Read The Savage Gentleman for Free Online

with a forked tail--and the fork was their bay. They had built their house at the end of the "tail"--
    at the end of a long and narrow peninsula which had given Stone his idea of the island's dimensions.

    Actually, the main body of the island ran north and south for at least fifteen miles.
    From east to west it stretched some twenty miles. The pinnacle on which they sat was its highest point.

    A rim of rock ran along the southern shore. The land was half savannah--like the stretch through which they had made their way--and half thick jungle and forest. But in the center of the main body of the island was a large lake.

    The new green of the grasses, the darker sheens of the trees, the blue of the lake, the tawny colors of the coastal rocks and beaches and, above all, the indigo of the surrounding sea made a magnificent spectacle.

    McCobb thrilled with an emotion almost religious. Here was beauty, adventure, variety, area. Above all--area. Space to move in, space to investigate, and an end of the oppressive feeling of smallness.

    Then he looked at Stone and Stone was standing on the rock, his mane of dark hair blowing, his gaunt face set, and tears on his cheeks.

    They remained there for more than an hour, drinking in the extent of their kingdom. Then they made separate analyses of the territory. They talked a little and mentioned especially that there was no sign of human habitation, no smoke except their own, no clearings or village visible.

    After that they went back.

    On the prairie they relocated the herd of zebu-oxen and Stone's rifle brought one to earth. They carried away as much meat as they could and presently they returned to the stockade.

    That night their spirits knew no bounds. They told Jack a hundred times what they had found, and Jack vaguely realized its significance. They ate the fresh meat with gusto, and uttered unreasonable praise of its qualities.

    And that night, after dinner, McCobb gave voice to his one remaining doubt. He spoke to Stone when they were on the wide porch.

    "There's one little thing," he began, "that I can mention now. I couldn't speak of it until we had reached an understanding of each other. But everything has turned out so well--"

    Stone prompted him. "What is it?"

    "I like it here. I like the life. It's making a man of me. I like you. I like Jack. I don't mind staying fifteen or twenty years, if twenty are necessary. When I get back I'll have enough money to keep me the rest of my life. If I hadn't come here I'd have probably married a shrew--" he was alarmed by that inadvertent statement, but Stone only laughed~"and settled into a little hell called home.

    "But since we landed here I've known something that you have done but not mentioned."

    "Yes?" Stone's voice was placid.

    The Scotchman smoked in silence for a time.

    "Just exactly how long will we stay here?"

    "Why--you know as much about that as I do."

    An inner fear sounded in McCobb's words. "There isn't any real reason for keeping me in suspense. You know the day. You planned everything so perfectly that certainly you've left in. New York or somewhere--even in several places--" McCobb laughed with a heartiness he did not quite feel-- "instructions to be opened in fifteen or twenty years. Instructions telling the opener how to rescue us, giving the position of the island and funds to send an expedition here." When the tall man did not speak, McCobb continued: "I know your type of man. You wouldn't throw yourself and your son away when there was such an easy and sure method of accomplishing this isolation for education and of making a return sure."

    No answer.

    "What about it, Stone?"

    McCobb peered through the dark.

    "Stone!"

    He leaped to his feet. He went to Stone's side. Stone had fainted--and McCobb knew that there was one thing of which the great organizer had not thought. Even while he unbuttoned Stone's shirt and felt his faltering heart, the Scot looked over the sea and thought icily that it would