Greensea Island; A Mystery of the Essex Coast (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER FIVE "By Jove " exclaimed Ross enviously. "You are a lucky ruffian " We had halted the car at the top of a gently rising slope, and there, stretched out below us, lay the shining expanse of the Danewell Estuary. For a couple of miles in either direction a winding belt of silver gleamed and sparkled in the bright morning sunshine. On the left it narrowed gradually towards the small tidal haven of Barham Lock, from which point one could just trace the placid course of the river Shell, meandering along idly through the marshes. On the right it opened out by degrees into an ever-broadening channel, until far away in the distance, where a faint haze brooded over everything, it merged itself imperceptibly into the grey waters of the North Sea. I pointed to a small, irregularly shaped island which lay out in mid-stream, almost exactly ahead of us. "That," I said, "is Greensea." Shading his eyes with his hand, Ross gazed 'down at my new inheritance. One could not see very much of the house, for the straggling cluster of trees that surrounded it practically hid it from the mainland. All that was plainly visible was a neglectedlooking landing-stage with a roughly built wooden boat-house alongside. "Seems nice and private," he observed. "Just the place for a retiring nature like yours." He took another glance, and then turned to me with an air of disappointed enquiry. "I don't see the dog or the prize-fighter though. Why aren't they standing on the quay waiting for us? It is very disrespectful of them." "Never mind," I said. "Perhaps they're getting lunch ready. That's a heap more important." We ran down the short incline into the little hamlet of Pen Mill, and pulled up outside the oldfashioned Gunner's Arms. For a moment I sat where I was, and looked round...