Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-05-05

too.'
How odd" whispered Iris, more
concerned In the scrutiny OF her imme-
diate surroundings. jerks glanced at
her sharply. She was not looking at
the islands, but at a curious hollow,
quarry like depression beneath them to
! the right, distant about 800 yards and
not far removed from the small pla-
teau containing the well, though iso-
lated from it by the south angle of the
main cliff.
Here, in a great circle, there was not
! q yestige Of grass, shrsIb or tree. moth
ing save brown rock and sand. AT first
| the sailor deemed it to be the dried up
bed Of a small lake This hypothesis
would not serve, else 1t would be
choked with verdure. The pit stared
up Mt them like an ominous eye. though
neither paid further attention to 1t. for
the glorious prospect mapped at their
feet momentarily swept aside all other
considerations.
What a beautiful place" murmured
iris. II wonder what it Is called"
suppose we christen it Rainbow is
landT'
''Why Rainbow
THAT is the English meaning Of
Iris In Latin. you know"
$50 1t is. How clever Of you to think
Of It! Tell lac, what is the meaning Of
Robert In Greek?"
lie turned to survey the northwest
side of the island II do not know" lie
answered. 1T might not be farfetched
to translate is as "A ships steward, a
menial.'"
Miss Iris had meant her playful re-
tort as a mere light hearted bubble. 1t
annoyed her, young person of much
consequence, to have her kindly con-
descension repealed.
II suppose So" she agreed. but |
have gone through so much in a few
hours that am bewiderc1 apt to for
get these nice distinctions"
jerks was closely examining the reef
on which the Sirdar struck. Some
square objects We're visible near the
palm tree. The sun, glinting on the
waves, rendered it difficult to discern
their significance.
what do you make Of those?" he in
quired, handing the glasses and bland
ly ignoring Miss Deane's petulance.
Her brain was busy with other things
while she twisted the binoculars to
suit her vision. Rainbow island-Iris-
1t was nice cOnceit, but ''menial"
struck a discordant note. This man
was no mental In appearance or speech.
Why was he so deliberately rude?
Il think they are boxes or packing
cases." she announced.
"Ah. that was my own idea! must
visit that locality"
"How? Will you swimT"
NO." he said, his stern lips relaxing
In a smile; II will not swim, and. by
the way, Miss Deane, be careful when
you are near the water. The lagoon
is swarming with sharks at present
feel tolerably assured that at low
tide, when the remnants of the gale
have vanished, will be able to walk
there along the reef"
"Sharksr she cried. "In there!
What horrible surprises this speck OF
land contains! should not have i'm
agined that sharks and seals could
live together!'
you are quite right" he explained.
with becoming gravity. "As rule.
sharks infest only the leeward side OF
these islands. Just now they are at
tracted in shoals by the wreck"
"Ohw Iris shivered slightly.
1--WE had better go back now. The
wind Is keen here. Miss Deane."
She knew that he purposely misun-
derstood her gesture. His attitude con
veyed a rebuke. There was no further
room for sentiment in their present ex.
istence. They had to deal with chill
necessities. As for the sailor, he was
glad that the chance turn Of their con-
versation enabled him to warn her
against the lurking dangers Of the la.
COON. There was no need to mention
the devilfish now. He must spare hel
all avoidable thrills.
They gathered the stores from the
first dining room and reached the cave
without incident. Another fire was
lighted, and while Iris attended to the
kitchen the sailor felled several young
|, trees. He wanted poles, and these
were the right size and shape nc
j soon cleared a considerable space. The
timber was soft and SO small In girtf
that three cuts with the ak usually
; suff1ced. He dragged from the beach
, the smallest tarpaulin he could find
, and propped 1t against the rock IN
i hot oHn
ed the mouth Of the cave, though ad
hitting light and air.
He was so busy that he paid little
heed to Iris. But the odor Of fried
ham was waited to him. He was
. lifting u couple of heavy stones to stay
the canvas and keep 1t from Tapping
In the wind when the girl called out:
before dinnerT'
He Strengthened himself and looked
at her. Her face and hands were
shining. spotless. The change was SC
great that his brow wrinkled with per
, plexity.
II am a good pupil" she cried. "You
, see 1 am already learning to help my.
self. ! made bucket out of one OF
the dish covers by singing it in two
ropes. Another dish cover, some sand
and leaves supplied basin. soap and
towel. have cleaned the tin cups and
the knives, and, see here is my great
est treasure"
She held up q small metal lamp.
"Where in the world did you find
that" he exclaimed.
Buried In the sand inside the cave"
Anything else"
His tone was abrupt. She was 80 dis.
appointed by the seeming want Of ap.
probation Of her industry that a CLEAN
Of amusement died from her eyes, and
she shook her head, STOPPING at once to
attend to the toasting of some biscuits
This time he was genuinely sorry.
Forgive me. Miss Deane." he said
penitently. MY words are dictated by
anxiety. ! do not wish you to make
} discoveries on your own account This
Is q strange place, you know-an un.
pleasant one in some respects"
Surely 1 can rummage about my
own cave?'
Most certainly. 1t was careless of