The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
JUST TOO LATE.
An Experience on an Island In the South
Pacific
by Herbert M. Brace.
by Herbert M. Brace
~<~~~~>

ously as before; but nowhere was the
| schooner Martha, week overdue with
water and provisions for the men, to
be seen. 1t was hardly probable that
she could have lived through the gale
The .niggers," the cowardly
wretches, had stolen the bulk OF the
water the night after the storm, and
had put off in an open boat for their
nearest neighbor, miles away over the
trackless ocean.
There were Il of the blacks. They
might have killed their two white
"bosses," but they seemed to have
! been satisfied with leaving them to
die of thirst ard to bleach with the
guano beneath the burning sun of the
South Pacific.
The two white men were brothers.
They had come to the island few
months before to superintend the
guano gathering. The tropic fever had
seized Harry, the younger of the two,
and even when the storm broke he
was raving with delirium. a week
later. when calm came over the trou-
bled waters, he was slowly recovering.
Their scanty supply of water was
fast diminishing, and no signs of the
Martha. The elder brother, Tom. was
becoming hopeless. They would have
been without water long before, but
Tom had not taken his share. lie had
hardly drunk enough to keep his dry,
parched throat from cracking during
those days when Harry's fever was the
worst, and Harry raved about ripping
brooks, the orchard, and the old apple
tree that grew by their bedroom win
dow at home.
Another morning, and no sign of the
boat in all the wide stretch of blue
sea.
Harry reused himself from his stu
por, and looked eagerly into his broth
er's face.
mo signs of the Martha this morn
ing, Tom?' he said, feebly.
None, Harry, none"
The sick man fell back wearily. Tom
Dudley turned his face away to hide
his emotion.
"WeH, never mind. old man." Harry
tried to say, cheerfully; well pull
through all right, never fear. How
long did you say the water would
3 last?"
Tom had not said, but Harry caught
him unguarded for the moment
Two days only, Harry, and-and"-
Toms voice faltered-"two days at the
most, and-and the storm"
"Yes yes, l know. Tom" the siek
man went on; "the Martha may have
gone down in the storm last week,
but while there is life there is hope
you know, old man, and suppose the
same may be said of water; 50 cheer
up, old fellow; two days are a long
time sometimes, you know. and the
schooner has probably only been
driven off her course. If such is the
case she'll be here before Wednesday;
we'll be all right, after all. Make the
best Of it. Tom, and let's see what we
have for breakfast"
There was but little enough to eat.
and but a drop of water to quench
their consuming craving.
They ate in silence. When they had
finished Tom left the little hut and
FASTENED down to the beach. He gazed
long and wistfully over the sea, but
there was only the placid blue water
glistening in the sunlight. Not a sign
| of life in all the great expause, ex-
cept now and then sea bird sltimming
! over the waves toward that line in
the distance where the blue sea and
the still bluer heavens met.
NO sign of sail, no hope for re-
lief he sighed, as he threw himself
down upon the sand.
There was terrible pain in his head
and his limbs were becoming unbear-
able. He knew what that meant-be-
fore long he, too, would be down with
the fever. His throat was dry and
parched. and burning with terrible
heat.
lie had already consumed his share
OF the water for the morning. and to
take more would be death to Harry,
Two days, only two days" he NUT
tered; mot much chance in that time
II the Martha has gone to the bottom
-Four or five, there might be hope"
He began to wonder how he could
make the water last four or five days
instead of two. The pain in his head
was intense. \ few hours and be must
give up to the fever. He knew. too,
that he had no chance of recovery.
He knew that Harry would give him
all the water there was, when he he
came delirious, and go without him
self. He couldn't measure it out then.
as he did now, and soon, very soon. II
would be all gone.
Two days. What were two davsp
He would only be shortening his broth
er's life so much by living them. All.
what was the use?
a few minutes later a pistol shot
rang out amid the sound of breaking
waves and the silence of the sands and
Tom Dudley sank with a moan nnon
the beach.
The forced expression of cbeerfpI.
aess went out of Harry's face as his
brother left the hut. and he fell bocl,
exhausted upon the bed.
Poor Tom, poor Toni" he mrr-
INJURED. TO die like a rat in a tran,
Oh. Godl will the Martha never coma .
Oh. If I could but do so,,,,.l., -, -