The Morning herald., 1876-11-30
CORD AND CRRBsR.
CHAPTER VIII.
TIE SIGNAL OF FIRE.

hull of the ship was visible, bnt it was on
y the uppermost line OF the null. He
was standing on the very top .. the rock,
on it, highest point. From the deck they
could not see the rock itself. He stopped
down, and perceived that the hull of the
ship sank out Of sight. Then he knew
that the rock would not be visible to them
at all. Only the upper half OF his body
could by any possibility be visible, and he
knew enough Of the sea to understand that
this would have the dark sea for back
ground to observers in the ship, and there
fore could not beseen.
Still be would not yield TO the detection
that was rapidly coming over him, and
deepening into despair evey minute. Never
before had be 60 clung to hope-never be-
fore had his soul been more indomitable
strong self-assertion.
He stood there still waving his staff as
though his life now depended upon that
dumb yet eloquent signal-as though, like
Moses, as long AS his arms were erect, so
long would he be able to triumph over the
assault of despair. Hours passed. Still
no notice was taken of him. Still the ship
held on her course slowly, yet steadily,
and no change of direction, no movement
Of any kind whatever, showed that he had
been seen. What troubled him now was
the idea that the ship did not come any
nearer. This at first he refused to believe,
but at last he saw it beyond doubt, for at
length the hull was no longer visible
above the horizon.
The ship was now due north from the
rock, sailing on line directly parallel with
the island. 1t came no nearer. 1t was
only passing by it. And now Brandon
saT that his last hope of attracting atten-
tion by the signal was gone. The ship
was moving onward to the west, and every
minute would make it less likely that those
on board could see the rock.
During the hours in which he had
watched the ship he had been busy conjec-
turing what she might be, and from what
port she mi ght have come. The direction
indicated China almost undoubtedly. He
depicted in his mind large; commodious,
and swift ship, with many passengers on
their way back to England. He immag-
ined pleasant society, and general inter-
course. His fancy created thousand
scenes Of delightful association with 'the
kindly race of men," All earthly hap.
piness seemed to him at that time to find
its centre on board that ship which passed
before his eyes.
The seas were bright and sparkling,
calm and deeply blue, the winds
breathed seftly, the white swelling sails
puffed out like clouds against the blue sky
beyond. The ship seemed to the lonely
watcher like Heaven itself. Oh! to pass
beyond the limits Of this narrow sandy
waste! to cross the waters and enter there
OH to reach that ship which moved on so
majestically, to enter there and be at rest!
1t was not given him to enter there
Braddon soon saw this. The ship moved
farther away. Already the sun was sink
ing, and the sudden night Of the tropics
was coming swiftly on. There was no
longer any hope.
He flung the staff down till it broke
asunder on the hard rock, and stood for
some moments looking out at sea in mute
despair.
Yet could he have known what was
shortly to be the fate of that ship-shortly
only in few days-he would not have de-
SPARED, he would have rejoiced, since if
death were to be his lot it We're better to
die where he was than be rescued and enjoy
life afresh. aud then have that hope extin-
guished in blood.
But Brandon did not remain long in idle
ness. There was yet one resource-one
which he had already thought of through
that long day, but hesitated to try, since he
would have to forsake his signal-station;
and to remain there with his staff seemed
to him then the only purpose Of his life.
Now since the signal staff had failed, he
had broken it, as some magician might
break the wand which had failed to work
its appropriate spell, and other things
were before him. He took his coat and
descended from the rock to make last ef-
fort for life. He walked back through the
gloom toward the wreck. He did not
turn nor did he in any way exhibit any ex-
citement whatever. He walked with
firm step over the sand, neither Fastening
Oh nor Tagging oaek, Dut advancing calmly.
Before he had gone half way it was dark.
The sun had gone down in sea Of fire,
and the western sky, after flaming for
time, had sunk into dark There was no
moon. The stars shone dimly from behind
kind of haze that overspread the sky.
The wind came up more freshly from the
east, and Brandon knew that this wind
would carry the ship which he wished to
attract further and further away. That
ship had now died out in the dark Of the
ebon sea; the chances that he could catch
its notice were all against him, yet he
never faltered.
He had come to fixed resolution,
which was at all hazards to kindIe his sig
nal-fre, whatever the chances against him
might be. He thought that the flames
Aaring up would of necessity attract atten-
ton, and that the vessel might turn