Part 12 (1/2)

”And, what was more astounding, as we made a fire to cook us food, there pa.s.sed by us bearing on their backs strangely woven baskets, a caravan of these half-naked barbarians. And, when we motioned to show them we would see within his basket, one of these lowered his basket.

”What we saw astounded us much, for it was all filled with finely-beaten gold. The fellow had as much of it as a stout sailor would be able to carry. And there were many such baskets.

”When I made as though I would take the gold, he became very angry, and would have struck me down with an ugly spear which he bore.

”But when I laughed, making as though it were a joke, he gave me a small piece, the which is at this time in my possession, as proof that what I have written here is truth and no lie.

”Now this island I have shown on the map, the nether side upon which I am writing, as a star with six points to it; though the sh.o.r.e marking nor the extent of the island is as yet unknown to any but those barbarians who live upon it.”

There ended the main portion of the story, but in a bracket at the bottom was written:

”In some other place will be found the account of our miraculous return from this strange and mysterious island of many barbarians and much gold.”

As Curlie finished, he glanced up with a sigh.

The girl was staring at him so intently that he could not but think she was attempting to read his thoughts.

”Isn't it wonderful?” she breathed at last.

”Yes,” said Curlie quickly, ”you expressed it even better before. It's great!”

He looked away. His head was in a whirl It was the long-lost map; he was sure of that now. He remembered the figures he had copied from that other reproduction. They were blurred and unreadable on this one. Should he tell her?

His lips opened but no sound came out. No, he would not tell her, not at this time. There might be some other way.

”Your brother and his chum,” he said evenly, ”have gone in search of that island of gold.”

She stared at him in silence.

”If they haven't gone already, they may be gone before we reach the coast,” he continued. ”They will probably go in Alfred Brightwood's seaplane.”

”Yes, yes,” she broke her spell of silence. ”That is the way they would go. It's--it's a wonderful plane! You--you don't think anything could happen to them, do you?”

”Supposing they do not find the island?”

”But they will.”

”It is to be hoped that they will find an island--some island.”

”It's a wonderful plane. It would cross the Atlantic!” She clasped and unclasped her hands.

”But supposing,” he rose from his chair in his excitement, ”supposing they don't find the island exactly where they expect to find it?

Supposing, in their eagerness to find that gold, they circle and circle and circle in search of the island until there is no longer any gas in the tank to bring them home.”

”Oh, you don't think that!” She sprang to her feet and, gripping his arm to steady herself, looked up into his eyes. There was a heartbreaking appeal in those blue eyes of hers.

”I think,” said Curlie steadily, ”that my pal, Joe Marion, and I, if we find them gone when we get there, will take your father's speedy yacht and go for a little pleasure trip in the general direction they have taken. Then if they chance to get into trouble, we can give them a lift.

Besides,” there came a twinkle in his eye, which was wholly lost on the girl, ”they might need the yacht to carry home the gold.”