iness. However, the sea's
free to all men, lads, and the morn will show. By your leave we'll have
a bit of supper and after that turn in. We shall want all our wits
about us when daylight comes." They agreed to this, and without further
parley we went on deck and heard what the lad "Dolly" Venn had to tell
us. It was full dark now and the islands were hidden from our view. The
beacon shone with a steady white glare which, under the circumstances,
was almost uncanny. I asked the lad if he had sighted any ships in
towards the land or if signals had been made. He answered me that no
ship had passed in or out nor any rocket been fired. "And I do believe,
sir," he said, "that we shall find the harbour on the far sight of
yonder height."

"The morning will show us, lad," said I; "go down to your supper, for I
mean to take this watch myself." They left me on the bridge. The wind
had fallen until it was scarce above a moan in the shrouds. I stood
watching the beacon as a man who watches the window light of one who
has been dear to him.

CHAPTER II

WE GO ASHORE AND LEARN STRANGE THINGS

I have told how it came about that I sailed for Ken's Island, and now I
shall tell what happened when I went ashore to find Ruth Bellenden.

We put off from the ship at six bells in the morning watch. Dolly Venn,
who was rated as fourth officer, was with me in the launch, and Harry
Doe, the boatswain, at the tiller. I left Mister Jacob on the bridge,
and gave him my orders to stand in-shore as near as might be, and to
look for my coming at sunset--no later. "Whatever passes," said I, "the
night will find me on board again. I trust to bring you good news,
Mister Jacob--the best news."

"Which would be that we were to 'bout ship and home again," says he;
and that I did not contradict.

Now, we were to the westward of the island when we put off, and neither
my glass nor the others showed any good landing there. As the launch
drew in towards the cliffs I began to get the lie of the place more
clearly; and especially of what I call the mainland, which was
wonderfully fresh and green in the sunlight and seemed to have some of
the tropic luxuriance of more southern islands. About four miles long,
I judged it to be, from the high black rock to which it rose at the
southward point, to the low dog's-nosed reef which defended it to the
north. Trees I could see, palms and that kind, and ripe green grasses
on a stretch of real down-like land; but