"WHITE ISLAND"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 56, 7 March 1931, Page 18

"WHITE ISLAND"

«» f r\U, Jim, what «an we do to help , 6H J Dad? He hasn't had a good' haul of lish for such a long time, and he's beginning to-look quite worried now that there is no fish for him to sell." As Peggy Travers spoke to her brotlier Jim, her usually merry face was grave, and she frowned as she looked despondently out of the window. The Travors' small cottage was situated almost on the beach, and as she looked, Pccrwy's caze fell ou a large island about two miles out from the beach. "But it's no good us standing hero, «rousin" " she continued. "Let's go for a row across to White Island. There are two caves round on the other side that we haven't explored yet. Oh, Jim, wouldn't it be ripping if we could find Grandpa's chart! What a pity he was' drowned before he told Dad where .'' . . he put it " i ■:..■.• They both went down to the- beach and hauled their small boat down to thosea. They soon reached Whito Island, and were both talking and laughiuo- when they lauded. Having pulled the boat up on the sand, they started off to the other side of the island.-Her©' they entered a cave and came to two paths, one branching to the right and one to the left. ' ■■:- ■' "I'll go along the right path, Jim," .. said Peigy, "and if I find anything interesting, I'll call you." . She walked some way along the path, and then called to Jim in great excitement ' . "Coo-ec, Jim, come: here!" ' For she found herself at a small opening which she could see led to a round cave, rather like a room in size and appearance. What mostly attractcd her attention was a rough table and two home-made chairs standing in. the centre of the cave. Upon the table were various seamen's instruments, and some ink and pieces of paper;' By this time Jim had joined her, and they both started looking at the papers, "Look, Peggy! It's a map of these caves, and see, there's a trapdoor oa it. Come and hunt for it." "Let's look on it first to see whose it is," said Peggy. "Why, it has got' Erie Travers'writton on it, and the date 1899. That was Grandpa's name, so it must be his . chart, Jim," she continued. .

— They were all excitement sow, arid both. begun looking for the ..trapdoor. Eventually they found it in a eornor -of the cave and both tugged feverishly at it. After some pulling and tugging it came back suddenly, precipitating them both on the ground. They rose quickly with a short, excited laugh, and found that steps led down into the darkness. . "I'll go first with the torch, Peggy, and you can follow," said Jim. Down, down they went, and when, .they had counted fifty steps, they felt sand beneath thejr feet. In the distanco they could hear the sea. Both looked at the map again and found that if they went on they would, find another cave. After a short while they came to it, and found that piled up nearly to the roof were.boxes and. bales. ... _ "I say, Peggy," said Jim, "this must be an old smugglers' cave. Don't you .remember there is a story about.a smugglers'ship being wrecked off.this.island a long time ago.'" ••- -• They looked in one box 'and ;fouild a number of old coins as well,as: glit.termg jewels. . "Come on to the boat and go horn* to wait for Dad," said Jim. -."Gee, wou fc he be Phased that we found Grandpa's., chart. .. .'. . They rowed back, and were surprised to *cc their father, home long before.his usual time. "You two look very excited," said Mr. Travers, sadly, on seeing the children. "Ah, but you won't be^ excited for long. I couldn't get any fish, so came homo early. There is.a man here who wants to buy the cottage and my boat, I'll have to sell them both and- nnd work elsewhere, and buy a small house just big enough for. the three of us. ."But, Dad, you won.'t have to sell them, for we've found Grandpa's chart over at White Island! There's some gold and other things over there, explained Jim. "Tell the man to go and. come over to White Island now and we'll show you." They soon brought back to .land tin main part of the contraband, and there were no two children more happy than. Peggy and Jim Travers,. after their lucky visit, to White Island, '.MAKGOT (15). Carterton. .. .