The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-03-07

large and slinburned hands, he began
his chat
Talk about a fine country, sir;
there is none more beautiful than
that. When we arrived IL was toward
evening. Everything looked like gold
the ground, the sky. and even the
trees. When we reached the forest
IL was different. The palms formed a
perfect green roof the color OF a
parrots tail. and the sun appeared
red, like the nose OF our chief cook.
who. saving your respect, was drunk
every night"
"Was IL there where you suffered
shipwreck for the first timer"
Eyes, sir; and IL was quite ia
nous one for a beginning. We had
just hauled up the anchor, ready 70
continue our cruise, and in less time
than il takes 10 take a chew we were
driven by the storm upon sand
bank. The next thing was a plunge
into the sea and n swim for the shore.
The sea was perfectly crazy that day;
yes, sir, perfectly crazy, though it
usually knows quite well what IL is
doing"
For a long time he continued 20
chat in that strain, and IL was long
after noon when he finally emptied
the ashes from his pipe by striking
the latter against the heel OF his boot
and arose.
Are you going TO leave me al
ready, Perou?"
II must They expect me in town"
"When shall you come back here
again7"
Not before week from to-day.
Do you wish, NJ. Montreuil, that /
push you part Of the way?'
NO, thank you. | shall stay here
until dinner time"
"Good-by, sir. Watch out for the
swamp on your way home"
After Perou was gone NJ. Mon
treuil, aimlessly CHANGING al the dis
tant plain, sank into meditation. lie
thought that ii was terrible 10 die
in some corner of this earth without
knowing anything Of the marvellous
Gases which dot the desert, of the
ocean in its various moods, now rag
ing with fury and laundering against
the rocks, now signing and softly
singing, like the swan before il dies.
lie longed for the sadness Of bid
ding good-by, for the oppression
caused by the eternal sameness OF
ocean scenery, and for the delirious
Joy Of sighting land. lie lived as II
he had known how that life Of n sail.
or in his thoughts-he, who could
not have lived il, owing to his in
trinity; he. who lived in this corner
always had lived here, and would die
here.
Toward evening clouds appeared in
the sky. NJ Montreuil made himself
ready to return. IL was TO him
like getting under sail. Slowly he
wrapped his covers around his legs
with an expression as if he were
handling a sail. Then he settled down
in his chair and, with his hand upon
the long guiding rod attached to the
front wheel, he inspected the pass
age" with critical eye.
ter-soaked ground he examined the
road before him more attentively
than usual Once more he listened
TO the ripping and murmuring sound
of the little cascade, then he grasped
the lever which controlled the hind
wheels and set IL in motion.
lAll of sudden the rolling chair
came to n stop with n start.
"Confound it," murmured the in
valid, 81 did not see that rutl"
He tried to push the lever harder
but the resistance was so great that
he was afraid 10 break the mechan
ism OF his chair. Then he tried to
reverse the movement, but he found
it equally impossible. To see what
had happened he leaned over the side
as much as his paralyzcd legs would
permit. The wheels must have sunk
i'm deeply, for he found himself close
to tho ground.
He smiled over that incident. His
ship was becalmed. 1t was only q
small and insignificant adventure, il
is true, but at his age had he right
to expect a greater one?
1t occurred 60 him that nobody
would miss him, as he had unfor
tunatcly announced that he would
visit his niece. To find some eX
pedient out Of this difficulty he oegar
to rake his memory, but none Of his
books had spoken of adventures that
had occurred TO invalids.
With sigh he looked around in al
directions; nobody in sight.
The sun was approaching the hori
zon and NJ Montreuil decided to cal
for help from time TO time. lie was
afraid, however, that his voice would
have but little effect, drowned as il
was by the noise Of the falling water
in tho rill.
Help Help!"
No answer Then he bravcly re
signed himself TO waiting. Without
doubt some stragglcr or belated peas
ant would come and help him out o.
this hole