Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-24
CHAPTER III.
Discoveries.

| of the missing Lascars. He came to the
conclusion that the bodies had been dragged
| from off the sun-dried rocks into the la
COON by some agency the nature Of which
he could not even conjecture.
They were lying many feet above the
sea level when he last saw them. little
more than half an hour earlier. At tina,
point the beach shelved rapidly. He could
| look far into the depths of the rapidly
clearing water. Nothing was visible there
| save several varieties of small fish.
| The incident puzzled and annoyed him.
| Still thinking about it. he sat down on the
| highest rock and pulled off his heavy boots
| to empty the water out. He also Invested
himself Of his stockings and spread them
| out to dry.
The action reminded him of Miss Deane's
necessities. He hurried to a point whence
he could call out to her and recommend
her to dry some of her clothing during his
absence. He retired even more quickly,
fearing lest he should be seen. Iris had
already displayed to the sunlight a large
portion of her costume.
Without further delay he set about dis
agreeable but necessary task. From the
pockets of the first officer and doctor he
secured two revolvers and a supply of car
trfdges, evidently intended to settle any dis
pute which might have arisen between the
ships officers and the native members Of
the crew. He hoped the cartridges were
unfnjured, but he could not test them at
the moment for fear of alarming Miss
Deane.
Both officers carried pocket books and
pencils. In one of these, containing dry
leaves, the sailor made a careful inventory
of the money and other valuable effects he
round upon the dead, besides noting names
and documents where possible. Curiously
enough, the capitalist of this island morgue
was Lascar jemadar, who in a belt
hna Tod
IN gold. The SAILOR tied in a handkerchief
all the money he collected and ranged mock
etoooks, letters and jewelry in separate lit
ne heaps. Then he stripped the men of
thelr boots and outer clothing. He could
not tell how long the girl and he might be
detained on the island before help came
anu iresh garments were essential 1t
wouId De 1ooiish sentimentality to trust to
stores thrown ashore from the shin
nevertheless, when it became NECESSARY
70 search and disrobe the women he almost
broke down. For an instant he softened,
;m r,np back his emotions with a savage
iillprecatlon, he doggedly persevered. At
last ne paused to consider what should he
zone with the bodies. His first intent was
10 scoop a large hole In the sand with a
p lisc oi timber; but when he took into con-
siuera'ion the magnitude of the labor in
vowed. requiring many hours of ha rd work
ana a waste of precious time which might
De OF Infinite value to his HELPLESS comnsns
. ION ana himself. he was forced to abandon
but dangerous.
Asaln he had to set his teeth with grim
aSsoiution. one by one the bodies were
snot into the lagoon from the little G,av
again '"u iol oe seen
ne was quite unnerved now. He felt as
:, ~ ne nad committed a colossal crime. In
me me smooth water of the cove a number of
nias 'i Tts were cutting arrow-shaped rip
Snuooered. Gods providence had ferried
MN and the girl across that very n1aca q
rev hours ago How wonderful that he
whist hundreds perished, Whv was 10
Anu those others-why were they denied
isscue! for an instant he was nearer to
pr So,s man man ne had been for years.
some lurking fend of recollection snrapo
from out the vista of bygone wears anS
choked back the impulse He arose and
snook himself like dog. There was much
70 pe done; He gathered the clothes and
other articles into heap and placed nor
uons OF shattered packing cases nesr~to
misiead Iris. While thus engaged he kick
ed ed up out of the sand rusty kriss. or Ma
a., 49, SWORD; me presence of this imple-
heht startled him. He examined it slowly
and thrust it out of sight. -o"AS
men ne went back to her, after DOMINIC
ms stockings and boots, now thoroughiy
dry. my
Are you ready now, Miss Deaneo, be
sang out. cheerily ne
Ready? have been waiting for Won"
jerks chuckled quietly II must e,Iard
self ne "aio 10 MINI
Iris Joined him. BY some myster;ous-
means she had effected great imnrovement
IN her appearance. Yet there were mani
fest gaps. '''''i-
If only 1 had a needle and thread
she began " W
IF that is ALL" said the sailor, fumbline
IN IN ms pockets. He produced shabby hit
tie hussif. containing a thimble. scissors
needles and some skeins of unbIeacbeJ
unread Case and contents were sodden mr.
rusted with salt water, but the girl fasten-
content. "a "o0p
Now, please" she cried Il want a tele-
graph office and ship"
II was impossible to resist the infection
without concealment
We will look for them, Miss Deapa
meanwhile. will you oblige me by wearing
TINS? me sun is climbing up rapidly"
he handed her a sou wester which he car
ried. He had secured another for hir,soIe
me merriment died away from her faco
She remembered his Grand Being an ari"
nently sensible young woman. she made no
protest, even forcing herself to tie tho
strings beneath her chin
Wnen they reached the sands she caught
sight OF the pile of clothes and the broken
WOODWORK; with the small heaps of valu-
less subterfuge did not deceive her Che
darted quick look of gratitude
at her companion. How thoughtfnI
ne was! After a fearful glance around She
was treasured. though she wondered what
had become of-them
J see you have been busy" she said.
h0odlng toward the clothes and boots
III was his turn to steal a look of sharn
INQUIRY. Twere an easier task to read the
records OF time in the solid rock than IN
giean knowledge from the girls face.
Yes, he replied simply Lucky find.
wasn't it?'' i'i'u'
Most fortunate. When they are quite
airy | will replenish my wardrobe. What
Is the nrst thing to be done?"
We'll. Miss Deane / think our proeran
rs, IN the first place. to examine the ar.
ucles thrown ashore and see If any of the
cases contain food. Secondly, We should
hsui high and dry everything that may be
o. use 10 US. lest the weather should break
again and the next tide sweep away the
spoil: Thirdly. we should cat and rest. and
hnaliy, we must explore the island before
the light fails 1 am convinced we are
alone here. 1t Is small place at the best.
ana II any Cinnamon were ashore they
would have put in an appearance long
since e
Do you think. then. that we may remain
here long?'
1T is impossible to form an opinion on
that point: Help may come in a day. On
the other hand"
"Yes?"
lit is a wise thing Miss Deane. to pre-
pare for other contingencies"