VI

IN WHICH KIRK ANTHONY IS GREATLY SURPRISED


When Kirk came on deck early the following morning, he found the
Santa Cruz nosing her way into Colony harbor. A land fog obscured
his view somewhat, but through it he beheld a low, irregular line
of mountains in the background, and close at hand a town. The ship
came to anchor abreast of a point upon which he descried a squat
little spider-legged lighthouse and long rows of frame dwellings
half hidden behind slender palm-trees. Beyond were warehouses and
docks and the funnels of many ships; on either side of the bay was
a dense tropic wilderness. As the sun dissipated the morning haze,
he saw that the hills were matted with a marvellous vivid green.
There were no clearings on the slopes, no open spaces dotted with
farm-houses or herds, the jungle flowed down to the water's edge
in an unbroken sweep, and the town was cut out of it.

A launch came plunging through the swells, and the deck steward
made his rounds requesting the passengers to assemble for medical
examination.

Kirk found the Cortlandts ahead of him.

"What's coming off?" he inquired.

"Vaccination," Cortlandt explained, briefly. "They are very
particular about disease."