had perused the ship's papers. "There is, I think, no need for

ton, "and a couple o

been going into the question pretty deeply. You may be aware that the Low Archipelago belongs to France. These islands consists of a number of flat coral islands, hence their name. Now, as this island is lofty and of volcanic origin, I cannot see that it can be classed as b

e result was not to Mr

try,

more satisfactory, so Ell

ree members of the good old British Empire, and unable to dr

hite diagonal below the two portions farthest from the pole. If the flag is hoisted in any manner but the correct the ensign becomes a signal of distress. Often in bygone days hostile ships have attempted to

getting on?" a

ternoon. I guess your fence

ow he is progressing,"

o Ellerton returned to the boat to liberate the sheep. Ere nightfall the pen was tenanted

. The lads, tired out with their exertions, were "taking things easy,

tion, called for the bunting. Laboriously he th

med Ellerton. "Wouldn't a

e lad! Where's a

le in the fo'c'sle. You see, a s

ill to-morrow, if you'll remember

watch to-night,

plored the island. Not that I anticipate any

ct. Nothing occurred to disturb the

you can manage by yourselves?"

o," replie

ior. I particularly want him to reach the summit of the hill,

-and, above all, note the general extent of the island and the position of its neighbours, if visible. Don't overburden yourselves; a revolver and twenty rounds apiec

way, Ellerton and Donaghue pushed o

the faintest hitch the boat was made fast a

up that gig," remarked Ellerto

time," was Te

er sheathing outside the canvas to protect it. It won't be a long job, so

s, and the gig on being launched let in very litt

ce," he exclaimed. "We may as well make

thing. He was an expert swimmer and diver, and

tchway. The top of the stacks of galvanised iron was but a few feet below the surface, a

entice assisted his companion in h

, till the deck resembled a "tin" ci

d get rid of the water in the hold; though I'm afraid the ve

t rid of the water," replied Terence. "

terial underneath the iron sheeti

time, but now we

"home," for already they were becoming attached to the

rom the fo'c'sle. But you may as well

he gloom of the stuffy fo'c'sle, the sight of which forcibly reminded h

d!" he exclaimed, ho

ed Terence laughing. "If you take it ashor

come i

ked the island with useless things in the hope that they might be of use at some distant d

ook at us now one would think we were going to run old wom

ing off the unloading of their boat till the evening, tho

ay. "It's slow work lying here and un

pe Andy and Quexo had been seen on the summit of the hill, and their descent followed till an interv

t forty feet in height-Terence," he added. "I sho

ed to its smaller end. This done, a hole was dug to receive the pole, and by the aid

ed that from the summit of the hill the island appeared to be nearly c

it closely on the southern side, while there were three we

eadth barely a mile less. There were no other islands visible, but as the sea was

f," remarked Mr. McKay. "Well, in that case we are not likely to be troubled by our neighbours, for the near

a pistol. It was a quaint specimen of a flint-lock weapon, its large-bore barrel

ll upon us," observed Mr. McKay. "Nevertheless, it shows that we are not the

t certainly an extinct volcano, while the base is honeycombed with fissu

. "Now it's nearly sunset, so there wil

it, then

y, you hoist the

the masthead. For a few minutes it fluttered idly in the breeze, th

ty over the island to which they had