The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-31
The Secret Of The Dead Mate.
n ". cGARK RUSSELL.
Copyright 1925. ~ W co,s Resell

1oated 4 boat. The night was breatbless: be
| yond the verge OF the eclipslng brightness o
the moon tho sky was full OF stars man sal
In the stern sheets OF the boat motionless
with his chin on his breast and his arms II
lifeless posture beside him. From time e
time he groaned. and after he had been sittinr
as though dead for an hour he raised his head
and lifted uD his eyes to the moon. and cursed
the thirst that was burning his throat, then
shifted his figure close to the Runwale. over
which he lay. with both hands in the water for
| the chill 1T.
The moonshine was nigh "a bright as dav
The sea line ran firm as a sweep Of painted
circle through the silver mist in the far re-
cesses. An oar was stepped as mast in the
boat, and athwart Il was dashed another oar
from which hung mans shirt and coat She
looked dry az n midsummer ditch in that
piercing moonlight At the feet OF the man,
distinctly visible. were two or three little
pellets or Jumps OF rag. which he had boon
chewing throughoutthe.day but his Jaws we're
now locked. the saliva had run dry, his sailors
teeth blunted by junk and ship bread. could
bite no more moisture out OF the fragment OF
stun he had cut of his back. Oh. II Is dread
full to sulror the agony OF thirst. the froth, tho
baked and cracking lip. the strnngl ed throat
while beholdlnR a vast breast OF cold sea
glazed into tho beauty OF Ice by the moon. and
while hearing the fountaln-like murmur and
refreshing ripple OF water alongsido
Tho speed OF the boat quickly raised tho
land. and by noon. under the roasting sun. II
lay within q mile. II was one OF the Bahama
Cays-a fiat island with n low hill in tho midst
Of It. to the right OF which was a green wood
The rest OF tho island was green with some
sort OF tropic growth as OF tho guinea grass.
The breeze was now very light; the sun had
eaten 1t up. as the Spaniards say. The man
thought he saw the sparkle OF a waterfall and
the sight made him mad. and as strong In that
hour as In his heartiest time. He sprang from
his seat. pulled down his queer fabric OF oar
and Tapping skirt and coat. and ninElng the
two blades over. bent his back and drove the
boat along. In quarter OF an hour her fore
foot grounded on a coral white beach that
swept round a point clear Of the foam OF the
breaker. and the man. Keeling out OF her on to
the shore. Erasped her painter and secured II
to an oar which no jammed into a thickness OF
some sort Of bush that grew close to tho wash
OF the water and then. rocking and.stumbling.
he went UP the beach.
It was an unlnhabited island and nothing
was In sight upon the whole circle OF the white
shining sea saving the dim blue haze OF land
in tho north and like film or delicate discol-
Grafton OF the atmosphere In the southwest
The man. with rounded back and hanging
The heat was fearful; the sunshine blazed In
the white sand and seem ed to strike upward
into the face in darting and tingling needles.
white hot. He went toward the wood wading
painfully on his trembling legs through the
guinea grass and chick underground. with
toadstoo.s In IL like red shields and astir with
armored creatures. Observation-Disclosures OF glo-
rious hue and spider-like lunches OF jewels.
Suddenly lie stopped: his ear had caught
distant noise OF water; he turned his back upon
the sun. and thrust!nG onward came presently
to little stream in which the grass stood
thick green and sweet. He fell on his knees.
and putting his lips to the crystal surface
sucked UP water like a horse. till. being full
nearly to bursting. lie fell back with moan OF
gratitude. his face hidden in his hands. He
sat till the brolling sunshine forced him to rise
the slender stream narrowed In the direction
Of the wood. and he walked beside It till after
pushing little way into the green shade, he |
Iound the source in rock. rich with verdure
and enamelled with many strange and beauti- |
'ul flowers. The trees In this wood stood well |
apart, but their branches mingled in many |
places and the shade they made was nearly |
continuous
He threw himself down beside the source OF |
he little stream to rest himself The surf |
'eethed with a noise of boiling through the |
'ra6e cSstSEay now directed his ewes ~ round 5S
n search Of food. lie saw several kinds OF
'etr les and things Ike apples bur burst not
iow rested and immeasurably refreshed. hs
'9oled his head In the stream and walked to
ne Deach anu picked up a number OF crabs.
nd dry, All tIht she, eqntalned. besides
S'0 sn was MnieH n ssrpen SsGEsa h ann
y or and q bag OF spikes. lie WHIPPED of his
he hammer into his pocket returned to the
wood with his collection OF crabs, then with
us s knife he cgt down a quantity Of dry brush;
ioometlmes carried in those daYslto light their
Who has served an apprenticeship to hardship.
W. having eaten he drank again aud then
lie knew that the island was one OF the la
anna Gays. though which he could not imag-
ne. Put other Islands were IN SIGHT; he
each Of his boat; nor was the florida coast
ssm s 9 HRd then there was all the ttRfe OF
or turtle and 50 store himself With roylslons.
fesh U watSr cold and Sweet there was IN
enty, hut he had nothing To put 1t in. and
nat could he ,eontriye or invent 70 sSsIveass
nd cocoAnuts no would let the milk drain and
II the fruit with water, and SO carry away
nouGh to last him until he should 10 picked
He cast his eyes up aloit. with a fancy o; be,
Olding In the trees something growing that
'ok!ng and staring. as though fascinated or
ghtning struck.
His eye had sought tree whose long lower
ranches oyershadOWed the lttlo stream. and
mid the foliage lie thought he saw the
cure OF q man. The shape IOcEoyrd 2 Tough;
: back was upon the tree, and now. stIalning
is vision steadily under the shade II his
and, the man saw that Il was tho skeleton OF
human being, ppaIenily dashed or occurred
, tho hough a. com pletsly clothed, from the
lcar-loai hat upon his skuN down to tho
IstY yellow sea boots which dauEIed amid
~ leaves.
The sailor was alone and the CHASTITY sight 4
hooked hun the sense 81 his lgnr.Iuess was
'tensihed by II no thought no had been cast q
way upon the pTineipallty Of death himself
no ulabollc grin ia the tree iTUEs his blood,
nj Tor while lac could do no more than stare
lu mutter fragments OF tho LORDS prayer.
lie guessed from the costume that tho ngure I
al cen lodged Tor great number 81 years
mat tree. lie recOllocted that when boy q
. had seen foreign seamen dressed as That
ieletOn up there was IL Vas now late IN the {
teTnoOn. and with a shuddering glance aloit I
. began 10 consider how aud where he c
l9uld sleep lilo walked out ~ the wood a
az gained the highest point OF the I
Tie central hill. and looked about him
r sail. There was nothing in sight, cav | 3
x the dim shadows uf Hand, red In the ether n
sunset. The skeleton. as though II had ! 4
en- devil, took possession Of The eastaWaj c
ul lie could think OF nothing else not
Ell how he WAS to ret away. how lie WAS to / d