The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-23
DICK
Or. The Adventures of ;
An Eton Boy.
ny JAMES }

Or. The Adventures of
An Elton Boy.
ny JAMES RAN

CHAPTER XXXI11.-(Continued.)
This feat 1 achieved with consider
able peril, for the birds, when reused
from their eyries, whooped, screamed.
and wheeled in f1ocks and circles about
me, tapping their huge wings; SO that
once l became so %bewildered, that in
stead Of %clambering again to the sum-
NIT Of the cliff, l began a descent to-
ward the foaming sea below.
In ~reascending my hat was blown
away, and with 1t the wretched eggs
for which I had risked my life and
limbs.
After this event I resolved to procure
food for myself alone, and instead OF
returning to Antonio, who usually
loitered about the hut our men had
left, I went to the opposite side of the
island, and found a banana grove,
wherein l took up my quarters.
l had been thirty-six hours without
seeing my pleasant chum. the Cubano.
or being near him with food. l knew
that his rage would be great, and feel
ing myself unusually weak, after all
the mental excitement and bodily ex-
posure had undergone, necessity COM
PEELED mi now to avoid him strictly,
as I was totally incapable Of contend
ing with him in any way.
II he found me to plead that I had
When searching for berries about
sunrise, on the western side Of the isle.
and while the sun, though up, was yet
below the great mountain and cast its
shadow to the extreme horizon of the
baby morning sea, I encountered An
tonic at last,
Hunger, apparently. had rendered
him furious; but feeling certain in a
moment that timidity would do me no
service. / started back and said in
Spanish:
"Ha! ha! I told you what would
happen when / wanted food" said he.
feeling the point Of his knife.
My blood ran cold at these words,
and l cast a longing eye upon my lost
Ratchet; he saw the glance and
trampled upon the weapon with a
mocking laugh.
What do you mean, Cubano" l
asked. in an almost breathless voice.
Simply this-that, as self-preser-
vntion Ia the first law Of nature, I am
bound to kill, you"
He had the revolver in his hand, and
while he cast q glance at the caps on
the breach. as II to see that they were
all right, and sheathed his knife, /
made . bound aside and placed a
banana tree between us. The bastard
fired and the ball, as 1t whistled past,
stripped on a piece Of bark.
In the same name / escaped a sec
und shot. 80 Antonio, finding that his
much-priEed ammunition was likely to
be expended fruitlessly, rushed for
ward to use his knife.
The tendril Of, a pumpkin caught his
left foot, he fell heavily and hurt him
self severely. Then. darting past. I
secured my Ratchet. and rendered furi-
ous by all that had occurred. and by
the Imminent danger which menaced
me. q Wight seemed to flash before my
eyes, / trembled with rage, and felt US
u imbued with supernatural strength.
/ was about to spring upon Antoio
with hands. feet and teeth, to hew him
with the Ratchet as I would have hswn
! tree, when q new object suddenly
caught my eye.
II: was a ship-but a ship ashore.
"Cubano," I exclaimed in a husky
voice, 'look there!"
Antonio looked In the direction In
Heated, and, pausing in his murderous
Intention, uttered q fierce laugh of sat-
is9action.
IN the rocky channel which opened
between the inaccessible island and
ours there lay the w%ave-beaten huh OF
. dismasted vessel. which might have
dr.fted In owe night. as 1t was certain
" not there yesterday. and 1t was now
TANNED hard and fast upon q reef OF
rock that connected them.
This new object changed ut once the
terrible current Of the Cuban's ideas.
a grim smile passed over his olive
co~untenance. he shook back the elf-liks
masses OF coal-black hair. which. III
Ekye-terrieri fashion, overhung his wild
dark eyes. and sheathing his knife.
said:
.'Mio muchacho-come; / was only
joklng. Yonder we will ind food, per-
haps. and who knows what mora::
Comet ID . bargain, and II you don't
desert me. ! shall not modest you.
ssain."
He proceeded at once toward the
bsach. and I was hungry enough, and
psrhaps reckless enough now. to be
dad Of : truce, and to follow him, In
ne hope Of finding something eatable
% board.
CHAPTER XxXIv.
The Homeward Voyage.
~ hsart best happily; / was no