Evening star., 1896-10-31

In all respects it resembled Sam Rod
mans dwelling, but how he had encoun-
tered it so soon. unless il had come to meet
him. was more than Shirley could under
stand. Even though the house had walked
across the island for his convenience, II
would not have added greatly, in his esti-
nation, to the wonder Of his being there.
when he should have been forty fathoms
deep in the bay. He gave but the briefest
recognition to this new evidence of heav-
ems favor. Running around the corner of
the house, he found its principal door, and
began to beat upon ii.
A window almost over his head came up
as II he had touched the spring that con-
trolied it. A man appeared and called out
heartily: wv hos there?'
I've Swum here from Gull Rock" Shir-
ley answered. There are some people on
the ledge and they will drown if we don't
reacn them We were in a boat, and she
upset We drifted across the bay"
gu swum here from Gull RockI" ex-
claimed the man. "Why, it's moren three
mile!'
No. ii isn't" cried Shirley: but never
mind that Come along. We must get
BACK there before high tide. You've got a
boat, of course?'
The man did not answer He had van
ished from the window. There was a
heart-breaking delay, and then Shirley
heard the rattle Of bars and locks. The
door swung open, and the master of the
mouse nE appeared bearing lamp.
Come in he said; and Shirley followed
MIN along short hall and into what
seemed to be the dining room of the house
The man set the lamp the mantel-
piece beside the clock. The white dial
seemed TO start suddenly forward and con-
front Shirley. The young man pointed AT
it. He could not speak.
Ihats risht, said his host. IT'S five
High tidey' groaned Shirley. "Tbev.re
lost"
Look here. young feller" said the man.
slowly. There must be something wrong
about a this You haven't swum from Gull
could do it. You've lost your bearings
somehow"
Il hope to heaven have" reiofned Shir-
icy. Indeed. ! know it's true. This isn't
Not by jug full. It's Little Green, and
m Bill Green"
How did get here?'
God Knows, was the answer Tell me
your story again. Wen go along while von
talk. Wen take these lanterns along for
L guess you've got some friends marooned
somewhere, though they amt on Gull
He picked up a small boat lantern and
another that was a powerful affair with a
pig reflector behind its lamp. Shirley told
ms story as they walked down to the .ove
~here the islander kept his boat. His COM
panion did not interrupt him once. When
Shirley had finished, he said:
our friends are all right. They're off
mere on Black Ledge. not a quarter of a
mile from this island"
1T can't be-" said Shirley. 1--WE couldn't
nave drifted way down here. The wind was
southwest" WIS
Till the squall struck" interrupted the
Islander: then it came off to the west'ard
You was too busy gettin' unset To not:ce ~.
but the fact Is that the wind shifted four
points in a blasted second 1 never see If |
act Jest that way afore. That's where You
MADE your mistake. You drifted way no
the south ard of the Gull Rock ledpes',
And Black Ledge Is out at hiSh ,idap
You're sure of it?"
certain. On high run O. tides it's inst
aWash but it'll stick up like a sore tb1mh
tonight. Don't you worry. INV how In nr
hoCr from now your friends will he warm
and dry and comfortable in my house."
ms words proved true. Alice and Harry
sbia .ho i naa scarcely convinced ourselves that
the seeming miracle of the tide had actual |
~ happened, when a sudden bright IIebt |
iiashed upon US. The boat in which Shir-
Iey ana Blu Green were coming % our |
rescue had rounded the rocky northern end |
OF the island. A moment later came III
friendly nail. The boat drew near raDidly
we could see only the bright li,nt i'm the
bay. but presently those in the boat could |
after cur safety.
And when We heard Shirley's voice and
Knew Tor a certainty that 1t was he, we |
danced and shouted for jcy-danced on the
slippery rock with the little strength that
remained to us, and shouted with throats
tnat were rough with salt spray that had |
beaten in our faces all the fearful night,
The mystery Of the tide and of ShIrley's |
coming TO land was explained to us In a |
word. 1t was all In the shift of the wind. |
And when l had compared my watch with
the trusty old clock in Bill Green's house.
and had found a discrepancy of nearly two {
hours. saw through a few more things
that had puzzled me.
That is always the way with miracles"
said !, almost disappointed by the sinplic-
ity of the matter.
sTYou don't understand IL fba,,s ,up - |
Joined Harry. "It was really much simpler
to take US off Gull Rock and put us onto
Black Ledge than to stop the tide and in
terfere with the calculations Of everybody
In the bay"
Steve turned up the next day on the head
of the cape. He had been blown offshore
as we had supposed. but. having a stanch
boat under him. he had weathered the blow.