The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-06-29
Already the dark fluid emitted by his


with SO much difficulty, what are YOU
going 70 do?' she said. "It will be
madness for you to attempt to fore
that passage again. Where there is
one of those horrible things there are
others, suppose"
"That is one reason why I brought
the crowbars,'' he explained. eff Won
Will sit down for little while will
have everything properly fixed"
He delved with one Of the bars until
it lodged in a crevice Of the coral
Then a few powerful blows with the
pack OF the ak wedged it firmly enough
to bear any ordinary strain. The rope
ends reeved through the pulley on the
tree We're lying where they fell from
the girls hand at the close Of the
struggle. He deftly knotted them to the
rigid bar, and a few rapid turns of a
piece OF Wreckage passed between the
TWO lines strung them into tautness
that could not be attained by any
amount Of pulling.
Iris watched the operation in silence
The sailor always looked at his best
when hard at work. The half sullen,
Wholly self contained expression left
his face, which lit up with enthusiasm
and concentrated intelligence. That
which he essayed he did with all his
might
He, toiling with steady persistence,
felt not the inward spur which sought
relief in speech, but Iris was compelled
TO say something.
II suppose" she commented with an
air of much wisdom, "you are contriv-
ing an overhead railway for the safe
transit of yourself and the goods?'
eyes"
"Why are you so doubtful about it?'
because I personally intended to
walk across. The ropes will serve to
convey the packages"
She rose imperiously. 81 absolutely
forbid you to enter the water again.
Such suggestion on your part is quite
shameful. You are taking a grave
risk for no very great gain that I can
see, and if anything happens to you I
shall be left all alone in this awful
place.
She could think Of no better argu-
ment. Her only resource was Wo-
mans expedient- plea for protection
against threatening ills.
The sailor seemed to be puzzled how
best to act.
Miss Deane," he said, ''there is no
.such serious danger as you imagine
Last time the cutie caught me nap
ping. He will not do so again. Those
rifles must have. If it will serve to
reassure you, I will go along the line
myself"
Without another word he commenc-
ed operations. There was plenty Of
rope, and the plan he adopted was
simplicity itself. When each package
was securely fastened he attached it to
loop that passed over the line stretch
ed from the tree to the croWbar. To
this loop he tied the ightest rope he
could find and threw the other end to
Iris. BY pulling slightly she was able
to land at her feet even the cumbrous
rifle chest, for the travelling angle was
so acute that the heavier the article
the more readily it sought the lower
level
They toiled in silence until jerks
could lay hands on nothing more Of
value. Then, observing due care, he
quickly passed the channel For an
instant the girl gazed affrightedly at
the sea until the sailor stood at her
side again.
The tide had turned. In a few min
utes the reef would be partly sub
merged. To carry the case of rifles to
the mainland was manifestly impos-
sible feat, so jerks now did that which
done earlier would have saved him
some labor. He broke open the chest
and found that the weapons We're ap-
parently in excellent order.
He snapped the locks and squinted
down the barrels Of half a dozen to
test them. These he laid on one SIDE
Then he rapidly constructed a small
raft from loose timbers, binding them
roughly with rope, and to this argosy
he fastened the box Of tea, the barrels
Of flour, the broken saloon chair and
other small articles which might be Of
USE He avoided any difficulty in
launching the raft by building it close
to the waters edge. When all was
ready the rising tide fioated it for him.
He secured it to his longest rope and
gave it q vigorous push off into the la
COON. Then he slung four rifles across
his shoulders, asked Iris to carry the
remaining two in like manner and be-
gan to maneuver the raft landward.
"While you land the goods I will
prepare dinner" announced the girl.
''Please be careful not to slip on the
rocks he said. II am concerned about
the rifles If you fell you might dam
age them, and the incoming tide will
so hopelessly rust those I leave behind
that they will be useless"
II will preserve them at any cost,
though with six in our possession there
is margin for accidents. However, to
reassure you, will go back quickly"
Before he cold protest she started: off
4 at q run ilmniner lightly from rock to