Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-02-27
grant with perfumes of many flowers,

in song, and great numbers of small
animals gave q spice OF life to the
grand and noble scene.
eft is beautiful spot" said Miss
Arnold.
ga veritable Garden of Eden" y.
''But beauty is not always safety.
Shall we stay here any longer?"
"No; there is no need. 1t would
be simply waste of time"
I picked up the pack and, with
cord mado of grass. bound
the other things together. L gave
the rifle to Miss. Arnold to carry.
With last look at the yacht, which
was gracefully lying on its side, we
turned away from The spot and started
off down the coast. We walked per-
haps mile. began to feel the weight
of my burden.
'"These things seem to weigh tons,
I said, putting them down on tho
grass. "Let us have rest before We
go any further"
We sat down on moss-grown rock.
Miss Arnold buried her face in her
hands. I had never been q praying
man, but the unuttered prayer that L
knew went up from my courageous
companions heart was warmly en-
dorsed in my own. L knew she was
praying for our safety.
We had not sat long, when I sud-
denly became aware of change in the
appearance of the water. 1t had taken
on q turgid, ugly look, that startled
me. Away on the horizon L saw
peculiar streak of white.
was about to speak of it. when
Miss Arnold touched me on the arm.
"Doctor Crickmore," she said,
calmly, ct saw once, on the coast,
near Hong Kong, just such sea as
that. 1t was followed by terrific
storm. Nothing can equal in fury
the tempest of the southern seas. We
are going to feel that fury now"
"Then we must seek shelter of some
kind. We are not safe here. Come
farther into the forest. There may be
safety there"
We took our goods and made our
way inland few hundred feet. Here
the trees were of great size and
strength. I selected three that stood
near each other, forming the angles OF
triangle. This triangle covered
about four feet Of space, Hastily
pulling the yachts ak from the pack,
cut some saplings and quantity OF
thick running vines I made sides
for the triangIes with boughs and
vines, and bound them firmly to-
gether with ropes of grass, hastily
twisted. Not word was spoken by
either Of us as we worked.
The trees began to bend before the
rising storm. The black clouds could
now be seen rushing toward us. No
rain had as yet fallen.
We had but finished the covering
of our little hut when the storm broke
in all its mighty fury. We had left
small opening in one side of the tri-
angle. Into this we rushed and
dragged our pack.
The Enclosure was small: but it
served as protection.
How the wind blew! The bending
low of tho great trees could be felt.
The roof of our cupboard threatened
every moment to soar away. We
could not talk. No voice could be
heard above the roar and thunder OF
the storm.
But little rain fell. Had there
been a great downpour, our shelter
would have been no shelter at all.
But as it was, we escaped without a
wetting.
The storm lasted an hour. At the
end of that time we emerged, cramped
and stiff from kneeling in one position
so long.
My first thought was Of the yacht.
T ran to point from which L could
see the spot where we had grounded.
The yacht was gone. called Miss
Arnold, and she soon stood by my
side. We strained out eyes and
looked away up and down the coast.
but no yacht was there. Finally,
away out to sea; we fancied we saw
the upturned hull of n vessel being
driven before the waves.
eve are in for it now, anyhow" 1
said. "Willy nilly, this is our abid-
ing place until somebody comes to our
relief, or until we como upon town.
But don't worry" wanted to keep
her spirits from dropping. "Surely
this noble spot has not escaped the no.
tice of man. We must run across
some kind of habitation. Let Us
tramp on. Doubling and faltering
will avail us nothing. Are you
ready?"
"Yes," she replied quietly. IL am
ready"
We continued q short distance
along the coast, and then encamped
for the night. I built small, rude
hut for Miss Aruold to sleep under.
After light supper we sat a short
time talking and listening for hope
full sound. But no human voice
broke the stiffness.
Miss Arnold retired to her little
hut, and, after a while, I threw my
self on the grass and was soon sound
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