The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-09-15

aheao. Hence it was that she was the
hfst TO cry in am~azencnt:
n boat See, there, On the rocks!,
There was nc mistake. A ships boat
was perehed high ana dry on the
hofth side of the cape. Even as they
scrambled toward it jerks understood
how it had come there.
When the Sirdar parted amidships
the after section fell back into the
depths beyond the reef. and this boat.
must have broken loose from it's davits
ana beer driven ashore here by the
force of the western current.
was 1t intact? Could they escape?
was his ark stranded on the island
TOT their benefit? If it were seaworthy,
whittier should they steer-to those is
lands whose blue outlines were visible
on the horizon?
1heSe ana 4 hundred other questions
courSed through his brain during the
race over the rocks, but I'LL such wiH
specu1aIon8 were promptly settled
"heh they reached the craft, for he
Keel and the whole OF the lower tim.
Dels were smashed into match wood.
but there We're stores on board,
jerks remembered that Captain Ross
foresight had secured the provisioning
OF All the ships boats soon after tho
nfSt Wild rush to steady the vessel
after the propeller was lost. Masts
sails. oars, Soats-all save two wafer
Ieasks-had gone, but jerks, with eager
hands, unfastencd the lockers, and
mere ne found 4 good supply of timed
meats n biscuits. They had barely
recovered from the excitement of this
ma when the sailor noticed that be-
hlnd the rocks on which the craft was
trmly lodged lay a small natural basin
run OF salt water, replenished and
lfeshened by the spray Of every gale
and completely shut off from all sea-
ward access.
1t was not more than four feet deep,
beautifully carpeted with sand and Sc
GUIDED by rocks on all sides. Not the
tlnleSt crab or fish was to be seen. It
provided an ideal bath.
Iris was ovorioyed. She pointed to-
ward their h]abitation.
Mr.. jerks" she said, 81 will be with
you at teatime."
He gathered all the tins he was able
to carry and STROBE off. enioining her
to fire her revolver if for the slightest
reason she wanted assistance. and Civ
Ing a parting warning that if she de-
layed too long he would come and
shout to her.
81 wonder said the girl to herself,
watching his rotreating figure, "what
he is afraid of. Surely by this time
we have exhausted the unpleasant sur
priScs of the island. Anyhow, now for
a splash"
She was hardly in the water before
she began TO be afraid on account Of
jerks. Suppose anything happened to
him while she was thoughtlessly enjoy
ing herself here. So strongly did the
thought possess her that she h~urriedly
dressed again and ran off to find him.
He was engaged in fastening a num-
Der of bayonets t~ransversely to a long
piece of timber.
what are you doing that for?" she
asked.
WHY did you return so soon? Did
anything alarm you"
81 thought you might get into mis-,
chief she confessed.
NO. On the other hand, I am trying
to make trouble for any unwelcome
: visitors" he replied. 81 intend to set
this up in front of our cave in case we
are compelled to defend ourselves
/, against Al attack by savages. With
: this barring the way they cannot rush
| the position"
l On the nineteenth day of their resi-
dence on the island the sailor climbed,
/ as was his inyariable habit. to the
Summit rock while Iris prepared break
5 fast. At this early hour the horizon
was clearly cut as the rim OF 4 sap
: plire. He examined the whole arc OF
the sea with his glasses, but not Il sail
\ was in sight. According to his calcu-
t lations the growing anxiety as to the
fate of the Sirdar must long ere this
6 have eliminated in the dispatch from
- IIDIiS hbbS vi cIllSipOiS. a. SlNN'''
II search vessel. while British warships
: in the China sea would be warned to
! keep a close lookout for any traces OF
the steamer. to visit all islands on their
e route and to question fishermen whom
= they encountered. SO help might come
any day or it might be long deferred.
I He could not pierce the future, ana IT
was useless to ycX his soul with ques-
tionings as to what might happen next
/ week. The great certainty Of the u
I. was Iris-the blue eyed, smiling diVln-
e itv who had come into his lffe-walt-
Il ing for him down there beyond the
II trees, waiting to welcome him with q
d sweet voiced greeting, and he Knew
with a fierce dcYouring Joy, that her
$, cheek would not plle nor her lip trem,
!" bic when he announced that at least
another sun must set before the ez'
Ie pected relief reached them.
re He replaced the glasses in their case
ard dived into the wood, giving apass'
S. ing thought to the fact that the Wlnu
le after blowing steadily from the soulD