The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-17

y wy and rarely ire
quented. The angei
of the storm king still manifested itsel
in the hoarse bay OF the surf, while thu
moaning of the wind, yet lashing thu
water to white caps of foam, echoed
ftfully along the shore and sea; bu
the fury of the elemental strife hae
passed, for where huge masses of suller
clouds were trooping away, showed II
the west a broad line Of smiling blue
AS the despairing wretch greets the
hand that sets him firm upon the pin
nacle OF ioy-as the parched and fail
ing desert traveller halls the music OF
the fountains dash--as dying creatures
seize at life-so was the sight of that
patch of fair sky--that island green and
fresh as Hope welcomed with trans
port by the ship wrecked remnant Of a
staunch and gallant company, who but
a few hours before had walked in fear
less security on the deck of what was
now dismasted, broken wreck plung-
ing, tossing, sinking-not safe for the
nest of a sea-gull.
OF freight of forty souls four hui
man creatures alone survived, and these
had been drifting to and fro clinging
to the caboose, which had been washed
from the deck, and fortunately pre-
served from dashing upon the long
sunken coral reef that extended from
the island league or more.
Courage, sir; didn't tell you, never
say die? reckon by this time old Nep
has tired out his dolphins. | could
make whole rig out of that ere blue
patch, and the signs as sartin here in
these heather parts as in England-God
bless her That fair weathers close
alongside; the winds going down, and
the currents asserting us toward the
shore as softly as a cat drops her kit
ten. wish for these poor little creturs
sake it would hurry itself a little
though to be sure I'm not above com
Portable on my own account. like
salt water, but amt anxious to soak in
it-that's fact But avast therel I'm
not giving to looking on the black side
of things-nary grumbler could ever
call good shipmate. It's hard to think
of all our poor fellers gone to Davy
Jones's locker-but the Lord must have
known it, and Tom Harris amt a-going
to question Providence just yetr And
the honest, rough old tar shook his
head to dash off the tears that mingled
with the briny wave that plunged over
their frail retreat
A sigh came from the individual he
addressed-of whose personal appear
ance just then 1t would be unfair to
judge-with the water trickling down
his sharp pallid features, which wore
look of haggard suffering and exhaus-
tion. He changed his position a little
to rest the arm that held firmly upon
the wreck boy of nine or ten years,
by whose side lay little girl not more
than six years of age, fainting and
quite worn out with fright and ex-
posure. her head dropping forlornly
against the brawny shoulder of the
kind-hearted sailor
Il hope your brave spirits will mold
out, my noble fellow; as for myself, / |
confess am growing hopeless. Is there
no way to increase our speed or guide
this ark Of our safety?"
Tom was not so used up but he could
laugh.
"If we had oars and row-locks both
fixed up on poor old Sambo's palace.
/ reckon our arms are pretty well used
up, sir, and these little things must be
held on. We might as well keep cool
and let the work be done for us. Beg
gars mustn't be choosersl
This philosophical reasoning was
presently lucidly explained and ex-
emplified. In its own good time the /
tide brought them to shallow water.
With CHEEKY halo Tom sprang down
from his perch. and wading along,
soon drew the little caboose high and |
dry on the beach.
Look a-here now, sir, said he, see
how much better this ere was done for
us than we could ha' done for our
selves. Don't you see this ere is the
only smooth place to land? The tide
was mighty sure pilot. Now let me
see what's to be done"
The children were too much exhaust
ed to complain, save by an occasional
sigh or a groan. The little girl, indeed.
was nearly insensible, and Tom, Civ
ing no thought to his stiff and aching
limbs, went cheerily to work. He car
ried his little charge to soft spot Of
green farther in shore, and then be-
gan looking around anxiously for traces
Of fresh water; his sharp eye was not
long in spying out modest-looking
plant among the luxurious
that crept almost to the peb-
bles of the beach.
water amt very far of, muttered
ne. for this ere dumb mouth tells me
90; and howsomeyer human creturs set
a bad example. / never knew one O.
Natur's sign-boards TO lie"
SO he went stumbling and reeling
about something In the zig-zag course
# drunken man, for his swollen feet
we're very painful; but he kept the same
genial smile, which. like sunbeam.
Frightened a rough and uncomely