The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

say Everything passing gives this is
land wide berth on account Of the
others on either side Of US. Now, If we
could manage TO get to the next island
but / don't quite see how we can"
He wandered off down the beach.
When he returned an hour later the
Countess and the banker had joined
the group around the fire. There were
dark shadows under the eyes Of the
Countess, but her face was almost
childish in its anima ton.
''Nevair have I taste dejeuner so
gcod," she cried as she set down the
shell which contained the last of her
"chowder" "Ahi here is my preserver.
Roniour, msieu. Before I am so IA
tiguee I cannot express my thanks. a"
She rose to her feet and dropped 2.
courtesy, while the vivacity Of her fea-
lures sOftened for an instant. And
what il is that you have in the panu-
ela?" She gathered her skirts in both
hands and thrust out her pretty head
inquisitively.
Something to bring back your
strength again. Countess - fresh
laid from our farm" said the mate. tie
set down the bundle, out of which
rolled several large, round eggs.
IASHl you dlC-lulli6S eggs, Dy
Jove!" exclaimed the Baronet
When the eggs were cooked and eaten
a better feeling semed to pervade the
castaways. In their hunger none but
the economical Jap observed that the
mate ate but one egg.
The Countess dropped off into doze
and the others soon followed-all but
the mate. who arose and searched the
hoTizon with a cold. gray. anxious eye.
Soon he stole away from the others and
pTowled the beach. dragging fragments
OF wreckage away from the reach of the
tide, searching shell heap and rifle for
objects cf use His hard face lightened
as, wading waist deep, he dragged from
the water the sail of one of the boats
and spread il out to dry. Three oars
and a bucket were the next treasures.
Later he almost howled with joy as
his eye fell upon mass of cordage and
hatch tarpaulin.
When all were sleeping the Countess
suddenly awoke, chilled to the bone
from contact with the cold sand which
the sun warmth had long since left.
The fire was almost dead and beside
the smoldering ashes lay Jordan
Knapp. face downward. and sleeping
heavily. His great shoulders were out
lined against the moonlit sky and as
he breathed deeply and silently she
could see them rise and fall against the
white horizon. AS she watched, too
cold TO move. a shudder shook the
great frame; he turned partly on his
side and drew in his limbs TO warm
his body.
The Countess creDt softly out and
threw a few sticks on the fire As she
slipped from beneath the edge of her
coverlet dark object across it caught
her eye. IT was the mates coat and
another glance showed her THAT he
slept in his thin shirt, open at the neck.
She picked uD the coat and held ii
over the Goals Of the fire. When it
seemed that the heat had penetrated
every fiber she spread it gently across
the shoulders of the mate, noticed as
she did so that the cotton shirt was
clammy from the dew. Almost as the
garment touched him the mate was
broad awake. UP on one knee and tense
as a forestay.
"Oh, it is you" he whispered, recog-
nizing her in the moonlight. II thought
that I was in China again with Boles
and that the river pirates-pshaw, I'm
half asleep still. What's the matter,
Countess?"
"Dieu," I have so cold 1 may not
sleep. Perhaps 1 have sleep enough in
the day. What a pity I arouse you,
cher anil But you shiver in your
sleep and you have put your coat
across my knee she added reproach-
fully.
Il don't mind the cold" said the
mate almost roughly; "and l ought to
have kept the fire up. but / was sort Of
sleepy, / guess" He was building the
feeble flames as he spoke. "Pll make
you a comfortable bed tomorrow,
Countess. built uD off the ground and
thatched out with palm leaves. Seems
like ] might have thought of it before,
but I was busy saving junk that we
may need"
How long you think we must re-
main on this islan'?" asked the Count
ess, holding her palms to the growing
blaze.
mot long, I reckon" he answered
reassuringly. Wen start to knock
the pieces of the boat together to-
morrow and then we'll work
our passage along this chain of ISL
ands until we strike an inhabited one.
Maui can't be more than 800 miles to
the eastwardsand the natives there are
friendly"
But the boat-how without tools
may you make him sea-deserving
"Seaworthy? oh, there are nails in
the wreckageR and 1 can chip these
shells into tools; and I have my
knife"
'It will be a task like The Toilers
of the Sea- You have read that
book?"
Yes; but there are several of us
and we have a sail and can wait for
a fair wind. 1t will be easy enough.
Don't worry, Countess, you'll be in
Frisco in a couple of months"
Il do not worry when you are near,
J-Jordin Knapp" she added softly.
That's brave GIRL said the mate,