The Red Cloud chief., 1905-05-26

w III Wut'h Htuu TIE
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
an appearance. In any event water
and food OF some sort were assured.
But before setting out upon his quest
two things demanded attention. Tue
girl must be removed from her present
position. 1t would be too horrible to
permit her first conscious gaze to rest
apon those crumpled objects on the
beach. Common humanity demanded.
too, that he should hastily examine
each 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 rcfasten part OF
her bodice.
"You must permit me to carry you n
little farther inland" he explained
gently.
without another word he lifted her
I'm his arm marvcling somewhat mt
| the strength which came of necessity.
| and bore her some little distance until
a sturdy rock juttlng out Of the sand
| offered shelter from the wind and pro.
lection from the sea and Its revela-
tions.
II am SO cold and tired" murmured
Iris. rs there any water? My throat
hurts me-
He pressed back the tangled hnir
from her forehead as he might sootho
a child.
''Try to lie still for a very few min
utcs." he said. "You have not long to
suffer. ! will return Immediately"
His own throat and palate were OH
fire owing to the brine, but he first
hurried back to the edge Of the lagoon.
There were fourteen bodies In all. three
women and eleven men, four Of the
latter being Lnscars. The women were
saloon passengers whom he did not
know. One of the men was the sur
gcOn, another the first officer. n third
Sir John ToZcr. The rest were passen-
gers and members OF the crew. They
were all dead; some had been peaceful
ly drowned. others were ~fearfully
mangled by the rocks. Two of the Las
cars. bearing signs of dreadful injuries.
WIN ~ VII u NtuSNV vi WV Y
overhanging the water. The remainder
rested on the sand.
The sailor exhibited no visible emo
ton while he conducted his sad scru-
tiny. When he was assured that this
silent company was beyond mortal help
he ut once strobe away toward the
nearest belt Of trees. He could not tell
how long the search for water might
be protracted, and there was pressing
need for It.
When he reached the first clump Of
brushwOod he uttered n delighted ex-
clamation. There, growing In prOdlgal
luXuriance, was the beneficent pitcher
plant, whose large curled up leaf, shap-
ell like n teacup, not only holds a last
Ing quantity Of rain water, but mixes
Herewith its 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 a word
Of question or surprise she swallowed
the contents Of both leaves.
Then she found utterance. How
odd 1t tastes. What Is itT" she In
qulred.
But the e%agerness with which she
quenched her thirst renewed his W
momentarily forgotten torture. His
tongue seemed to swell. He was alb
solutely unable to reply.
The water revived Iris like q magic
draft. Her quick intuition told her
what had happened.
"You have had none YOURSELF" she
cried. $50 mt once and get some! And
please bring me some more"
He required no second bidding. Aft.
err hastily gulping down the contents
5 OF several leaves he returned with n
further supply. Iris was nov sitting
: up. The sun had burst royalty through
the clouds, and her chilled limbs were
I gaining some degree of warmth and
u 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 I'M
usually generous mood she devised this
method Of storing water"
Miss Deane reached out her hand
I for more. Her troubled brain refused
e to wonder Mt such a reply from an ordl-
nary seaman. The sailor deliberately
spilled the contents OF a remaining leaf
I ~, a.. a.,l