The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-01-08

refreshed by q siesta She joined me at
the caves mouth. where we sat hand
in hand until the plain below was all
in shadow, only the white trunks OF
the palms standing out palltd as ghosts
in the gathering gloom.
During the week tina followed Olivia
and her maid occupied the inner cham
Der of the cave which was sacred to
their privacy, while / guarded the
caves mouth and the outer room. We
both knew well our lives were in the
hands of the authorities when her ia
Their, Don Amadeo, should overcome
his pride and command the inevitable
search for his daughter. 1t could not
be long deferred, and SO we lived in
daily apprehension Of capture and sep
aration, yet We're happy.
The knowledge Of impending sorrow
only gave present joys a keener zest.
1t seemed impossible to escape from
the island, closely guarded as 1t vas
Yet J. made my preparations. Far
down below US was the solitary shore
OF q land locked bay, beyond which
We're innumerable days, and still far
Their OFF the. ocean. Neither sea nor
shore was often visited, save now and
then by smuggler or fihbuster.
Every day ct sunrise, olivia and her
maid accompanying, / went down to
land-locked harbor and, worked
upon a great raft Of bamboo, which.
when finished, / launched and anchored
in the placid bay behind. the coral reefs.
Day by day thereafter during the whole
of Christmas week l carried down
clothing, provisions, arms and ammu-
milton until at last our frail craft was
laden with everything necessary for q
voyage.
-Four days passed after we were
ready before we saw a sail upon the
ocean. 1t was late in the afternoon Of
the last day of December, when, sit
ting in the shade of the cave, Olivia
pointed out n speck upon the waves.
She looked long and earnestly, then
said:
Dearest, it Is a ship, and it is COM
ing toward our island.'
will you tenture?" / asked.
Certainly" she answered., smiling
into my eyes. But first let me be in
deed sure it is approaching"
Half the distance had been traversed,
and, though darkness now overspread
the ocean, we could still make out the
ships position by her lights. The sea
became rougher and more turbulent,
and suddenly l sensed a new danger.
While / was watching the foam crested
pillows sweeping toward us in order to
avoid them l saw in their lark hollows
rapidly moving streaks Of phosphores-
cence.
We We're beset by sharks! Their
flaming fins We're cleaving the water
all about us. The black waves We're
alive with them.
But the bark was looming steadily
before us. In another half hour VIZ
should be within hail ven if she did
not sooner see us n lower a boat
Perhaps l was made too confident by
this assurance: but, without warning, d
fierce wave assailed us, and the raft
was overturned. The same wave car
ried my sweetheart away into the
darkness, but l swan swiftly to hel
side and thrust out an arm to draw hel
| to my shoulder for support. 1
But that instant, as her eyes looked
lovingly into mine, q cry burst from
her lips, and she sank beneath the
waves. 1 clutched at her dress ant
strove to raise her, but my strength
was unavailing as against that Of The
monster that had seized her.
Down, down, below the turmoil Of
waves and roaring pillows we sank to.
gether. ] Wrenched my knife from its
sheath, and in my fury plunged it into
the man-eater's body, gray and ghast.
~, alongside Of me. The grim jaws re.
Taxed their hold, and, dragging the ap-
parently ~lifeless form to the surface,
down beside her. There while the
waves swept over us, while the fins q
the sharks Missed and cleaned in the
foaming. waters, I called to her, ben,
over her, pressed my lips to hers.
Then, overcome by fatigue and de.
spair' I swooned BY her side.
~ IN,o, =. 80 49, - ..r- -.- E-.-