Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-03-28
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A TALE OF A CARAVAN.
pY ROBERT BUCHANAN.


ter with binding refracted rays.
Crouching in the stern Of the boat,
William Jones shaded his eyes with
both hands, and gazed intently on the
object he had discovered far out to sea.
Now and then he made q rapid motion
to guide the girl In her rowing, but he
did not speak word.
Oh. how hot 1t was out there on the
MINDLESS wavesl For some time Matt
pulled on in silence; but at last she could
bear it no longer, and rested on her
oars, with the warm perspiration stream
ing down her freckled cheeks.
@Pull away, Matt" said the man, not
looking at her. @You amt tired, not
you!"
With long-drawn breath Matt drew
in the oars, and, swift as thought, peel
ed off her jacket and threw off her hat,
leaving her head exposed to the burning
| sun.
Now, the silk gown she wore had evil
IDENTIFY been used by its original owner
as festal raiment, for it had been cut
low, and had short sleeves. So Matt's
shoulders and arms were perfectly bare,
and very white they looked in contrast
with her sunfreckled hands, her sun
burned face, and her warm brown neck.
Her bust was as yet undeveloped, but
2s0s xiccsx dsfu snouguUro y'UrO iIiic, anu
her arms beautifully nodded. Altogeth-
er, her friend the painter, could he have
seen her just then, would have regard
ed her with increasing admiration.
Freed from the incumbrance of her
jacket, she now pulled away with easy
grace and skill. Further and further
the boat receded from shore, till the
promontory they had left was couple
OF miles away. Suddenly William Jones
made sign to the girl to stop, and
stood up in the boat to reconnoiter.
The object at which he had been gaz-
ing so long was now clearly visible. 1t
consisted of something black, floating
on CLASSY stretch of water, and sur
rounded by fragments of loose scum or
foam; ii was to all appearance notion
less, but was, in reality, drifting wearily
shoreward on the flowing tide.
William Jones now eyinced increas-
ing excitement, and urged his compan-
ion TO hurry quickly forward-which
she did, putting out all hel strength in
a series of rapid and powerful strokes.
Another quarter Of an hour brought
them to the spot where the object was
floating. Trembling with eagerness,
the man leaned over the boats side
with outstretehed hands.
| A. h. 4. \. Il
away with curious gesture of dread.
what is it, William Jones?" she ask
ed, not looking at him. 1T isn't-you
| know--one o. uteBly'
mo, 1t ANTI" replied the man, lean
ing over the side of the coble, and tilt
ing the gunwale almost TO the water S
edge. TOO early for them, Matt. If
they comes, it won't be till Sunday S
tide. They're down at the bottom now,
and amt yet rose. Easy! Lean 'tother
way! So there-lookT
AS he spoke, he struggled with some
thing in the water, and at last. with an
effort which almost capsiZed the boat,
pulled it in. Matt looked now, and saw
that it was small, fiat, wooden trunk,
covered with pieces OF Shiny weed.
Floating near it were several pieces of
splintered wood which seemed TO have
formed part of boat. These, too. Will
liam secured, and threw down on the
foot board beneath him.
\ ~It's n box, that's what it Is" cried
Matt.
It's box, surely said Jones. And
it's locked, too. And, look We now. /
misdoubt there's nowt inside, or may
hap it would have sunk. Howsomever
well see!"
After an unavailing effort to force it
open with his hands, he drew forth a
large clasp-knife, worked away at the
lock, and tried to force open the lid,
which soon yielded TO his efforts, as the
action of the saltwater had already be-
gun to rot the wood. On being thus
opened, the box was found TO contain
only a couple of coarse linen shirts, an
old newspaper, two or three biscuits,
and half bottle Of some dark fluid.
After examining these articles one
by one, William Jones threw them back
into the box with gestures of disgust,
retaining only the bottle, which he un-
corked and applied to his lips.
RUM he saiG, smacking his lips aud
nodding at Matt. Then, recorking the
bottle carefully, he returned it to the
box, and, standing up, reconnoitered
the sea on every side. But nothing else
rewarded his eager search; he threw
himself down in the stern of the boat,
and ordered Matt to pull back to shore.
AS they went, he closed one eye
thoughtfully, and mused aloud:
Might afore last it blew half a gale
from soutbard. This here box came
awash from the east coast of Ireland.
May be it was q big ship as was lost;
them planks was part of wessel'slo long
boat. More's coming il the wind don't
come up from the norrard. The moons
full tonight and tomorrow. I'll tell
the old 'un, and keep sharp lookout
off the Caldron Pint"
Matt rowed on steadily till they came
within a quarter Of q mile Of shore,
when William Jones stood up again and
reconnoitered the prospect inland.
Pull in, Mattw he said, after min
ute. sAll's square."
Soon afterward the boat reached the
rocks. William Jones sprung out, and,
running up to the platform above, took
another survey, This being satisfac-
tory, he ran down again and lifted the
box out of the boat, carrying it with
ease under one arm,
Make the boat fast he So 7, in
husky whisper; -and bring them bits o.
wood along with you for the fire. I'll
cut on to the cottage with this here. 1t
ain't much, but it's summat; so I'll car
~ it clean out o. sight before them
precious coast-guards come smelling
about"
With these words he clambered up
the rocks with his burden, leaving Matt
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