Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-14


beach. Common humanity demanded,
too, that he should hastily examine
ench Of the bodies in case life was not
wholly extinct.
So he bent over the girl, noting with
sudden wonder that, weak as she was,
she had managed to refasten part OF
her bodice.
"You must permit me to carry you
little farther inland" he explained
gently.
Without another word he lifted her
In his arms, marveling somewhat Mt
the strength which came of necessity,
and bore her some little distance until
a sturdy rock juttIng out OF the sand
offered shelter from the wind and pro-
lection from the sea and its revela.
tons
II am SO cold and tired" murmured
Iris. SIS there any water7 My throat
hurts me-"
He pressed back the tangled hair
from her forehead as he might soothe
q child.
'Try to lie still for very few min
hses," he suid you have not long to
suffer. will return Immediately"
His own throat and palate We're on
fire owing to the brine, but he first
hurried back to the edge OF the lagoon.
There were fourteen bodies In nll, three
women and eleven men, four Of the
latter being Lascars. The women were
saloon passengers whom he did not
know. One Of the men was the sur
geon, another the first officer, q third
Sir John Tozer The rest were passen-
gers and members Of the crew. They
were all dead; some had been peaceful
" drowned, others were. fearfully
mangled by the rocks. Two OF the Las
cars, bearing signs of dreadful injuries,
were lying on n cluster Of low rocks
overhnnglng the water. The remainder
rested on the sand.
The sailor exhibited no visible emo
ton while he conducted his sud scru-
tiny. When he was assured that this
silent company was beyond mortal help
he at once strobe away toward the
nearest bait of trees. He could not tell
how long the search for water might
be protracted, and there was pressing
need for 1t.
When lie reached the hrst clump Of
brushwocd he uttered delighted ex-
clamation. There, growing In prodigal
luxurianee. was the beneflcent pitcher
plant, whose large curled up leaf, shap-
ed like teacup, not only holds last
Ing quantity of rain water, but mixes
Herewith It's own palatable and nat.
ural juices.
With his knife he severed two Of
the leaves and fastened to iris with
the precious beverage She heard him
and managed to raise herself on an ell
bow. The poor girls eyes glistened at
the prospect OF relief, Without word
Of question or surprise she swallowed
the contents OF both leaves.
Then she found utterance. How
odd 1t tastes. What is it?" she in
quired.
But tile eagerness with which she
quenched her thirst renewed his own
momentarily forgotten torture. His
tongue seemed to swell. He was alb
solutely unable to reply.
The water revived Iris like magic
draft. Her quick intuition told her
what had happened.
you have had none yourself! she
cried. go at once and get some! And
please bring me some more"
\ He required no second bidding. Att
er hastily gulping down the contents
of several leaves he returned with a
further supply. Iris was now sitting
up. The sun had burst royalty through
the clouds, and her chilled limbs were
gaining some degree Of warmth and
elasticity.
"What is it| she repeated after an
other delicious draft.
"The leaf Of the pitcher plant. Ma
ture is not always cruel. In an UNI
usually generous mood she devised this
method Of storing water"
Miss Deane reached out her hand
for more. Her troubled brain refused
to wonder at such reply from an orli-
nary seaman. The sailor deliberately
spilled the contents of remaining leaf
on the sand.
mo, madam" he said, with an odd
mixture Of Difference and firmness. 'N0
more at present. I must first procure
you some food"
She looked up at him in momentary
silence .
'srhe ship is lost7" she said after
pause.
SSVoo YSooHovpo
"Are we the only people eaved?"
II fear So"
els this desert island?"
II think not, madam. 1t may by
chance be temporarily uninhabited, but
fishermen from China come to all these
places. have seen no other living be-
ings except ourselves. Nevertheless
the islanders may live on the south
side"
"It surely cannot be possible that the
Sirdar has gone to pieces-a magnifi-
cent vessel Of her size and strength
He answered quietly: ut is too true,
madam. I suppose you hardly knew
she struck, it happened 80 suddenly.
Afterward, fortunately for you. you
were unconscious"
"How do you known she inquired
quickly. A food of vivid recollection
was pouring in upon her.
"I-,r-well, happened to be near
you, madam, when the ship broke up,