s. The Scotchman, Cuthbert Vane
and I continued to sit by the dying fire. Mr. Shaw had got out his
pipe and sat silently puffing at it. He might have been sitting in
solitude on the topmost crag of the island, so remote seemed that
impassive presence. Was it possible that ever, except in the sweet
madness of a dream, I had been in his arms, pillowed and cherished
there, that he had called me _lassie_--

I lifted my eyes to the kind honest gaze of Cuthbert Vane. It was
as faithful as Crusoe's and no more embarrassing. A great impulse
of affection moved me. I was near putting out a hand to pat his
splendid head. Oh, how easy, comfortable, and calm would be a life
with Cuthbert Vane! I wasn't thinking about the title
now--Cuthbert would be quite worth while for himself. For a moment
I almost saw with Aunt Jane's eyes. _Fancy trotting him out before
the girls_! stole insidiously into my mind. How much more dazzling
than a plain Scotch sailor--

I turned in bitterness and yearning from the silent figure by the
fire.

I think in an earlier lifetime I must have been a huntress and
loved to pursue the game that fled.

XII

THE ISLAND QUEEN'S FREIGHT

I woke next morning with a great thrill of exhilaration. Perhaps
before the sun went down again I should know the secret of the
island.

The two divisions of our party, which were designated by me
privately the Land and Sea Forces, went their separate ways
directly after breakfast, which we ate in the cool of earliest
morning, I could retire to the perusal of the journal which I had
recovered from the wrecked sloop without fear of interruption.

I resumed my reading with the entry of February 10.

This morning, having grown very tired of fish, of which I get
plenty every time I go out in the boat by dragging a line behind, I
decided to stay ashore and hunt pig. I set out across the base of
the point, nearly due south--whereas I had been working along the
coast to the north of the cove. On my right the slope of the
mountain rose steeply, and as I approached the south shore the rise
of the peak became more abrupt, and great jutting crags leaned out
over the tree-tops below.

I reached the edge of the cliffs and found that on my right hand
the mountain dropped in a sheer precipice from hundreds of feet
above me straight into the sea. I considered, and made up my mind
that by striking back some distance one might by a very rough climb
gain the to