The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-10-05
a CASTAWAY
WON AN
[copyright. 1904. by T. c. Mcclure.l

traila, one morning for wood and wa
ter, and for fear we might meet with
adventure four of the men We're armed
with muskets. AS we landed on the
sandy beach Of little cove we saw a
small and Queerly constructed raft |
drawn up on the sands. and leading |
away from it were the tracks of hui
man feet, 1t needed only q glance to
show that they We're the footprints of
woman. and as we noticed the con-
struction of the raft the duilest sailor
could figure that no man ever put it
together.
We felt certain that there was a wo-
man on the island and that she was
there solitary and alone. There was a
well beaten path leading from the shore
to the woods and as we We're in search
of water a part of us took this path,
while the others remained behind to
fell trees. At about twenty rods from
the beach we who had taken the path
came upon Il fine spring. from which
we could fill our casks. and for several
hours, or until the captain came ashore,
no one penetrated farther After din
ner six men We're detailed to beat up
the woods and see if the woman could
be found.
A few rods from the spring, where
the forest was more open. we came
upon Il hut with a smoldering fire at
the door. The hut was made of sticks,
stones shells and mud, and again a
woman's handiwork was clearly shown.
In the interior was a bed of dry grass
and some ragged and faded garments
of Woman's Wear.
AS our stay on the island would be
for three or four days, the captain or
dered that bedding and provisions be
placed in the hut for the use of the
castaway, and that we should make no
hunt for her just then for fear of alarm
ing her. A letter was written and
placed with the things, giving her the
name of the ship and saying we We're
friends and then we went about our
own work
Next morning it was ascertained that
the woman had spent the night in her
hut. She had made a bed of the
blankets and eaten of the provisions.
but she haa am the letter into many
pieces, an mat probably without read
ing it. We left another letter for her,
but it met the fate of the first. On the
fourth day. as we had finished our
work and the castaway had not come
near US. it was determined to run her
down and discover who she was.
To make a speedy and thorough job
of this everybody but the cook was
landed, and we had about forty-tive
men in line We stretched out across
the head of the island like SO many
skirmishers and then swept down its
length and back again. In returning
we sighted the woman, who had been
concealed in Il depression, and break
ing cover she ran like deer and was
soon out of sight.
We had spent half an hour looking
for her when the lone man left aboard
the ship fired "A musket and rang the
bell and caused us to hasten down to
the beach. The castaway had tanked
us and reached the shore and put off
in one of our boats. She was already
half mile away, using an oar as a
paddle and as soon as she saw us in
pursuit she redoubled her eNertions.
A boat was manned and sent off in
pursuit, and we easily overhauled the
fugitive, but as we came up she Sprang
overheard and swan away, and by div
ing and lodging she evaded us for half
an hour.
Nobody could make out just what
sort of woman she was until one of
the men finally caught her by the hair
and pulled her into the boat. She
fought him with savage ferocity, bit
ing one of his fingers to the bone, and
we had to tie her hand and foot to
keep her. She appeared TO be about
forty years of age, and although her
face was roughened and Drowned by
exposure we felt sure that she was
English or American.
We took her aboard the ship, and
the captain talked to her in a gentle
way and tried to satisfy her that we
were friends. When she grew quiet he
cast off her bonds.
AS we did not intend to make port
for three months. the idea was to
transfer the woman to some other
craft. We spoke half dozen in sue
cession, but not one of them would re,
ceive her. From one, however, where
the captain had his Wife aboard, an
outfit was procured and no sooner was
it handed over to the castaway than q
great change took place in her. She
quoted down, dressed herself from
head to foot and spent whole day In
brushing and combing her hair.
One morning she electrified the
steward by saying she would eat
breakfast in the cabin, these being the
first words she had spoken since hel
capture. When she emerged from hel
stateroom nobody could have recog
nized ner. She was now fairly gooC
looking woman, mild eyed and shy
and her voice was low and gentle. Al
she entered the cabin she looked abou
her in wondering way and queried o.
the captain:
"Sir, will you please tell me how
came aboard Of this ship and what ha!
become Of my own wardrobe?"