The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-10-16
CHAPTER XII-Continued.


morning paper, when the old woman
who did my cooking and bedmaking
for me looked up from the pail she
was scrubbing, preparatory to boiling
some beef, and said "Do you know
what they are saying down below, sir?"
"No, Mrs. Keats; you don't mean to
cay that they have at last found some
thing to talk about?"
"Yes, and it's you, SIR"
knew we'll what was coming, but
protested ignorance.
"They say as how that man Warren
has sworn to murder you, and they
would not be in your boots for some
thing"
"Really! But he's leg-ironed.
"My man says that's nothing to
man like him; he'll find file on
board and get them Cinnamon to help
him file it through. But see, sir,
here's the boatman with his arm in
sling. 1 hope nothing's happened"
"Why, john" l exclaimed as the
big fellow presented himself at the
door, whats the natter"
"Sprained my arm, sir, l think;
but would you mind coming outside a
moment?"
'Now what is it?" asked, as we
turned the corner, we'll away from
the house.
Nothing, sir, nothing" and he
slapped his leg with his bad hand.
That's only blind. It's just this:
I and Charley and two others have ar
~ oh fnn oh
and we thought as how you might join
u.s."
"But you know how some of them
would like TO catch me-" | said laugh
ing.
ct. ere amt no fear o. that, sir.
You go for walk after tea, and stroll
down to the little bay; we'll be there
with the boat, and I'll show you some
fun"
thought moment and then said:
"All right, John, I'll be there. You
bring some glasses and some water,
and III bring something to dilute it
with"
That memorable nights fishing had
all these additional attractions, and
more; there was the delightful contrast
of night of glorious liberty with
day Of irksome restraint and enforced
idleness-reform, root and branch -
the ridiculous regulations of the place,
I couldn't move a finger in any single
matter. The wonder is we were not
caught, for as the night wore on we
lost our reserve, growing more and
more boisterous; now in the water up
to our necks, driving the fish from
under the rocks into the nets, now in
the boat disentangling them from the
meshes.
Suddenly, as though by magic, the
fun ceased; for Ger the wings of the
gentle ocean breeze that had crept in
through the heads there came the
ominous and to us most terrible sound
of the ear Always alarm bell 1t
had never been heard before, and
meant either fire, murder, or something
equally desperate. In moment we
were in the boat and pulling as madly
as silence would permit for the station.
We dared not land at the pier, or near
it, for the bell was certain to have
awakened the whole settlement, and
they would be congregated about the
beach, so we rapidly decided to pull
for the little bay and make our way by
a circuitous route across country.
Never while breath is in me shall l
forget that journey. From the moment
landed l bad to contend with bowld-
ers, dense scrub and small precipices at
every step, for away from the coast,
(Which had to avoid) there was no
road and the night was dark. At
from head to foot, l reached my hut,
"a thing of shreds and patches" ar d
in terrible anxiety to boot, and from
there l strolled down to the beach as
though nothing had happened.
"Where on earth have you been,
doctor?" exclaimed the Ancient Marin.
er, as he emerged from the crowd to
meet me- "We have been looking
everywhere for you"
"I have been over on the ocean side
for a walk" answered. "But what
has happened?"
"This man Warren has committed
suicide-at least. he has gone, leg irons
and all, into the sea, and by this time
there is little doubt that he is food for
sharks. But for your sake" he added,
as he put his hand on my shoulder, "I
am glad. He meant you mischcief.
But, man, you are wet through! What
have you been doing?"
81 slipped into the sea in my ankle.
ty to get here quickly. Never mind
me. I'll get home and change. But
III r