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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1905-11-17, Page 11N1.:1 Only. 1. vies for quick 0 ricinorne with the aatoat, Oom.- placed heat k-keepi an. thoee, who write for attend at . Ideation_ rowing D. Builness 1977-8 Fir* TOWN LIRE!) Thoma masa Z. Grieve, Wirt. chnZonoeweim, John Watt, ; John 13. 1110 too. eY, Seafortts Yeat irobnes 0. liorrItiotr, ED. pay the high of firat-claeo wood, Maid Oak Logs ease eon. Solt leo buy Its, delivered. or by bulk ni aawiug,i AMENT. *Urtit.9 for all ;111'04' Teiblete of Cresolene wit* die and ino • nee Nagenti,nert!,,Aggi. r.4,1 411/1111i..11111111111.11111111111141111MOIMMISIOk in ner mama mecca we girt was over- wrought/ by all that she had gone through. Only by degrees were her thoughts marshaling themselves with. lucid coherence. As yet she recalled so many dramatic incidentsthat they failed. to assume clue proportion. But „gi-tick-ly there came meraories of ° Captain ROSS, of Sir Jelin and Lady Tozer, of the doctor, her maid, the- huudred .and one individualities of her pleasant life aboard ship. Could it be that they Were all dead? The notion was monstrous. But its ghastly signif- icance was instantly borne in upou her by the plight in •whieleehe stood. Her . lips quivered; the tears tremblecl in -her eyes. . "Is it really true that all the slaip's company except ours61ves are lost?" she brokenly demanden. The sailor's ' gravely earnest glance fell before hers. "Unhappily there is no room for doubt," he said. Are you quite quite sure?" • orning By LOUIS TRACY Copyright. 1993, by • Edward J. Glade •;;;;;:•:?:-.1',"-At e: -easy With a geeture of despair he drew ehe sleeve of his thick jersey across his eeyes to clear them from the gatherint , offered:shelter from the wind epro- tection from the sea and its revela- tions. "I am so cold feud tired" murmured Iris. "Is there any water? My throat hurts me." - He pressed back the tangled halt from her forehead ,tis he might' soothe a child. LiTry to lie still for a very few min- utes," he said. "You have not long to suffer. I will return immediately." His own throat and palate were on fire owing te the brine, but he first hurried back to the edge of the lagoon. There were fourteen bodies in all, three women and. eleven men, four of the latter being•Lascars. The women were saloon passengers whom he didt not know. One of the men was the sine geon, another the first officer, a third Sir John Tozer. The rest were passem ger e and taembers of the crew. They °were all dead; some had been peaceful- ly drowned, others were fearfully mangled by the rocks. Two of the Las cars, bearing signs of drea.dfue,injuries, were lying on a cluster ofefolv rocks overhanging the water. The remainder rested' on the sand. The sailor exhibited no visible emo- tion while he conducted his sad scru- "I am sure—of eotne." Involuntarily he turned seaward. She understood him. She sank to her knees, covered her face with her hands and broke into a passion of weeping. With a look cif infinite pity he stooped and would have thuched her sho elder, but he suddenly 'restrained "tho Sonaething had hardene thig man. It cost him an -effort to be cal- lous, but he succeeed. 'His mouth tightened, and his eXpression lost its tenderness. - "Come, come, my dear lady," he ex- claimed, and there was a tinge of stud- ied roughness In his voice, "you must calm yourself. It is the fortune of shipwreck as, well as of war, you know. We are alive and must look after ourselves. Thee who have gone are beyond our help." "Thit not beyond our sympathy," wailed -eels, uncovering 'her ewimming eyes for a fleeting look at him. Even. In the utter desolation of the moment tiny. When he was assured that this she could not helb marveling that this silent company was bond mortal help queer mannered sailor, who spoke like he at once strode an'eay toward the 1a gentleman' and tried. to poet) as her nearest belt of trees. • He could not teU how long the search for water might be protracted, and there was pressing need for it. inferior, who had rescued her with the utmost gallantry, who carried his quix- otic zeal to the point of first supplying her needs when he was in far worse Ile staggered blind/et o he reached the first clump Of case himself, should` be so utterly brushwood be he' tittered. a deligdited ' ex- different to the fate of others. clametion. There, growing in prodigal to open the neck of her dress. Ile was - He waited silently. until her sobs inlet Then he tremblingly endeavored 1 - "Now," decided Jenks, "you must rest here a little While, Miss Deane. I'm going back to the beach. You need not be afraid. There are no animals to harm you, and I will not be far away!' 'What are you going to do on the beach?" she demanded. "To rescue stores, for the most part." "May I not come witb you. I can be of some little service surely?" He answered slowly; "Please oblige me by remaining here at present.- In less than an hour I will return, and then perhaps you will find plenty to She read tis meaning intuitively and shivered. "I could not do that," she murmured. "I would Faint. While you are away I will praytelOr them, nay un- fortunate friends," ' As he passed from her side he heard. her sobbing quietly. When he reached the lagoon he halt- ed suddenly. Something startled. him. Ile was quite certain that he had counted fourteen corpses. Now there Were only twelve. The two Lascars' bodies which rested on the small group of rocks on the verge of the lagoon had vanished. Where had they gone? luxuriance, Wis the beneficent `pitchei ceased. ei startled to find tele girl's eyes wide ed like a teacup, not only li:Odds a last tial that we should obtain some food. . . -hag quantity of rain water, but mixes I don't wish to leave* you alone until therewith its own palatable and liat. twe are better acquainted with our , _ . • open and surveying him with shadowy "Now, madam," he said, "it is essen- ^ 'fah whose large curled up*leaf, shale alarm. She was quite conscious. "Thank God!" he cried hoarsely. "You are alive!' Her color came back with remarka- ble rapidity'. She tried-tAssume a sit- ting posture, and instinctively her bands traveledeto her disarranged cos- tume. twe "How. ridiculous!" she >said, with a little note of annoyance in her voice, Ural juices. . whereabouts. • Can you Walk a little With his knife he Severed two of waytoward the trees, or shall I assist the leaves 'and hastened to Iris with your, the preciotis beverage: She beard him 1 Iris immediately stood up. She press - and managed to raise herself 'on an el- ed her hair back defiantly. bow. The poor girl's eyes glistened at I "Certainly I can walk," she answer - the ptospect of relief. Without a word . ° "What do you Propose to do?" of question or surprise she swallowed elven, madame_ :which sounded. curiously hollow. But the contents of both leaves. ter brave spirit could not yet command Then • she found utterance. "How - ' "What is your name?" she interrupt- _ her enfeebled frame. She was perforce odd it tastes. ' What is it?" eh le ed imperiously. compelled to sink back to the support quired. . . wie ---" "Jenks, madam. Robert Jenks." ' -of his knee and arm. "Thank you. Now listen, Mr. Robert "Da you think you could he quiet un- Jenks. Mee name is Miss Iris Deane. But the eagerness with which she = til I try to find somewater?" he gasp- momentarily forgotten torture. His -you were a steward—that is, until you On board ship I was a passenger and quenched her /thirst renewed his__ own - , She nodded. a childlike acquiescence, . became a seaman. Here we are equals -tel anxiously. ' tongue seemed to swell. He was alo and her eyelids tell. It was only that The -water revkved Iris like a magic in misfertune, but in all else you are somtely unable to reply. her eyes smarted dreadfully from the draft. Her quick intuition told. her. the leader. I am quite useless. I can salt water, but the sailor was sure only help in matters by your direction, what had happened. ti -at this was a premonition of a lapse "You have . had none yourself!" she to unconsciousness. es cried. "Go at °ace and get some! And e 'Please try not to faint again," he please bring me som, more!" said. "Don't you think i had better He required no se ond bidding. Aft - more easily." _ . er hastily gulliing down the_ contents of several leaves he returned vilth a loosen these things? You, can breathe A ghost of ii. smile flickered on her further supply. Iris was now sitting lips. "No—no," she raurmilred. "Ily up. The sun had burst royally through -eyes hurt me—that is all. Is there— the clouds, and her dallied limbs were any—water?" , gaining some degree of 'warmth and He laid her tenderly on the sand and 'elasticity. rose to his feet. His first ela c 'I e was- "What is it?" she repeated after an toward the "sea. He saw something other delicious draft which made him blink with astoaisie "The leaf of the pitcher plant. Na . ture is not always cruel. In an um ••••••••••••••*••••••••....1 CHAPTER III. HE sailor wasted no time in idle bewilderment. He searcbed carefully for traces of the mete- ing Laecars. He eame to the conclusion that the -bodies had been dragged from off the sun dried roeks into the lagoon by some agency the ea- ture of which he could not even con- jecture. They were lying many feet above the sea level when he last saw them, lit- , tle more than hag an bour earlier. At .,that point the beach .shelved rapidly. He could look far into the depths of the rapidly clearing water. Nothing was visible there save several varie- ties of small fish. The incident puzzled. and, annoyed -him. Still thinleing about it, he sat down on. the highest rock and pulled off hie heavy boots to empty the wa- ter out. He also divested himself of his stockings and spread them out to dry. The action reminded him of Miss Deane's necessities. Ile burred to a point whence he could call out to her and recommend' her to dry some 'of her clothing during his absence. He retired even more quickly, fearing lest he should be seen. Iris had already displayed to the sunlight a large por- tion of her costume. • Without further delify he set about a disagreeable but necessary task. FrOm the pockets of the first officer and doctor he secured two revolvers and a supply of cartridges, evidently inteeded to settle any dispute whicli might have arisen between,. the ship's. officers and the native members of the crew. He hoped the cartridge? were uninjured, but be could not test them at tbe moment for fear of alarming Miss Deane. Both officers carried pocketbooks and pencils. In one of these, containing dry leaves i the sailor made a careful inweitoey oe the money and other val- uable effectsehe found upon the dead, besides noting names and documents look of gratitude at her eutepanion. Hove thoughtful he wa.s1 After a fear- ful glance around she was reassured, though she wondered what had become of --them. "I see you have been busy," she said, nodding toward the clothes and boots. "Yes," he replied siro.ply. "Lucky, find, 'wasn't It?" "Most fortunate. When they are quite dry I will replenish my wardrobe. What is the first thing to be done?" "Well, Miss Deane, I think our pro- gramme is, in the first pla.ce, to ex- amine the articles thrown ashore and see if any of the cases contain food. Secondly, we should haul bigh and dry - everything that May of use to us, lest the weather should break again and the next tide sweep away the spoil. Thirdly, -we should eat and rest, and, filially, we must explore the island. be- fore the light fails. I am convinced we are alone here. It is a small place at the best, and if any Chinamen were ashore they veould bave put in an ap- pearance long since." "Do you think, then, that we may re- main here long?" nee "It is impossible to form 1111 pinlon oni that noint Help may co e Lu a day. On tile other hand"— "Yes?" • "It is in wise thing, Miss Deane, to prepare for other contingencies." "Do yen mean," she said slowly, "that we may be imprisoned here for weeks, perhaps months?" "If you cast your mind back a- few hours you will perhaps admit that we are very, fortunate to be here at all." She whisked round. upon not fence with ray question, Answer me!" He bowed. There was, a perceptible return of his stubborn cynicism when be spoke. "The, facts are obvious, Miss Deane. The loss of the Sirdar will not be definitely, known for many days. Itt will be assumed that. she has broken down. The agents in Singapore will await cabled tidings of her where- abouts. She naighe have drifted any- where in that typhoon. :Ultimately they will send out a vessel to search, impelled to that course a little earlier by your father'sjiinxiety. Pard.on me. I did not intend. to pain you. I an speaking my mind." "Go on," said Iris bravely. "The relief ship must search the en- tire China sea. The gale might have driven a disabled, steamer north, south, east or west. A typhoon travels in a whirling spiral, you see, and the direc- tion of a drifting ship depends wholly upon the locality where she sustained danaage. The coasts of China, Sava, Bonteo and the Philippines are not equipped with lighthouses on every headland and cordoned with telegraph wires. There are river pirates and say - age races to he reckoned with. Casting aside all other possibilities and assuna- ing that a prompt searcb is raade to the south of our course, this part of the ocean is full of reefs and small islands, some inhabited permanently, others visited occasionally by fishermen." He was ebout to add something, but check. - ed himself, "To sum up," he continued hurriedly, ewe may have to remain here for many ment A heavy sea was still running usually generous mood she devised. this method/of storing water." Miss Deane reached out her hand for more. Her troubled brain refused to wonder at such a reply from an orde nary seaman. The sailor deliberately spilled the content § of iii remaining leaf OD. the sand. , "No, madam," he said, with an ,od mixture of deference and firmness. " over the barrier reef which inclosed a, small lagoon. The contrast between. the fierce Commotion outside and the comparatively smooth surface of thea protected. pool. was very marked. At low tide the lagoon .was almost com- pletely isolated. Indeed, imagiued that only a fierce gale blowing from the northwest would enable the waves eto leap the reef, save where a strip of broken water, surging far into the more at Present. I must first procure small natural harbor, betrayed tbe po- you, some food." sition af the tiny entrance. She looked up at him" in momentary Yet at this very point a tine cocoanut, palm reared its stately column high in 0 silence. - e "The ehip is lost?" she said after a :air, and its long, tremulous frond§ tveie pause. how swinging wildly before. the gale. "Yes, - madam." ._ • A Penne where he stood it appeared_ to eAre we the only people 'greed?" e le be .growing in the midst of the sea for "I fear se." - __. t• .. "It this a desert island?" "I think :net, madam. . It may by en chance be. temporarily uninhabited, but * .1-iilneding together through, the sand. fishermen from China come to all these so "I -0.o not wish to be addressed as places. . I have teen net other living be `madam' :in every breath. Do you un - 'tags except ourselves. . NevertheleSs derstand me?" 1 the Islanders May live on the south . "As you wish, Miss Deane," he said. , side." , . "The fact remains that I lisive many "It surely ('not be possible that Mae • things to -attend to, and we really must Sirdar has gon to pieceee—a mag cent vessel of her size and strength?" He answered quietly; "It it too true, madam. I suppose' pail hardly knew huge breakers completely hid the cora embankment. This sentinel of the land had a weirdly impressive effect. It was the only fixed object in the waste -of -foam capped waves. Not a vestige of the Sirdar remained seaward, but the sand was littered with wreckage, and—mournful spectacle—a considera- ble another of inanimate human forms lay huddled up amid the relics of the steamer. This discovery stirred him to action. He turned to survey the land. on which he was stranded with his helpless com- panion. To his great relief he discov- ered that it was lofty and tree clad He knew that the ship could not have drifted to Borneo, whicla still lay far ts the south. This must be one of the hundreds of islands which stud the • China sea and provide resorts for Hai- nan fisherreen. Probably it was in- babited, though he thought it strange that none of the islanders had. put in -an appearance. In any: event water and food. of some Sort were assured.: Slit before setting out upon his quest' two things demanded attention. The • girl must be removed, from her present position. It would be too horrible to permit her first conscious gaze te rest Amon those crumpled objects on the , beach. COMMOD. humanity demanded, ,too, that he should hastily examine each a the bodies in case life was not • wholly extinct. So he bent over the girl, noting with .sudden wonder that, weak its she was, she had. managed to refasten. part of ie v bodice. "You must permit me to candy you fe: little farther inland," he explained gently. Without another word he lifted her fel his arras, marveling somewhat at the strength which came of necessity, sind bore her some little distance until ee sturdy rock jutting out of the Band eat something." "What can we eat?"' "Let us fin g out," he replied, man- ning the nearest trees with keen sale, she struck, it happened so sn.1 e y, tiny. . Afterivard,. fortunately for you, you They plodded: together through the were unconseibus." en sand in silence. Physically they were "How do eou know?" she inquired a superb couple, but in raimeut they resembled scarecro-ws. Both, of course, - were bareheaded. The sailor's jersey and trousers were, old and torn, and the sea water still soughed loudly hi his heavy 'boots with each step. But Iris Wafg, in a deplorable plight. . you m. "Do Jenks. are here, nits It Is oftel very cold at night in this latitude. A desahth:coveroy chill would mean. fever wad perbaps The 13odie,s were shot into the lagoon. watched his prepara- tions. He tore a dry leaf from it note - bee% and broke the bullet out of it cartridge, damping the po.wder with water from a pitcher plant. Smearing thd composition on the paper, he placed it in the sun, where it .dried at once. Ile gathered a small bundle of with- ered spines feora the palms and arrang- ed the driftwood on top, choosing a place for his bonfire just witbin the shade. Then inserting the n:11611 pee , per among the spines he unscrewed one of the lenses of the binoculars, converted it into a burning glass and hag a fine blaze roaring merrily in a few minute With the aid of pointed sticks he grilled spme slices of ham, cut -with his clasp knife, which be first carefully cleaned in the earth. The biscuits were of the variety that be- come soft when toasted, and to he bal- anced a few by stones near the fire. Iris forgot her annoyance ber in- terest. A,. most appetizing smell filled tbe win They were having a picnic . amidst delightful surroundings. Yes- terday at this time-- She almost yielded to a rush a sentiment, but forced it back with instant determination. Tears were a poor resource, unmindful of God's goodness to herself and her com- panion. Without the sailor, • what would bave become of her, even were she thrown ashore -while still living? She knew none of the expedients Which seemed to be at his command. "Can I do nothing to help?" she ex- claimed. So contrite was her tone that Jenks veal; astonished. "Yes," he said, pointing to the dish cover. "If you polish the topeof that with your sleeve it will serde as a plate. Luncheon is ready." He neatly dished up two slices of ham on it couple of biscuits and hand- ed them to her with the clasp kulfe. "I can depend on my fingers," he ex- plained. "It will not be the first time." she asked, by way Of polite conversa- t'io"mllave you led an adventurous life?" "No," he growled. "I only thought so because you ap- pear to know all sorts of dodges for prolonging existence—things I never heard of. "Broiled liam—and biscuits—fer in- stafice2" At another time Iris would have snapped at him for the, retort. Still humbly regretful for her previous at- titude, she answered meekly: "Yes, in this manner of cooking them, I mean. But there are other items— methods of lighting fires, finding water, knowing what fruits and other articles 'may be found on a desert island, such as plantains and cocoanuts and certain sorts of birds." When the meal 'WAS ended eenks Sprang lightly to his feet Rest and ..•••••••..”.•*•••••••••. quietly. They were flung ashore on the riorth- west side of the island. Except for the eove formed by the -coral roof, with its mysteri s palm tree growing ap- t parently in e midst of tbe wavete^the Zliape of the coast was rougbly that of the Concave side of it bow, the twee visible extremities being About three- quarters of B. mile apart. He guessed by the wity in whieh the sew raced past these points 'that the land did not extend beyond them. Be- hind him it rose steeply to a eonsidera- ble height, 150 or 200 feet, In the cen- ter was the tallest hill, whieh seemed to end abruptly towartl the Beuthwest On the northeast side it was ceeneet- ed with a rocky promontory by a ridge of easy grade. The sailor turned to the southwest as offering the most likely direction for rapid survey. He was not surprised to find that the hill terminated in a sbeer wall of rock, which stood out, ominous and triassive, from the wealth of verdure clothing the reraainder of the ridge_ Facing the ` precipice and separated from it by a strip of ground not twen- . ty feet above the sea level ill the high- est part was another rocle btdit mill- i nence quite bare of trees, blackened by. i the weather and. Scarreg, in it Manner - that attested the attacks of lightntng. The intervening belt was eparsely dotted with trees, easuarinas, peon. and other woods he did, not knoW, resem- bling ebony and -cedar. A eunaber of stumps showed that the ax had been at work, but not recently. Re passed into the cleft and. climbed a tree that offered. easy access. As he eimectede after rising a few feet from the ground his eyes encountered the solenin blue line of the sea, not half a mile distant. He descended. and commenced a. Sys- tematic search. Men had been here. Was there a house? Would he sudden- ly encounter some hermit Idialay or Chinaman? At, the foot of the main diff was a cluster of fruit bearing trees—plan- tains, areca nuts and cocoa palms. ,A2 couple of cinchonas caught his eye. In. one spot the undergrowth was rank and vividly green. The eessava, or tapioca plant, reared its higli passion ficaver leaves above the grass,. and some sago palms thrust aloft their thick stemmed trunks. "Here is a change of menu, at any rate," he communed. Breating 8, thick branch off it peon tree, he whittled. awaw the minor stems. A strong stick wee needful to explore that leafy fastness thoroughly. A. few cautious strides and vigorou• s vehacks with the stick laid bare the ca.use of such prodigality in a soil cov- ered with drifted sand and lumps of black and White speckled corah The trees and. bushes inclosed a welle-safe- guarded, in fact, from being choked with sand dieting tbe iirst gale that blew. Dhlighted with this discovery, more precious than diamonds at 'the mo- ment —for he doubted. the advisability of existing on the water supply a the pitcher plant—he kuelt to peer into the excavation. The -well had beernpreper- ler made. Ten'feet down he could see the reflection of his face. Evert hands had. tapped, the secret reservoir of the isla.nd. By stretching to the full ex- tent of his arm he taa.naged to plunge the stick into the water. TBStillg the drops, he found that they'were quite sweet. The sand and porous rock pre- viad the best of filter beds. He rose, well pleased, and noted. that on the opposite Bide the appearance , of the shrubs and tufts of long grasS indicated tile '4.'sifitclIce Of a grhVell overt., Path toward the 6iff. He tollowea it, walking earelessly, with eyes seeking the prospect beyond, when something rattled and cracked beneath his feet - Looking down, he was horrified to find he was trampling on a skeleton. Bad a yenomous snake coiled its glis- tening folds around his leg he would not have been more startled. But this days, everiimonths. There is always a chance of speedy help, We must act, where possible. Curiously enough, the however, en the basis of detention for capitalist of this island morgue was a an indefinite period.' I em discussing Lascar, who te a belt around. his waist appearances as they are. A survey of the island may change all these views." "In what way?" He turned and pointed to the sum- mit of the tree covered hill behind til‘e•Illi.om that point," he said, "we may see other and larger islands. -If so, they will certainly be inhabited. I am surprised this one is not." Ile ended. abruptly. They were los-. ing- time. Before Iris could join him he was alread/ hauling a large un- damaged. case At of the water. He laughed unneirthfully. "Charm, pagne!" he said. "A good brand. tee' This man was certainly an enigma. Iris wrinkled. her pretty forehead in ' the effort to place him in a fitting cote - gory. His words and. accent were those of an educated gentleman, yet his actions and manners were studious-. ly uncouth. wben he thought she was observing him. The veneer of rough- ness puzzled her. That he was nat- urally of refined temperament she knew quite well, not alone by percep- tion, but by the plain evidence of his earlier dealings with her.. To the best of her ability she silently helped in the work of salvage. They made a queer eollection. A case of cliampa,gne and. another of brandy, a box of books, a pair of night geneses, a compass. sever boxes of ship's bus !tilts, coated with salt, but saved_ by their hardness, baying been iiiamersed but a few seconds; twolarge cases of aams in equally good condition, isome auge dish covers, it bit of twisted iron work and a great quantity of cordage and timber. There was one very heavy package, which their united. strength could not lift. The sailor searched around until he 'found an iron bar 'that could be wrenched from its socket. With this he pried open the strong outer cover i.nd 'revealed the contents—reg,ulation boxes of ammunition, each. containing 500 rounds. "Ali!" he cried. "Now we wantesome rifles." „ "What good -would they be?' itiquir ed Itis. He softly denounced himself as a fool, but he answered at once: "To shoot birds, of course, Miss Deane. There are plenty here, and. many of theta. are edible." They worked. in silence for another hour. The sun was nearing the zenith. They wete distressed with the increas- ing heat of the day. Jenks secured. a ham and some biscuits, some pieces of driftwood and the binoculars and invit- ed. Miss Deane to accompany him to the grove. She obeyed. without a word, though she wondered howi he proposed. to light a fire. To contribute some- thing toward the expected. feast she picked up a dish cover and. a bottle of champagne. The sailor eyed. the concluding item with disfavor. "Not while the tun is up," he said. "In the evening, yes." "It was for you" explained Iris cold- ly. "I do not drink wine." "You neuet break the pled, ge while hoarded more than a hundred pounds ih gold. The sailor tied in a handker- chief all the money he collected and ranged pocketbooks, letters and jew- elry in separate little heaps. Then he stripped the men of their boots and outer clothieg. He could. not tell how long the girl and he might be detained on the island before help came, and fresh garments were essential. It would be foolish septimentality to trust to stores thrown ashore from the ship. Nevertheless when it became neces- sary to search and disrobe the women he almost broke down. For an instant he softened. Gulping hack his emo• tions with a savage imprecation, he doggedly persevered. At last he pans - ed to consider what should. be done with the bodies. His first intent was to _scoop a large hole in the sand with a piece of timber, but when he took intc cousideration the magnitude of the la- bor involved, requiring many hours of hard work and it waste of precious time which might be of infinite value toihis helpless companion. and himself; he 'was forced to a.bandon. the project It was uot only impracticable, but elan gerohs. Again he had to set his teeth with grim resolution. One by one the bod- ies were shot into the lagoon from the little quay of rock. He knew they would. not be seen again. He arose and shook himself like s dog. There was much to be clone. Hi gathered. the clothes and other article into it heap and placed portions of shat tered packing cases near to misleae Iris. While thus engaged- he kickei up out of the sand a rusty creese, om liiialay sword. The presence of this lin quickly. .A. flood of vivid recollection , was limiting 'in Upon. her. "1—ereleirell, I ,haPpened to be near you, madam, when. the ship broke up, and we—er—drifted. ashore together." . She rose and facedealm. I remem- ber now," she cried byeterically. 'Tau Her hair fell in it great wave of gold - caught me as I was thrown into the en brown strands over her neck and cerridor. . We fell into the sea when shcailders. Every* *hairpin had vanish - the 'vessel turned °Vert You Wive saved - ed, but with a few dexterous twists my life. Were it not for yo I could not possibly bave escaped." k She gazed athim more earnestly, see' ing that he blushed beneatia the crust of salt and sand that covered his face edWhy," she Weetdon, with growing ex- !Itement, "you are the stewaid I no - !iced in the saloon yesterday. Hove' is it that you are now dressed as a 3ailor?" • He answered readily enough. "There was an accident on board during the gale, ,madam. I 'am a fair sailor, but a poor steward, so I applied for i a transf'er. As the crew was short hand- ed, mit offer was accepted." Irie was now looking at him intently. 'You saved. my' life," she repeated slowly. It seemed. that this obvione fact needed. to be ind,elibly established she coiled the flying tresses into it loose knot Her beautiful Muslin dress was rent and draggled. It was dfying. seaPidly under the ever increasing new- . er-of tbe sun; and she surreptitiously endeavored to coinplete the fastening of the wen portion about her neck.' 'Suddenly he gaVe it glad shout. "By' Jove,, nits Deane, we are in hick's Way! 'There is a fine plantain tree." The pangs of hunger couldiaot be re- sisted. -Althongia the fruit was hardly ripe, they tore at the great bunches .an.d'ate ravenously. Iris made no pre- terite in the Matter, and the sailor was in WerSe ..0141-01t, for he had been on duty 'cOntinuousIy since 4 ehlock the previous afternoon. .At last -their. appetite was somewhat appeased, though plantiOns 'Might not appeal to a -gourmand as the solitary 'element startled him. He examined it slowly and thrust it out of sight. Then he went back to her, after don- ning his stockings and boots, now thor- oughly dry. "Are you ready now, Miss Deane?" he sang out cheerily. _ "Ready? I have been waiting for you." Jenks chuckled quietly. "I must guard ray tongue. It betrays me," he said to himself. Iris joined him. By some mysterious means she hag effected great improve- ment in her appearance. Yet there were manifest gaps. "If only I bad a needle and thread"— she began. "If that is all," said the sailor, fum- bling in his pockets. Ile produced a shabby little hussif containing a thim- ble, scissors, needles and some skeins of unbleached thread. Case and con- tents were sodden or rusted with salt water, but the girl fastened upon this treasure with a sigh of deep content. "Now, please," she cried, "I waet a telegraph office and a ship." When they reached the sands she caught sight Of the pile of clothes and the broken woodwork, with the small heaps of valuables methodically ar- ranged. The harmless subterfpge did not deceive her. She darted a quick food had restored his faculties. Tile girl thought dreamily, as he stood there in his rough attire, that she bad never seen a finer man. He was tall, sinewy and well formed. In. repose his face was pleasant, if masterful. Its somewhat sullen, self contained ex- pression was occasional and acquired. She wondered. how be could. be so ener- getic. Personally, she was consumed with sleepiness. He produced a revolver. "Do you mind if I fire a shot to test these cartridges?" he inquired. "The powder is all right, .leat- the fulminate In the caps may be damaged." She agreed. promptly. He pointed the weapon. at a cluster of cocoamits, and there was a loud report._ Two nuts fell to the ground, and the air was fill- ed with shrill screams and the flapping of innumerable wings. Iris Was .mo- rientarily dismayed, but her senses confirmed the sailor's explanation — "Sea birds." -- • "Can you use a revolver?" be asked. "My father taught me. He thinks every woman should know how to de- fend herself if need be." "Excellent. Weil, Miss Deane, you must try to sleep for it couple of hours. purpose examining the coast for some distance on each side. Should you want me. a shot will be the best sort of signal," 4 "1 am very tired," she adMitted. "But your --oh, I ujm all right! 'I feel restless— that is, 1 mean I will not be able to sleep until niebt comes, and before we climb the hill to survey our domain I want to find better quarters than we now pee-zee:a," Perhaps were she less fatigued_ she would have eaught the vague anxiety, the. note 4+1' distrust, in his voice. But 1IDetsepe; of sand and leaves on which she lay 'was ery eeduel ive. Her eyes eloecd. She nestled into a comforta- ble poeition ond slept - The mtttt MOVed the revolver out of haviree -way to a spot where She must sce it ieelantlY, pulled his soedwester well over hiS eyes and Wa1keeo2 man of Iron nerve soon recovered, Re frowned deeply after the 'first involun- tary heart throb. With the stiek ite cleared away the undergrowth and revealed the skeleton of a man. The bones were big ,and strong, but oxidized by the -action of the • air. Jenks had injurethe left tibia by his tread, but three fraetered ribs and 'a smashed. should& blade told some terrible unwritten story. Beneath the mournful relics were fragments of decayed cloth. It was blue serge. Lying about were a few blackened objects, brass bet -tons mark- ed with an anchor. The deaeman's boots were in the best state of preser- vadat, but the leather had sbrunk, and the nails protruded like fangs. * A. rusted pocketknife lay there, and on the left breast of the skeleton rest- ed a 'round piece of tin, the top of a canister, which might have reposed ire a coat pocket Jenks picked it up, Some curious marks and figures were punched into is surface. After a hastyi, glance he put it aside for more leisure exemination. No weapon 1519 visible. He cotia form no estimate as to the cause of the. death of this poor unknovm nor the tinr Once the tragedy. had -occurred._ (To be continued.) HELP FOR LITTLE ONES. .m••••• •••••• •••••• It is n recognized fact that babies —and. indeed all children—need a. medicine of their oven. Medieal melt know, too, that most baby medicines do more harm than good—that =Ott of them contain poisonous opiates, that drug children into quietness without curing their little ills. • Baby's Own Tablets is a modern ,'Inedieine, for babies o.nd young chil- dren, and le sold Wider a guarantee to >contain am opiate or harmful Arug. It cures stomach, bowel and teething troubles, andby its :natural, healthy action promotes eleep oxid ye - pose. It makes little ores well and keeps thero. well. Mrs. W. E. Artsell, • Ayer's nat., Que., say "1 I woulel, advise nvery mother with sick or fretful ichildren to 'use Baby's Owee Tablets. They are the rest satis- factory meditine I have ever tried, and ;time.< ma.gital in their effects." You can get the Tablets from any - medicine dealer en by mail at 25 cents a box by writing the Dr. Wfllianttf Meditine Co., ifireoldvillene tario.