Isle o' Dreams

ner Arrived o

aptain seemed to be in ill-humour, as if his tilt with Peth had not been settled to his li

ronzed face appeared flushed with anger. There was a s

f Jarrow would speak, and if the captain's mood war

e cabin on the lee side, sheltered from sun and

t keeping a watchful eye on the man at the helm and the sails. His manner indicated that he did no

quite forlorn and chastened. The crew, in skylarking style, were drawing water over the side with buckets and throwing it

discomforts from the fact that Jarrow had clashed with the mate, unless it were Jarrow himself, but Peth's irascibility had checked the holiday air with w

eat pains not to look aft. When his back was turned from them the sailors indulged in grins and back-slap

him in a sneaking way, to let him know that he had lost his previous standing with them. It was all undoubtedly meant to have petty revenge on him for the way he had

th contumely was a reflection on everybody aft. But Trask thought that it was no time to call the captain's attention to what was going on, partly because Dinshaw should ha

went to the lee side to throw over some refuse from the galley, and before he could make his escape back to the gal

on, for Shope took anger at once, and advanced on the negro threateningly. But Doc ran back to the galley,

med to be openly antagonistic to all hands aft, for the others joined in open laughter at the discomfiture of the steward. And what was more significant, Peth and Jarrow

is jaw Trask knew that his anger was growing. Presently he heard Jarrow talking in

from the likes o' you," Ja

ie were sitting, and with his back against

of Peth. He made jokes and told stories and except for a wicked look now and then at Doc Bird, was very jolly and agreeable, so that he made a decidedly good impressi

ion it was found that the old man was in the w

ards at the cabin table, Jarrow and the mate had a long, low-toned c

Locke, with a vigorous wink, and po

comes back?

t. He ain't a bad sort when ye rub him the right way

, except to be officially pleasant, as it had been agreed that unless the mate asked permission to come aft again his status should be exactly like that of the crew. So

ut him in a dazed sort of way, and then went into the cabin to wheedle Doc Bird out

ght the cabin lamp. "We ought to raise the isl

any particular hurry to get anywhere. I've had the

ly walked alon

ong. We've logged near ten knots steady. I never looked to march like we have. If

to start our prospecting early," said

aid Dinshaw, eagerly. "Ye won't have

e all this gold," said Locke, with a waggish smile. "Suppo

," suggested Dinshaw.

question, for of course the schooner's crew could claim no share of anything, as Jarrow was being paid for hi

. "What's you and all hands got to do wit

ed Jarrow, with a wry grin. "Think we

ly. Marjorie spoke up and reassured the old man that no one wanted

ations which had been resumed. In a few minutes he fo

cke. "If it wasn't that we were so near to this is

Don't take it so seriously!

, and now the captain's on his high horse. They're not being paid to perform like a box of w

al my island!" w

coffee, started visibly, and l

e, and Trask and Marjorie

island and have all the gold," i

to Captain Jarrow and tell him

s is about. I don't think it's wise to jump at conclusions

?" asked Doc, on his

ind," sa

hat Jarrow and Peth want to steal you

d Dinshaw, wa

o you

eep out there in the long

am," said Locke, relieved that there was nothing

on. "I heard 'em talk. Jarrow said if there was gold on

is teeth in a broad smile,

ered Doc into Trask's ear, as

see that they don't. But I'd keep quiet about my dreams, if I wanted to go on

, sir," sa

hat Dinshaw had said, he began to wonder if there wasn't something going on aboard the schooner that promised troub

d, and while undoubtedly there had been gossip and conjecture about the island, it was qui

go forward another mile, an idea which Trask could not bring himself to consider for various reasons, the most i

th, other than such as might result from a serious quar

nd desires were selfish, and that after all he could not assume the entire responsibility for Marjor

It was his opinion that the weapon had been stolen by some of the crew, and he rather suspected Doc Bird. He said he would speak to the captain about it after they arrived at the island, and that the steward's qu

to enjoy the brilliant moonlight and listen to the impromptu

ent of whistling some popular airs of the sad and

wing dance of a most violent sort, and when he had finish

d for the first time since leaving Manila it app

, for all night there was running about on deck, and thumping of blocks. At least a dozen times he heard Jarrow bawling to "Go about," and Peth's voice fro

akfast until well past eight o'clock, when the

ight?" demanded Locke, as he came out of his room and went

a sawin' up an' down all night, but the old man

several times," said Marjorie,

lowed befo'," opined Doc

ou mean?"

' see the

ld not make out a sign of land. The schooner was sailing close into the wind, which had abated into

e port bow, and Jarrow came dow

ur island,

went back to breakfast. Trask soon followed, observing that Shope

up to it by nigh

aid Trask,

rifle disconcerted at Trask's manner. "

be making good t

ckin' up her heels and makin' a great fuss about it, m

e was not sailing into the wind nearly so closely as she had been, and was now headed so that

e schooner did not go about for a couple of hours, and then on such a sharp angl

hart in great excitement, and his manner ind

be reefs about, although there wasn't a spot of broken water in si

t deliberate in going about, and it was half an hour after the order had been given to

Jarrow so man?uvred that they ran straight in for it, and came to anchor in

e one they were seeking. It stood up out of the sea, green

the reef which he had painted into his picture, whi

he Wetherall s

and the big rock," said

t them in to fool folks. There ain'

him, and gave orders to Pet

ashore now?" a

ather in a hole like this. May have to wear and

orning,"

e seemed disappointed and scarcely abl

talked and joked about what was in store for them the next day-all except Dinsh

e remained for an hour's chat in the darkness after

hispered, as she went down the compani

throw behind the whisper of the waves washing its beach, he was sorry they had arrived so soon. For if there should be no gold on the island, it would be a case of turning back, and a couple of days more would see them in Manil

his own share might be a good stake in life. His future hung on the old man's story, that is his future considered with Marjorie Locke, and Trask had now come to the point of not b

ded as if someone who had been startled had fled. He did not move for several minutes. Then it came back to him tha

noise had jarred his nerves, and now he began to

if someone were going aloft and the

the shaft of light which came up through the companio

caution. He would have to meet sneaking and spying with the same