Something In It

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet and writer. 


There was a bay upon the island, but the native said that it was the death to bathe there. The missionary heard many tales from natives. He was aware of a house raised on piles above the sea that was built of yellow reeds. The natives warned him that there is something strange in this house and he should avoid it.

“There is nothing in that,” said the missionary; and he came to the bay, and went swimming. Strong wind took him and bored towards the reef. He swam harder, but the wind carried him away. He had never seen such house. It was a fine house, but there was no man there, and when the missionary looked back he saw no island, only the heaving of the sea.