Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-06-10

CiiS ucdCn duu Sdu OuC COW0r0
Try Rock.
"I'll wait until I can see the ships
lights" he thought, TOR at least a
little longer"
He ventured down to the water. 1t
had risen rapidly The strong south
wind had piled up the watery mass
until the tide was already higher
than n had seen it in months. Go
ing on toward the dark mass of rock
that rOse before him he felt the cold
waves reach higher and higher on his
body until they threw their spray
into his face, and his shoulders were
under the surface. Then he touched
the rock and clambcred upon it.
For some time he sat there SILVER
ing. Notwithstanding the warmth of
the air. He sheltered himself behind
the table and waited. He felt safer
now. The wreckers would never
colnc out to him in that storm.
The red light ON the revenue Office
pole was suddenly lowered, then two
were raised in its place, looking like
Il pair of dragon eyes glaring at him
for not doing his duty. That meant
s'lIurry the light" He had never
ccn two signals but once. and that
was when his grandfather had visited
too long with Il friend on the beach,
and wen yet he remembered how
frightened the old mar had been at
the imperative summons.
He leaned ovcr the edge of the rock
and reached his hand down where
the stone went sheer to the candy
bottom. He drew it back quickly.
The tide was within a few inches of
the top, and the tapping waves and
cddics told him that it was still
rising.
1t could not be quite 10 o'clock yet,
hut he looked anXiously off to the
south into the teeth of the wind,
seeking Il glimpse of the promised
vessel. Two bright points of tight
tlickercd. then disappeared, then
showed again. At first he Thought
they we're stars, hut as he reflected
that the clouds hid the sky, he real
lied that they were the lights of a
ship tossed on the waves.
NO iil va W OC lOSC, tlllu CIttuCle
ing down behind the upturned table,
he nervouslv ignited match after
match against Il handful of greasy
rags. Az length the flame caught
and urged by the wind roared UPWARD
Il dancing pillar of blaze.
But Il new danger came TIC the
lonely little watcher, the rising waters
had reached the top of the rock, and
the first splashing wave made a rude
bonfire sputtcr and hiss. S:varc
could not remember when the tide
had been over the rock before.
Carefully he pulled the blazing
wood to the highest portion Of the
surface, and piled on another piece
of furniture. Then the water came
high and threatened the whole fire.
The wind had lcsScned a little.
Scvare could see the lights of the Star
of Texas much % plainly. In IL
half hour the ship would he past the
harbor mouth, driven as it was by
the south wind.
With his crippled feet standing i'm
the toamy water, the hoy began pill
ing the brush he had gathered. the
broken Coo and all the household
goods he had brought, upon the table,
"Now." thought he. s'when the fire
il nearly gone down then | will burn
these
He did not have 70 wait long. Wet
ting his hands to protect them from
the heat he lifted the suffering
brands ana placed them under che
:lewly prepared fuel. Rejoicing the
flames lcaped into air. and the boy
was compelled to step back to escape
the warmth.
The Star of Texas was drawing
nearer and he could see that she had
changed her course and was making
for the entrance of the harbor safely.
The water was to his knees.
Looking toward the beach he saw
two dark figures moving about. lie
could not hear them but he did not
doubt but they were shouting 70 him
and wondering why that beacon
burned almost on the surface of the
gulf.
They would notlare come out there
now, nor would ne dare go to land.
The table YVES atire, and as one side
of it was ABOUT to sink, Sevare held
it up by the blackened timbcrs, all
the time watching the ships lights.
Their the other end of the table
| weakened, and for IA few minutes the
Kissing boards tloated ON the water.
1T was not long. The last spark was
eXtinguished and the watcher was
alone on the rock with the waves
dashing against his waist.
Cramped as he was. he knew he
could not swim to land, even though
he had dared face the wreckers. and
turning his face toward the incoming
ship he %anxiously watched her rising
and falling lanterns.
She was making port ali right and
when the waters came brcast-high,
he saw her ride past the island, and
he knew she was safe. Then he
waited for the time when his feet
should lift and he would be carried
from his perch.
1t did not come. To his JOY the
waters came no higher. and aftel
awhile they began to recede. Anx