The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1899-09-21
CHAPTER xx.-(CoNT1NUED.)

Nlnc6Q myself CnAC, so Iar as depended
upon ourselves, there was no hope.
Our boat was gone, and our tools N
SISTED OF but two or three small knives,
such as sailors use for the cutting-up
OF tobacco, practically useless in any
endeavor to build a boat. Our only
chance lay in the prospect of our sight
ing a vessel and contriving to make
known our desperate condition. 1 di-
Eected a fire to be lighted on the top
of the highest point of land near to
the sea; there was plenty of wood
about, and an immense pile of young
@aplings and branches was gradually
made, with which the fire was con-
ftnually fed. All precautions in our
power were taken to prevent the heavy
rains from flooding and e~xtinguishing
the fire. and we were so far successful
that for years it was kept blazing.
Faint as the hope of rescue grew, as
season after season passed over our
heads, it was never entirely deadened.
BY my use of the words "for years."
you will understand that a good slice
Of our lives was passed in this prison.
1t is not my purpose to give q de-
tailed record of u experience during
this sad time. Space will not permit
OF it; n if it did, and l were pressed
to set them down, 1 should be fear
eul of commencing the task, knowing
I have not the ability to write another
fRobinson Crusoe." Only what l con-
ceive to belong to the proper course
of my own selfish story will be here
narrated.
The island was rich in forest-land,
and for eight months of the year the
climate was good; during the other
tour months it rained as it only can
tain in those ATTITUDES; and this was
our most miserable time. In the sum-
tner the foliage was beautiful and lux
hr1ant, and many exquisite flowers
grew of whose names we were ignor-
amt. The woods abounded in birds,
not difficult to snare, and the sea pro-
Ffded us with fish. Seals We caught
IN as large a quantity as we desired,
and many a desperate fight we had
with them. At certain periods they
wandered in the forests, and we heard
them roaring there in the nights, They
never attacked us; but were often
times too Jealous in their defense to
be pleasant. We found fresh water in
the creeks.
We had, therefore, good reason to be
grateful; and but that we were shut in
a prison, with a strong and natural
Fearning upon us to mix with our fell
low-men, we might have led a fairly
pleasant life. Some had wives and
children in dear old England, and the
thought that they would never see
them again was maddening. AS for
myself, l was utterly alone in the
world. Wife and child dead; my old
mother also, doubtless, dead, and re-
preaching me in her last days for my
cruelty and injustice-it was a bitter
thought, that-life was valueIess to
snA, except in so far that life is sweet
10 all men. If it were sweet to me, it
was a sweet misery. We were the only
|human creatures on the island. Our
ynWmbers grew gradually less as time
progressed, and the sense of loneliness
which oppressed us was terrible to
bear.
1 come now to the regular course of
tny story. When 1 returned from any
exploration of the island, little Pearl
bad entirely regained her health, and
had firmly established her position as
queen of the small colony. Every mar
In the crew w%orshiped her, and would
have laid down his life for her. AS
tor Tom Wren, he was not happy out
Of her sight, and he followed her about
rs a faithful dog does his master.
"I want to speak to you" Pearl sale
TO me on the day of my return; ant
she placed the list of names in my
hand. Read them over"
Tread through the names.
"'Well," she continued, when I cal
them over, as I do every day, and tn
men all say, 'Ay, ay, Queen Pearl!
Sr 'Ay, ay, Fairy Pearl!'-I Xix
Fairy best, 1 think-when I call tn
hames over, there is one that neve
nswer He is missing, and l war
10 find him"
Something in her voice struck upo,
any soul like the vibration of a dea
and familiar tone in the time gone by
{ gazed upon the little maid almost i
fear; her clear blue eyes gazed frankl
into mine, and she nestled closer t
me.
We'll talk presently of him." sh
said, taking hold of my rough finger
and playing with them. "There
something else first. You saved m
life, Daddy Beecroft."
81 was the first who saw you in tt