Adventure, November 1915 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

The Gold Lust down to Pearl Harbor tomorrow by train to see if I can charter one of the inter-island schooners. They are slow tubs, but all the yachts seem to be in commisdon. These chaps sail all the year ‘round. There’s a regatta on next week and they’re all en- tered.” “Why not?” said Jim. ‘You'd hardly think this was the middle of January, would you? Want me to come with you? I want to do my share, you know,” he said apolo- getically for his afternoon’s dereliction. “No,” said Addams, “I think not. I’ve dug up a ship’s chandler who’ll fix us up in twelve hours from order, any time of day or night, and he’s working on the list I gave him. But it’s up to you tomorrow, Jim, to scare up two sailors, or three if you can get them. Natives preferably. I want men who know a jib from a topsail. Tell them it’s a pleasure trip. That’s your job.” “T’ll get them if I have to shanghai them,” answered Winton. “Want to come with me to Pearl Harbor, Peggy?” asked Addams. “Have you got your shopping done?” “Everything,” she answered. “I’m ready to sail at a moment’s notice. You’re not going to leave me behind, are you?” “T may be making mountains out of mole- hills,’ said Addams. “The thing for us to do is to drive ahead. You'll go with me tomorrow, Peggy?” “Gladly. Since you won’t promise to let me go with you, I suppose I had better tell you the secret of the caves,” said Peggy. “Jim, you’re not supposed to hear this. It was only to be told to Archer, according to poor Mr. Fellowes’s instructions.” “Y’m dismissed, am I?” said Jim. “Oh, very well.” He rose and strolled away toward the hotel, glad at his chance of release, intent upon telephoning to the Moana Hotel to see if the vivacious lady who had captured his fancy was disengaged. : “Now, Sir Masterful,” said Peggy, “TI think you are nothing less than mean to despoil me of my share in the real adven- ture, but, as the promoter and leader of the expedition, I suppose I must temporarily bow to your authority. Though, mind you, I have not promised to stay willingly.” “Agreed,” said Addams. ‘“‘We’ll argue it out when we get a boat and arrive at some conclusion about Henley.” “Well, then,” she said, “there are six caves, all close together. The gold is in the third, counting from the cape.” She spoke softly and Addams bent his head close to listen. The moonlight shone on her face, he could feel her breath on his cheek, and at its soft suggestion his heart beat faster as she went on in es confi- dence. “We are to look for a aode of hiero- glyphics. There’s a carving of a big fish, then a canoe and a group of five men. Under this is a ring. Poor Fellowes said it probably meant the killing of a whale or a shark by five men who afterwards went ’round the island before they left in their boat. It’s the only carving of a fish in any of the caves and it’s somewhere on the right-hand wall. Is that plain?” “Perfectly.” “‘Archer,’”’ she went on after a moment, “T feel I ought to apologize for Jim, and my- self, too, for that matter.” “Why?” “Both of us, in your generosity, are shar- _ ing equally with you. There was no neces- sity for it. I’m a girl and you don’t have to take me with you. And Jim’s not doing his share.” ‘“‘That’s nonsense, Peggy!’’ said Addams. “It isn’t because I don’t want you that I suggest your staying behind in Honolulu. As for Jim, he’s almost as much my brother as he is yours. That is+—” He stopped, checking the thoughts that clamored to be put into words. “Yes, I suppose he is.”” Peggy’s tone had changed. ‘There was mischief in it now. ‘So, Brother Archer, take Sister Peggy back to listen to the orchestra. They are going to dance later. See that you perform your fraternal duties, sir, and provide me with plenty of partners.” CHAPTER XI THE SCHOONER WAVECREST O SIR!” said the stolid German who did odd jobs for the Pearl Harbor clubhouse of the Honolulu Yacht Club. “You can’t get no schooner. Dere iss de Ahimanu what iss loading firewood, put she won’t pe in for a week, und dere iss de Let Lehua, put she changed charters yester- day. Somebody buy her yesterday?” asked Addams sharply. CONMNICOOOLX (E@)