The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-01-22

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"1'm going into tbs Blaclt Ugo." he
said. suddenly
Extremely dangerous" exclaimed.
rorgetful Of my determination. All the
fishermen had warned me against VEN
turing into that cave. 1t was only to
be approached at a peculiar tide, and
then there was danger, And here was
the man agreeing with me
Its dangerous That's the worst Of
IT, But want to get a rare fern be
fore | go back to town, and in about ten
minutes the tiden be Just right, which
It isn't three times in a year I'm glad
you're not easily frightened"
'1 refuse TO be taken iE, | said firm
ly.
He rowed on without seemingly to
hear He was going to take me in gIl-
ly-nilly.
The man was not the knock-kneed
professor I had pictured. II he was go
ing to risk his life--and mine-for a
rare fern grasped the boats thwarts
as he rowed on into the jerk and culver
Of the outside water am as little ner-
vous as any girl but there inside the
blackness Of the cave, I could discern
quite IA small storm--a storm in a night
like hollow The man was rowing well
would be no possibility Of rowing, and
the boat might be driven and swamped
far in by the inbreaking sea.
please go backl' I cried.
Instead he rowed on Next moment
the boat was nosing at the gap; the rest
of It followed through on the heave Of
a wave
once again I shut my eyes, and op-
ened them to see the man using one oar
as a pole to keep the boat off the sides
of the cavern. The boat itself was toss
ing-now TO the roof, now to the ink
DO you think you could reach one
of those ferns? I'll keep her off,
l stood up and made grasp at
damp mass of greenery.
Get the root, tool" he said.
cIung on. feeling a little safer even
TO be holding TO that insecurity. Then
the fern came away in my hand.
rs it a root?' he asked
l nodded family
"Then we best see if We can get out
again"
quick" cried
mo hurry" he said, cheerfully 1T
isn't so easy"
He was turning the boat in its own
length. and a wave tipped over the side.
He had waited for a lull, and at the
word he gave great heave The boats
stem went through, and in no time he
had out the oars, and was steadying her
in the trough outside
100 rough in there" he said
"Oh. we're safe now" | said, CRATE
ful to be in the sunlight again
81 thought we should never get out.
You did it,"
"And you got the fern" ne reminded
me.
I'm so glad
surprised myself. saying this in
quite a cheerful and sociable way. !
ought to have been furious at the man.
l blushed at this comparison Of myself
with what | ought 10 have been, and
added in different voice
1T was hardly worth rlsking two
hives for"
l looked at him haughtily, and he
rested on his oars We were in the
smoothest water now
True" he said. BE kind enough to
throw il overheard
WHAT ! exclaimed.
"Throw II overheard, please"
was going to refuse when | hap
pened to look at him.
Then I threw IT, lie thanked me very
politely and went on.
81 wanted that fern, Of course, being
miserable botanist. and It's quite true
that ! couldn't have got it at any other
time But you don't believe. hope
that / would have endangered your life
for it, Miss Day?
why did you 90 into tho cave then?'
asked, bewlldered And he began tc
laugh
Il wanted 10 make your acquaint-
ance " he said
oh" / said. "But-"
"But sou are the most self-willed per
son I've ever seen, and you didn't think
much Of NEEDN'T suppose you do now
But the only way TO manage IL was to
be more self-willed than y ourselt
think k"-he stopped think you lik,
it,"