Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-01
DAILY SHORT STORY
A cAsTAWAY WOMAN.

copyright. 1904. by T. c. NIcCIurel
4 dozen of US from the whale ship
Polly made 4 landing on Lighthouse
island. on the northwest coast of Aus
tralia, one morning for wood and wa
ter and for fear we might meet with
adventure four of the men were armed
with muSketS. As we landed on the
sandy beach of little cove we saw
small and quceTly constructed raft
drawn up on the sands, and leading
away from 1t were the tracks of hu-
man feet. 1t needed only q glance to
show that they were the footprints Of
woman, and as we noticed the con-
structiOn of the raft the duIlest sailor
could figure that no man ever put il
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 werc 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 a 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 were detailed to beat up
the woods and see If the woman could
be found.
\ few rods from the spring, where
the forest was more open. we came
upon hut with 4 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 Il 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 he
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 \ letter was written and
placed with the things, giving her the
name of the ship and saying we were
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 had torn the letter into many
pieces. and that probably without read
ing it. We left another letter for her.
but 1t met the fate Of the first. ON the
fourth day. IS we had finished our
work and the caStaway had not come
near Us. 1t was determined 10 run her
down ana discover who she was
To make n speedy and thorough job
of this everybody but the cook was
landed. and we had about forty-fye
men in line. We stretched out across
the head of the island like 50 many
skirInishers and then swept down its
length and back again. In returning
we sighted the woman. who had been
concealed in depression. and break
ing cover she ran like a deer and was
soon out of sight.
We had spent half IN hour looking
for her when the lone man left aboard
the ship fired a musket and rang the [
bell and caused Us 10 hasten down TO 7
the beach. The castaway had ffanked /
Us and reached the shore and put of (
in one of our boats. She was already
half a mile away, using an oar as
paddle. and as soon rs she saw us in
pursuit she redoubled her eXertions.
A boat was manned and sent of in
pursuit, and We easily overhaulCd the
fugitive, but rs We came up she Sprang Il
overheard and swan away. ana by div
Ing and lodging she eyaded Us for half
an hour.
Nobody could make out just what
sort Of woman she was until one of
the men finally caught her 10y the hair
aud pulled her into the boat. She