behind his hand, alluded to as her sea-legs, and staggered forth wanly, leaning on the arm of Miss Higglesby-Browne. Yes, of Miss Browne, while I, Aunt Jane's own niece, trotted m

w York at her own wild will. Miss Higglesby-Browne had her own collar and tag on Aunt Jane now, while she, so complete was her perversion, fairly hugged her slavery

ng her hand. Usually I can do anything with her when I pet her up a bit. But the

nice to see you and all that, still I hope you realize that I have had a-a deep Soul-experience, and that I am no longer to be-trifled with a

but when you and I have just each other, aunty, I think it is unkind of

insisted on my staying there!" she cried. E

course I have to spare you sometimes to the rest of the family!" Aunt Jane

without Miss Higglesby-Browne. A dart from the cold gr

er than those of blood-soul-affinities, you know, and-and, in short, in my dear friend Miss Higglesby-

urveyed the Sympathetic Intell

l quite sure that on your side you thoro

sbrush in her mildest moods. In her rising

pable of deception. Miss Harding and I first met-on this present plane-in an atmosphere unusually favorable to soul-revelation. I knew a

y have always treated me as if I were a child and didn't know what I wanted, when the fact is I alw

was to go off on this perfectly crazy chase after imaginary treasur

igglesby-Browne in dee

ize how strangely prop

rst-that if you reveal

rought to bear? Be st

ic Th

eping, and yet she is always doing it. "Really, Virginia," she broke out in a whimper, "it is not kind to say, I suppose, but I would just as

point I'll do my best to save the pieces. For the present I suppose I had better leave you to co

able Cuthbert Vane. Fortunately this occurred around the corner of the deck-house, out of sight of my aunt and Miss Browne, so the latter was unabl

t, are you? Beastly nuisance, you know, these r

ears welled up into my eyes. I hadn't realized till I felt them smarting

t!" returned the Honorable Cuthbert with profoun

othing-you couldn't help

king-up a bit? I thought she

t it-so mild that sh

son get possession o

Thought she was a rather remarkable old party-goe

o-but, I thought a man would know be

Rather took her word for it and all that, you know. There's Shaw, though-cleverest chap g

him in for such a wild goose chase as this!" In my heart I felt convinc

think it's that-that the thing's all moons

at wasn't moonshine? The moment I had read Aunt Jane's letter telling of the perfectly absurd business she was setting out on I rushed down by th

uspect they are a very decent sort. That odd fish, Captain Magnus, now-he was quite Miss Browne's own find, I assure you. And as to old H. H.-Tubbs, you know-Miss Browne met up with him on the boat coming down. The rum old chap got on her soft side somehow, and first thing she had appointed him secretary and treasurer-as though we were a meet

r the forthcoming Harding-Browne expedition. All the winds of fame were bearing abroad just then the name of a certain young explorer who had lately added another continent or two to the British Empire. Linked with his were other names, those of his fellow adventurers, which shone only less brightly than that of their chief. One Dugald Shaw had been among the great man's most trusted lieutenants, but now, on the organizing of the second expedition, he was left be

to think he's on the shelf. I had known him since I was a little 'un, when we used to go to Scotland for our holidays, and he would be home from sea a

in of a liner, and not that for a good many years to come, when a cable came from this Miss Higglesby-Brown offering him command of this expedition. As neither of us had ever heard of Miss Higglesby-Brown

pater and what not. And I do assure you, Miss Harding, it strikes me as no end of a lark

nd trusting friend? Are even the most valiant adventurers invariably honest? Left behind by his companions because of his injury, his chance of an enduring fame cut off, with no prospects but those of an officer on an ocean liner, might he not lend a ready ear to a scheme for plucking a fat and willing pigeon? So great was my faith in Aunt Jane's gullibility, so dark my distrust of Miss Browne, that all connected with the ent

and brown hair cropped close and showing a trace of gray. This and a certain dour grim look he had made me at first consider him quite middle-aged, though I knew later that he was not yet thirty-five. As to the grim

g has turned out to be the most fearful doubting Thomas-thinks the whole scheme quite mad and all t

e kind that seem to see all and reveal nothing.

s Harding's liking." The rough edges of his Scotch burr had been smoothed down by mu

y heart was beating rather quickly at finding myself actually crossing swords with the redoubtable adventur

p itself being-quite the wildest thing ever heard of out of a story-book." Harsh

in wild trips had not been taken. I seem to re

venturer was laughing at me a little under his sober ex

to go along with him!" Of course Aunt Jane is not, properly speaking, an

e, to judge by the sudden

d below, will you? They are overhau

rather hurriedly. There was a kind of still force about this mastered anger of the dour Scot, like the brooding of black

d slowly, "that was a

ad we

back, "but is it not true

let me give the history of my connection with the expedition. You will understand then that I had n

d a version of the m

ainly not," I replied hastily. "I mean-of course,

light but significant emphasis of which he was perhaps unconsc

ish to protect." And suddenly to my dismay my voice grew husky. I had to turn my head aside and blink har

height than the superb Cuthbert-in a way I couldn't quite under

o protecting and a young lady here with such a good will to it. But if you will take the suggestion of a man of rather broader exp

ent of weakness and at him for the softening tone which had crept into his voice.

ay this, Miss Harding: here we are all together, whether we wish to be or no, and for six weeks or more on the island we shall see no faces but

hat I was the rock on which their David-and-Jonathan friendship might split. Otherwise I suppose

any rebellion on my part very easily. I repeat, I had no other object in coming along-though I was really kidnaped along-than to look after my aunt. Th

rd him turn on his heel and go away. It was none too soon, for I had already beg

anced attendance on Aunt Jane and Miss Browne, so assiduously that I already began to see some of my worst fears realized. Ther

getting ready to assume a bless-you-my-children attitude and even to take credit somehow as match-maker. He related anecdotes, in which, as an emissary of Cupid, he played a benevolent and leading role. One detected, too, a g

rry Finn. But a face with a scar running to the eyebrow looked up at me from the pages, and I held col

en a cry rang through