Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-03-30

ON CANCER CAY.

There is a tiny islet on the outskirts
Of the Solomon Archipelago that to all
such casual wanderers as stray SO far
presents not single feature of in
tprest Like scores of others in those
attitudes, it has not yet attained to
The dignity of single cocoanut tree,
although many Gerelict nuts have
found Judgment upon existence at
the next springtide. Viewed from a
balloon it would look like a silly sea-
son mushroom, but with a fringe Of
snowy foam around it marking the
protecting barrier to which it owes it's
existence, to say nothing Of it's growth.
Yet OF all places in the world which
have been privileged to visit, this bar
rem little mound Of sand clings most
tenaciously to my memory, for reasons
(which will presently appear.
One of these devastating cyclones
that at long intervals sweep across the
Pacific, leaving a long swath of de-
Struction in their wake, had Overtaken
the pearling schooner of which / was
mate For twenty-four hours we fed
daring to heave to. The only compass
W possessed had been destroyed by
the first sea that broke on board.
Whether it was night or day we had
no notion, except by watch, and even
then we were doubtful, so appalling
was the darkness. Hope was begin
ming to revive that, as the Papalangi
had proven herself so stanch, she
might yet run it out" unless she hit
something. But the tiny rag rugged
forward to keep her before it suddenly
1eW into threads; the curl of the sea
caught her under the counter and
spun her into the wind like teeto-
tum The next vast ,comber took her
orOadside on, rolled her over and
swallowed her up. We went down
quick into the pitt
Always reckoned a powerful swim
aeF' even among such amphibia as the
NalaSKaS, | don't remember making
stroke But after a horrible, chok-
1g struggle in the black uproar / got
MS breath again, finding myself cling
s us drowning man will, to some
N.ls olS and seaworthy. 1t was an
VIulaafy ships hencoop that the skip
~ naa bought cheap from a passen-
e.. vessel in Auckland. AS good a
,"t' aS one could wish, it bore me on
U wei, The MAD sea, half-dead as l was,
aA'll leit it rise high as if climbing
"'afaet and descending amidst a
sn''uS boiling of surf into calm,
,ar water. 4 few minutes later /
"tneu sandy beach. Utterly done |
w. w. l slept where l lay, at the waters
suse though the shrieking hurricane
lss s,u overhead as if it would tear the
1nl up by the roots.
>. "Aeh | awoke it was fine weather,
M 10 IeeWard the internal reek of |
shn 1epaF'lhS meteor still disfgured |
rons ss segment of the sky. l looked
I tua and my jaw dropped. Often
ronIa Wondered what a poor devil
sr ro,u 10 who happened to be cast
s,Ir Ui such spot as this. Appar-
pinn, was about to learn. A painful |
SaI. "' my bare foot startled me, and |
ID, Nv. "n ugly beast of a crab going
GsMs, lie was nearly a foot across, |
hi ' %: pack covered with long spikes.
aTa r .S Wicked little eyes seemed to
ar OPPRESSION of diabolical malig-
hss or Sna'ched at a handful of his |
asbinr swung him round my head,
NOn vs. INN against the side of my
lev 10 a Sach vigor that his armor
Aya II. ".LuerS around me. 1 never
aQt fo,,, ~ etao, even when dressed,
asv a aU"n0 the raw flesh of that one
q. H aD"Sh' 1t quite smartened me
ara,rera r vi eaten heartily, / took a
talesSIr" up Tie smooth knoll of sand,
: ga MAJ, suppose, for it was MS bare
IN irs e without a stone or shell.
Doe Ill highest point. about ten feet
sOund hsI Water mark, l looked
ShOupaIoGsI my horizon was complete
oy the ring of breakers