The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-07

rock and destroy myself before the
suffering was too great to bear.
But was calm, wonderfully calm,
as it seems to me now rs look back
upon the awful situation. I even
smiled; with q grim sort of ghastly ap-
probation of my predicament.
eff I can't eat," I said to myself
aloud, my voice echoing from the high
rock behind me, "I can at least rest
and I will
stretched myself on the fat rock,
with no covering but my wet clothes
and the brilliant stars above me.
I was exhausted. I fell asleep.
When woke the sun was high and
the rock was warm. My clothes had
dried and I was covered with coating
of salt. Ny arms and legs were stiff,
and ached in every inch of my body.
The rough stone had not been COM
Portable bed, but the long sleep had
refreshed me-mentally, at least. I
got up and Strengthened out the kinks
in my joints.
was very hungry.
This was the beginning of my slow
death. I realized this, and the bitter
ness of despair was upon me. I even
contemplated casting myself into the
sea to end it all.
had read of Robinson Crusoe. His
was luck, indeed, compared to my
miserable outlook. would find here
no man Friday to keep me company;
no goats to give me refreshing milk;
no grain to SOW and reap in the future;
no ground to SOW it in if I did. Here
was none of the good fortunes of the
famous Swiss family Robinson, who
were cast away on supposed desert
island. and found ready for their
teaching all the ad]uncts of a success
full stockfarm. I would train no ze-
bra to carry me. I would find no
bread d-fruit-tree to give me life. I
would find nothing but death. To all
intents and purposes was dead.
Nothing known of man could save me,
But even dying man abandons
hope grudgingly. I determined before
the end came to thoroughly inspect
the rock, hoping I knew not what
possibly to find some food swept there
from passing ship; possibly to find
something left by wayfarer like my
self; possibly to penetrate and solve
the mystery of the presence of the
iron rings.
I picked my way from the fiat rock
upon which I stood, over ledge of
limestone leading around the little in
let of water. The ledge seemed hewn
by hand, but not of recent date. 1t
was above highwater mark. No &C.
tion of the tide had done it. And IT
was too rough for that. What was
more, T thought could see the marks
of cutting-tools. I carefully followed
the ledge, which led to crevice
in the rock, down into which-oh,
joy!-some rude steps were cut.
Down into this pit they led, and
my heart bounded with hope. The
interior of the pit was securely above
the waves, sheltered by the high sur
rounding rock. An overhanging wall
kept out the rain. Now I began to
think of Monte Cristo. What if I
found there vast treasures in gold or
silver or precious stones? Well, what
if I did? I asked myself again. I
would simply die in. the midst of it all
unless the lawful or unlawful owners
of it came there and succored me.
There was greater danger of them
killing me. So the discovery of what
might prove to be the hiding-place OF
the famed and feared pirates OF the
South Seas was not going to help me.
Gingerly I went down the stone
steps. There were at least one hun
dred of them, and I knew, when I
reached the bottom, that I was below
the level Of the sea.