The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-12-01

citement Of tho day had about cut tn,
last thread that held his feeble old lie
When the life savers rescued them tn,
boat had its nose against Destruction
Rocks, which point no boat had evel
reached before and been saved. Ring
void knew nothing Of the rescue. His
last conscious moments were to set
himself and Sankala going to destruc-
ton. When he cav the inevitable and
the struggling frsil child battling with
the mountains OF sea the feeble old man
collapsed in heap IN the bottom Of
the boat.
The long houis OF exposure had told
on him and it was already whispered
about the village that tonight was Ring
wold's last night ON earth. But the
fishermen had become accumstomed to
his sinking spells and Sankala was left
alone with him.
Sankala had not been afraid. She
was not afraid now. II was not be-
cause she was less refined than other
gnls or naturally Drawer than other
girls. 1t was because she had oeen
schooled against fear. Her life had
been her schooling and it had been one
in which all OF the hsrdships had been
taught in prset ical lessons. Not per-
formed and rehearsed for the occasion,
but lessons that came with the routine
OF every day life.
When a mere babe she had been cast
ashore like 80 much driftwood. And
all OF her young life she had been
ouffeted about on the bay and river in
small fishing boat like a cockle-shell.
She had become so interlinked with
danger that it seemed her constant COM
panion and she only thought OF it as
such.
That kid was as calm when we
drew her from the jaws of death as il
che were rowing boat ON a summers
day." had remarked one of the life
savers.
The first thing she did was to bend
over the old man and begin rubbing his
hands, said another.
1t was not Sankala's bad seamanship
Oh lack of skill that led her across the
danger line, but it was her lack OF
strength. The trap they tended lay to
the west nearer the bar than others
and while rounding the rocks to reach |
the trap the undertow, unusually strong I
from the all night storm, caught her
and carried her boat away by sheer
force.
She was meditating over the days
exciting episodes and he condition of
her companion Young as she was,
she knew that Ringwold could not last
much longer They were reduced to
the direst straits. Fishing was poor
and wages were poorer. Ringwold was
no longer useful. He was more Of
nindrance as co-worker. His COM
pan; onship was all that was left her.
They now only earned scant living
md should Ringwold become bed-rid-
len she did not know what she would
10. He had not copfided fully to her
he secret Of her life and the mysteries {
II the documents concealed under the
hearth. Would these help her? She ,
made up her mind that should Ring ,
would recover again sne would breach I
he subject to him.
IL was not 80 much for her own self :
hat she was prompted, but she wished I
o ease the old mans life in his last :
ays. He bad made a great struggle 4
or her and she wished to repay him in 5
ONE way. r
While meditating over her troubles, c
here came loud, heavy knock at the II
oor- 1t sounded like the rap Of
DOM. She could not tell why, but q
he trembled. Sankala was rot in the v
sbit OF experiencing such sensations. Z,
he went to the door and opened It. "
Come I'M" she said in a hollow n.
me.
1t was old Seadogl What could =,
ring him at such an hour of the !,
ight. Then old Seadog always sent =,
II his employees instead of calling g.,
pom them. =.
"Will you be seated?" asked the :,
ri. az
"No. Have but minute. How is 81
ingwold?" ~
81 cannot tell" replied sankala. IN
BE is quite feeble, but be has been Sc
at way quite often Of late. He is ov
ting very old, you know" la
"Yes," replied Seadog. "He is get tn
ig too old and feeble to work. He lo'
s become worthless to me. came WI
tell you that have had your trap tn
divided for. He should be taken to lie
E poor farmland, presume that is
3 best place for you, sankala-yon ms
ow you would like to be by the old go
ms side his remaining days. / will les
* after the arrangements tomorrow :" sir
Thus spoke old Seadog. Then he III
ned and walked out into the gloom "B
thout saying goodnight. gi'
ms
thi
ITO lie confinuedl =,