Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-18
{.
| beWings ef the
Morning 81 :: ''::; ~ ~: =: T.
=. ~ Edward J. Clode

Copyright. DOS. by
Edward j. Clode

%
se.f to sitting posture, for lie WA:
bruised and stiif. With his first move
meat lie became violently i'll. He hat
swallowed much salt water. and Il
rs not Until the splsm Of sicknes.
und passed that he thought of the girl
she cannot be dead" he hOarsel!
murmure,l. feebly trying to lift her
surely Providence would not desert
her after such IN escape. What
weak beggar l must be to give in al
the last moment. | am sure she was
living when we got ashore. What OF
earth can do to revive herr"
Forgc,ful Of his own aching limbs II
| this newborn anxiety. he sank OH ont
knee :nd emily pillowed Iris head ant
shoulders OH the other. Her eyes were
closed, her lips and teeth firmly set
| fact to which she undoubtedly owet
her life. else she would have been suf
| foc;ted-and tie pallor of her skin
seemed to be that terrible blOodless
HUe W hS StSih
! lines in the mans face relaxed, anG
something blurred his vision. He was
weak from exhaustion and want OF
food. For the moment his emotions
were silly aroused.
"Oh. it is pitiful" he almost whim
perel. 1T cannot be-
With Il gesture of despair he drew
the sleeve of his thick jersey across his
eyes to clear them from the gathering
mist. Then lie tremblingly endeavored
to open the neck of her dress. He was
startled to find the girls eyes wide
open and surveying him with shadowy
alarm. She was quite conscious.
THANK God" he cried hOarsely
"You are alive"
Her color came back with remarka
BILE rapidity. She tried to assume sit,
ting posture. and instinctively her
hands travelled to her disarrnged cos
tune.
"How ridiculous!' she said. with q
little note of annoyance in her voice,
which sounded curiously hollow. But
her brave spirit could not yet command
her cnfcebled frame. She was perforco
compelled to sink back to the support
of his knee and arm.
"Do you think you could lie quiet un'
til try to find some water?" he gasp.
ed anXiouSly.
Size nodded childlike acquiescence
and her eycids fell. 1t was only that
her eyes smarted dreadfully from the
salt water, but the sailor was sure
that this was Il premonition Of lapse
to Inconsistencies.
please try not to faint again." he
said. Don't you think had better
loosen these things? You can breathe
more easily"
\ ghost of smile flickered on her
lips. "No-no." she murmured. "My
eyes hurt me-that Is all. Is there
any-water:"
He laid her tenderly OIL the sand and
rose to his feet. His first glance was
toward the sea. He saw something
which made him blink with astonish-
ment y heavy sea was still running
over the barrier reef which inclosed a
small lagoon. The contrast between
tie fierce commotion outside and the
comparatively smooth surface OF the
protected pool was very marked. AT
low tide the lagoon was almost COM
pletely isolated. Indeed he imagined
that only fierce gale blowing from
the northwest would enable the waves
to leap the reef. save where Il strip of
broken water. surging far into the
small natural harbor, betrayed the po-
sition Of the tiny entrance.
Yet ut this very point fine cocoanut
palm reared its stately column high In
air, and its long, tremulous fronds were
now swinging wildly before the gale.
From where he stood it appeared to
he growing in the midst of the sea, for
huge breakers completely hid the coral
embankment. This sentinel of the land
had Il werdly impressive effect. 1t
was the only fixed object in the waste
of foam capped waves. Not vestige
of the Sirdar remained seaward. but
the sand was Uttered with wreckage,
and-mournful spectacle-a considera-
BILE number of inanimate human forms
lay huddled up amid the relics of the
steamer.
This discovery stirred him to action.
He turned to survey the land on which
he was stranded with his helpless COM
panon. To his great relief he discov-
cred that it was lofty and tree clad.
He knew that the ship could not have
driftcd to Borneo, which still lay far to
the south. This must be one of the
hundreds Of, islands which stud the
China sea and provide resorts for Hal
nan fishermen. Probably it was in
habited, though he thought it strange
that none of the islanders had put In
nm appearance. In any event water
and food Of some sort were assured.
But before setting out upon his quest
two things demanded attention. The
girl must be removed from her present
position. 1t would be too horrible to
permit her first conscious gaze to rest
upon those crumpled objects Oh the
beach. Common humanity demanded,
too. that he should hastily examine
each of the bodies in case life was not
wholly extinct.
So he hc1t over the girl, noting with
sudden wonder that, weak rs she was,
she had managed to refasten part of
her bodice.
"You must permit me to carry you a
little farther inland" he explained
gently.
Without another word he lifted her
in his arms. marveling somewhat at
the strength which came Of necessity,
and bore her some little distance until
sturdy rock jutting out Of the sand
offered shelter from the wind and pro-
lection from the sea and its revela-