Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-27
CHAPTER VI.
Some Explanations.

Fierce emotions are necessarily transient,
but for the hour they exhaust the psychic
capacity. The sailor had gone through
such mental stress before it was yet noon
that he was benumbed wholly incapable of
further sensation. Seneca tells how the
Island of Theresaea arose in moment
from the sea. thereby astounding ancient
mariners, we'll it might Had this mani
festation been repeated within a cable S
length from the reef. jerks was in mood to
accept it as betting the new order OF
things.
Being in good condition, he soon recov-
cred his physical powers. He was outward
" little the worse for the encounter with
the devilfish. The skin around his mouth
was sore. His waist and legs were bruised.
One sweep of the ak had cut clean through
the bullying leather of his left boot without
touching the flesh. In word, he was
practically uniujured.
He had the dognhe habit of shaking him
self at the close of fray. He did SO now
when he stood up Iris showed clearer signs
of the ordeal. Her face was drawn and
haggard, the pupils of her eyes dilated. She
was gazing into depths, illumitable' unex-
plored. Compassion awoke at sight of her.
Come" said jerks, gently. Let us get
back to the island
He quietly resumed predominance. help
ing her over the rough pathway OF the reef,
almost lifting her when the difficulties were
great.
He did not ask her how 1t happened that
she came so speedily to his assistance.
Enough that she had done 1t, daring all for
his sake She was weak and trembling
With the acute vision of the soul she saw
again, and yet again, the deadly malice OF
the octopus, the divine despair OF the man.
Reaching the firm sand. she could walk
alone She limped. Instantly her COM
panions blunted emotions quickened into
life He caught her arm and said hoarse-
ly-
Are YOU hurt in any way?''
The question brought her back from
dreamland. A waking nightmare was hap
ri1v shattered into dim fragments. She
even strove to smile unconcernedly.
1T Is nothing" she murmured L STUN
bled on the rocks. There is no spra1Il
Merely a blow. a bit of skin rubbed on
above my ankle.
Let me carry you
1.-The idea! Carry me! 1 will race you TO
the cave l..
IL was no idle jest. She wanted to run-to
get away from that inky blotch in the green
water.
You are sure it is trife?"
quite sure. My stocking chafes little
that is ali. See, 1 will show you
She stopped and with the quick
skill of woman. rolled down the stock.
ing ON her right leg. Modestly darinS,
she stretched out her foot ana SLSiuy
lifted her dress On the outer side OF ths
tapering limb was an ugly bruise, scratched
deeply by the coral. WI,
He exhibited due surgical interest his
manner, MS WOTuS, Detdiht piOAOo-.S4A+A-'
I'VE will soon put that right, he SAID.
"A strip off your muslin dress, soaked III
brandy, will
.'Brandy?' she exclaimed.
Yes; we have some, you know Brandy
is great tip for bruised wounds. III can
be applied both ways, inside and out
This was better. They were steadily DRIFT
ing back to the commonplace whist she
stitched together some muslin STRIPS ne
knocked the head off a bottle of BRANDY
They each drank a small quantity, ana the
generous spirit brought color 10 their wan
cheeks. The sailor showed Iris how 10
fasten a bandage by twisting the muslh
round the upper part of his boot For the
first time she saw the cut made by the ak
''Dld-the thing-grip you there?' she
nervously inquired.
There. and elsewhere. All over at once
it felt like. The beast attacked me with
five arms.
She shuddered II don't know how you
could fight it," she said. How strong, how
brave you must be.
This amused him. .'The veriest coward
will try TO save his own life" he answered.
If you use such adjectives to me, what
words 1 find to do justice to you, who
dared to come close to such vile-looking
creature and kill it? l must thank my stars
that you carried the revolver.
''Ah," she said, that reminds me. You
do not practice what you preach. found
your pistol lying on the stone in the cave.
That is one reason why / followed you.
1t was quite true. He laid the weapon
aside when delving at the rock. and forgot
to replace il in his belt
1T was stupid OF me- he admitted; but
am not sorry.
''Why?'
Because, as It is, l owe you my life
You owe me nothing" she snapped 1T
IS very thoughtless of you to run such
risks. What will become of me if anything
happens TO YOU? My point of view is purely
selfish, you see"
Quite so. Purely selfish" He smiled
sadly. Selfish people of your type are
somewhat rare, Miss Deane."
Not converse ton worth noting, perha ps,
save in so far it is typical of the trite
utterances of people striving to recover
from some tremendous ordeal. Epigrams
delivered al the foot of the scaffold have
always been carefully prepared beforehand
The bandage was ready; one end was well
soaked in brandy. She moved toward the
cave. but he cried:
Wait one minute 1 want to get a couple
Of crowbars:,
What for?'
II must go back there" He jerked his
head in the direction of the reef. She ut
tered 4 little sob of disnay.
Il Will incur no danger this time he ex-
planned
Il found rifles there. We must have them
they may mean salvation"
When Iris was determined about any
thing, her chin dimpled 1t puckered de-
lightfully now.
Il will come with YOU" she announced
Very well. 1 will wait for you. The tide
Will serve for another hour"
He knew he had decided rightly. She
could not bear to be alone-yet. Soon the
bandage was adjusted and they returned to
the reef. Scrambling now with difficulty
over the rough and dangerous track, Iris
was secretly amazed by the remembrance
or the daring activity she displayed during
her earlier passage along the same preca-
rious roadway
Then she darted from rock to rock with
the fearless certainty of "A channels Her
only stumble was caused. she recoliected
by an absurd effort to avoid wetting her
dress. She laughed nervously when they
reached the place. This time jerks lifted
her across the intervening channel
Is this the spot where you fell?'' he ask
ed. tenderiy.
Yes; how did you guess it?'
Il read Ii in your eyes"
Then please do not read my eyes but
look where you are going"
Perhaps i was doing that too" he SAID.
They were standing on the landward side
OF the shallow water in which he fought
the octopus.
Already the dark fluid emitted by his as
sailant in it's final discontinue was passing
away, owing TO the slight movement of the