The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-11-06

MISS MILNE AND |.


well, let us sit down here and
will tell you what l want you to DO.
We sat down, and for several Sec
onds we were silent and thoughtful;
then looking round to me, she said:
"Dr. Rigby, you love that simpleton
in the boat yonder, don't you?"
Miss Milne!"
"Now, now, don't get excited ;
there is no time to weep and no time
to laugh even. If you love Miss Pei
ham you will gladly risk something
for her, l presume"
Risk! l would risk my life. my
soul, rather than a hair of her head
should be injured. But how can
be of service? For Gods sake, tell
me that"
That's what I am going to tell
you, but / am not going to ask you to
risk your soul-no woman'S life IS
worth the risk of a mans soul-'ti@
only in pursuit of his pleasure that
such a sacrifice would be justifiable.
You see, Warren has gone with them.
| have sent him. That man would
sacrifice his soul for me, because
saved him from a crime. and have
been more or less kind to his wife.
Well, he is the only trustworthy man
in the boat; the two sailors are viii
lains. and will only think of their
own lives; the colonel is a pompous
old fool, and the girl-well she will
make but very little effort to save
herself Now your duty l think, is
clear 1t will certainly be a squally
night, and the coast Is dangerous.
Now you must take this rope. get
past the police as best you can, and
follow the boat along the shore. If
they get safe to Manly. you have
done no harm; if they are wrecked.
you will be the means of saving
them; and it might end Economically
who knows"
Miss Milne, from my heart. l
thank you. I will follow your advice
to the letter. There is no time to ex-
press my gratitude as I might, but
some day will try"
NO no." she said. with a laugh
that came from the bitter side of her.
Don't trouble to do that; put it down
on the other side of the ledger. you
know-credit account. or debit, for
set which they call it. Now remem-
Der, keep close to the sea-"
And with that she left me.
The first part Of my journey was
we'll known and easily travelled, and
but after that l had often to leave
the coast to avoid rocks and preci-
pices; then when I returned she was,
In the semi-darkness, difficult to pick
up.
had gone about two miles and was
pretty we'll done up. when l was sud-
denly confronted by a stupendous
overhanging rock that from its
smooth, steep sides, entirely defied
all efforts at climbing; there was
nothing for it but to go round. and
that meant another half mile.
stopped down and took one more look
at the little craft against the horizon.
could see that nearly all her sails
had been taken in, and yet she was
beating fast before the wind. There
was not a moment to lose. Desper-
ately / dashed on, and after tearing
for a quarter of an hour through the
most terrible piece of scrub and bowl.
ders had yet had to contend with, |
found myself on the coast again, and
to my horror here was the boat close
to me, so close that l could almost
throw a stone on the deck. | could
hear the men talking wildly; I could
hear the colonel now giving pompous
orders, now beseeching; | could see
some one. Warren, l think, lying
down over the bows and peering
ahead; could take in the whole
scene, and hear every voice but
Edith's and yet it all happened in a
moment.
Keep her out! Keep her out for
fifty yards, and you are safe."
shouted.
Warren rushed to the helm and for
a moment she obeyed, but then the
rising waves were too strong for her,
and she was rapidly being washed
ashore. | saw all this from a ledge
of rock that ran for many miles along
the coast, about eight or nine feet
above the narrow strip of sand that
remained uncovered by the incoming
tide, and this not for long. In the
rock | found a narrow crevice, and
into this | forced my rope. after tying
a good knot in the end; then | jump
ed down and threw off my boots. coat,
and shirt; my trousers | tied firmly
around me, and then waited the mo-
ment for action 1t came soon
enough. for two big. waves brought
the boat within thirty yards Of me,
and there between two hidden rocks
she stuck, as motionless as the rocks
themselves. Thanks to old school
days on the south coast, | was a good
swimmer. In a moment | had fas
tened the rope around my body and
plunged in. do not know If the
hope of saving Edith helped OF
hindered me; all | remember is the
waves, mountain high. knocking me