The Irish standard., 1903-04-04

stomach" said MIR. Kent. who seemed
more chagrined than hurt. sit is
lucky thing for me that you are
strong swimmer. l could not have
kept up. You saved my life, Ham
mond. l don't know how to thank
you for little thing like that"
Don't try" said Sidney, laughing
heartily. 81 am. glad you are not in
jured. How did it happen:'
'Lil<e fool, l did not take your
advice and dive in time" said Mr..
Kent. 81 thought the raft would
ride that wave, and so l took a
chance. 1t tipped squarely over
and when l tried to jump my foot
slipped. The raft came over right on
top of me, and for moment | was
was under water. The first thing l
remember was when you yelled in my
ear. l knew enough to do as | was
told. In my time, l have helped per-
sons out of the water, and have not
forgotten the rules. The next wave
would have fixed me. l could not
get my breath, and was losing my
strength"
They soon were on shore; removed
their garments, wrung them out, and
remained in the shade of Il tree until
their clothing was dried sufficiently
to wear. Mr.. Kent would listen to
no proposition involving an imme
date return to the bungalow, and
stoutly declared he was as well as
ever. After an hours rest they pro-
ceeded to climb the slope of the rock
which formed the north portal of the
gateway. 1t was a long, hard strug-
gle over the rocks and through brush
and briars. But they kept on and
at last stood on the summit of the
crag, 400 feet above the ocean.
Look at that" exclaimed Sidney.
He pointed in the direction where
there was a cleft in the ridge of hills
to the northwest. There showed the
faint outlines of a distant giant
mountain peak; pyramid whose top
was white with eternal snow.
"See that mountain peak!" he ex-
claimed. Mr.. Kent's eyes were not
SO good as Sidney's, but he soon
made out the outlines of a mountain.
"That peak is about $50 miles
from here said Sidney in great Joy
at must be on the mainland of Mex
leo or Central America. There are
no ranges on any islands with peaks
like that. We are within sight OF
shore. That mountain is long way
Off but I do not believe that it can
he more than $50 miles. 1t looks
like a volcano. | imagine / can see q
column of smoke above it. With /;
favoring wind we can make the main
land in day. This is great. We
can build Il boat and get away from
this island in less than two weeks al
the most"
SIT certainly looks us If you are
right" said Mr.. Kent. 81 wonder
|. how big this island is?"
They studied the shape of the
;. coast, but it gave no answer to Mr.
Kcnts question. From where they
! stood it was apparent no exploration
: of the shore from below was posi-
bic. Even at low tide the ocean beat
at the foot of the rocks, casting it:
spray far up their sides. In places
the nevcr-rcsting waves had worl
> cavcrns into the cliffs. They deter
mined to make an attempt to reacl
, the northern ridge of hills by skirt
ing the brow of the cliffs, bu
postponed this until after lunch
. con. This they ate with goot
appetite, and luckily found sprin,
. OF clear, cool water bubbling from
: the crcvice of rock
Simon Pence is queer charac
!" ter" Observed Sidney tossing a ban
ana skin over the cliff. 81 suppos
he means well, but he is what som
! people call a little near"
Did you ever hear of the tim
J. the committee waited on him to pc
contribution for some charity?
t asked Mr.. Kent.
I SllIey had not.
T 'lt was decided to raise a sum O
money for some deserving charity,
G continued MIR. Kent. II have forgot
y ten what it was-thcrc are so man
$ of them. At any rate, the paper wen
the rounds, and they called on IN
among others. l signed for IL sun
and glanced over the list. Morto
was down for $4,000, Rockwell! ha
signed for $500, Carmody ha
pledged S3,nO0-he is very liberal an
charitable, as he can afford to be
Haven was down for something. an
! there was Il lot of others. II,
\ ticcd that Mrs. Simon Pence was o
the paper for S5e. Well, the con
mittec called on Pence. They wrl
J admitted and explained their mis-
sion. He sighed and looked at tn
list. He read it up and down, an
suddenly came upon the name Mr..
Simon Pence. He picked up his pc
and wrote something. The commit
tee was all expectation. He handle
it back to them. What do you SUI
pose they saw"
II am sure cannot g,less?"
He had written MIR and hcfor
Mrs. Simon Pence That was Ii
IT contribution. There is no way I
1T beat him. Let's he moving"
# They made their way along til
n edge of the cliffs for perhaps half
mile, but could go no further. Il
w tracing their steps, they again stoC
d. on the rock overlooking Morton
T. Ray" and the ocean.
Ill At the same moment both ga,
an exclamation and pointed out
Mt sea. The upper rigging of Il sh
H. showed clear ON the eastern horlZo
~ but she was hull down on the was
Id of waters. For half an hour tn.