Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-24
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1.-The facts are obvious, Miss Deane. The
loss of the Sirdar will not be definitely
known for many days. 1t will be assumed
that she has broken down. The agents in
Singapore will await cabled tidings of her
whereabouts. She might have drifted any
where in that typhoon. Ultimately they
to that course a little earlier by your
fathers anxiety. Pardon me. did not
intend to pain you. am speaking my
mind
go on" said Iris bravely.
THE relief ship must search the entire
The gale might have driven a disabled
steamer north, south, east or west. A
typhoon travels in a whirling SPIRAL you
see. and the direction of a drifting ship
depends wholly upon the locality where she
sustained damage. The coasts of CHINA,
Java, Borneo and the Philippines are not
equipped with lighthouses on every head-
land and cordoned with telegraph wires.
There are river pirates and savage races to
be reckoned with. Casting aside all otner
possibilities and assuming that prompt
search Is made to the south of our course.
this part of the ocean is full of reefs and
small islands. some inhabited permanently.
others visited occasionally by fishermen.
He was about to add something. but check
ed himself
ITO sum up he continued hurriedly,
I'VE may have to remain here for many
days, even months. There is always
chance of speedy help. We must act, how
ever on the OASIS OI ueltHlioil ioi an IN
definite period. 1 am discussing appear
ances as they are. A survey of the Island
may change all these views"
In what way?''
tie turned and pointed to the summit OF
the tree-covered hill behind them.
From that point" he said, we may see
other and larger islands If so, they Will
certainly be inhabited. 1 am surprised this
one is not.
He ended abruptly. They were losing time.
Before Iris could join him he was already
hauling a large unchanged case out of the
water.
He laughed unmirthfuly. Champagne"
he said. "A good brand. too.
This man was certainly an enigma. Iris
wrinkled her pretty forehead in the effort
to place him in a fitting category his
words and accent We're those of an edu-
Gated gentleman. yet his actions and man
ners were studiously uncouth when he
thought she was observing him. The veneer
of roughness puzzled her. That he was
naturally of refined temperament she knew
quite well, not alone by perception, but
by the plain evidence of his earlier dealings
with her. Then why this affectation of
coarseness, this borrowed aroma or the
stewards mess and the forecastle?
To the best of her ability she silently
helped in the work of salvage. They made
a queer collection. case of champagne
and another of brandy; a box of books; a
pair of night glasses; compass; several
boxes of ships biscuit, coated with salt.
but saved by their hardness, having been
immersed but few seconds: two large
cases of hams in equally good condition:
some huge dish covers; a bit of twisted
and great quantity of cordage
and timber.
There was one very heavy package which
their united strength could not lift. The
sailor searched around until he round an
iron bar that could be wrenched from us
socket. With this he pried open the strong
outer cover and revealed the contents-reg
ulation boxes of Lee-Metford ammunition,
each containing 800 pounds.
"Ah!' he cried; now We want some
rifles
what good would they be?' inquired
Iris.
He softly denounced himself as a fool
but he answered at once: To shoot Dlrds,
of course Miss Deane. There are plenty
here and many of them are edible
"Ycu have two revolvers and some cart
ridges
Yes They are useful in a way, but not
for pot hunting"
need is shotgun.
He smiled grimly At times his sense of
humor forced way through the outward
shield of reserve. of defiance 1t might be.
1.-The only persons / ever heard Of, he
said, who landed under compulsion on a
desert island with a shipload of requisites
were the Swiss Family Robinson"
Good gracious! cried Iris irrelevantly:
IT had not even thought of Robinson CRU
soc until this moment Isn't it odd? L
We
She pulled herself up short. firmly re-
solved not to blush. Without flinching, she
challenged him to complete her sentence.
He dared not do it. He could not be mean
enough to take advantage of her slip.
Instantly he helped her embarrassment
II hope the parallel will not hold good
he said. I'm any event, you, Miss Deane,
fill a part less familiar in fiction"
The phrase was neat. 1t meant much or
little as fancy dictated. Iris at first felt
profoundly grateful for his tact. Thinking
the words over at leisure. she became hot
and very angry.
They worked in silence for another hour
The sun was nearing the zenith They were
distressed with the increasing heat of the
day. jerks secured a ham and some bis
cults, some pieces of driftwood and the
binoculars, and invited Miss Deane to ac-
company him to the grove. She obeyed
without a word. though she wondered how
he proposed to light fire. To contribute
something toward the expected feast she
picked up dish cover and a bottle Of
champagne.
The sailor eyed the concluding item with
disfavor. Not while the sun is up" he
said. I'm the evening, yes
1T was for YOU. explained Iris coldly
81 do not drink wine"
"You must break the pledge while YOU
are here, Miss Deane. 1t is often very cold
at night In this latitude chill would
mean fever and perhaps DEATH"
What strange man. murmured the
girl
She covertly watched his preparations
He tore dry leaf from a note book and
broke the bullet out of n cartridge dampen-
ing the powder with water from a pitcher
plant. Smearing the composition on the
paper, he placed it in the SUM- where it
dried at once. He gathered small bundle
of withered spines from the palms and ar
ranged the driftwood on top. choosing a
place for his bonfire just within the shade.
Then. inserting the touch paper among the
spines. he unscrewed one of the lenses of
the binoculars converted it into a burning
glass and had fine blaze roaring merriIy
in few minutes. With tie aid of pointed
sticks. he grilled some slices OF ham cut
with his clasp knife which he first care
fully, cleaned in the earth. The biscuits
were of the variety that become soft when
toasted. and SO he balanced few by stones
near the fire.
Iris forgot her annoyance In her inter-
est. A most appetizing smell filed the
air. They were having a picnic amid
delightful surroundings. Yesterday at this
time-she almost yielded to rush of SEN
tfment. but forced it back with instant
determination. Tears were poor resource1
unmindful of Gods goodness to herself and
her companion. Without the sailor what
would become of her, even were she
thrown ashore while still living? She knew
none of the expedients which seemed TO he
at his command. 1t was most ungrateful
proceeding to be vexed with him for her
own thoughtless suggestion that she occu-