Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-05-06

Nltnont enotner word he lifted her
IN his arms. marveiing somewhat at
the strength which came of necessity.
and bore her some little distance until
a sturdy rock jutting out of the sand
offered shelter from the wind and pro-
lection from the sea and its reveIa-
tions.
Il am so cold and tired" murmured
Iris. rs there any waterT My throat
hurts me-
He pressed back the tangled hair
from her forehead as he might soothe
child
TRY to lie still for a very few min
utes. he said. You have not long to
| suffer. I viii return Immediately"
His own throat and palate were on
fire owing 10 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 Lascars. The women were
saloon passengers whom he did not
know. One Of the men was the sur
geon another the first officer. a third
Sir John T0zer. The rest were passen-
gers and members OF the crew. They
were all dead: some had been peaceful
" drowned others were fearfulIy
mangled by the rocks. Two Of the Las
cars. bearing signs OF dreadful injuries.
were lying on a cluster Of low rocks
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 at 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 ii.
When he reached the first clump Of
brushwood he uttered a delighted ex-
clamation. There. growing in prodigal
luNuriance. was the beneficent pitcher
plant whose large curled up leaf. shap-
ed ike a teacup. not only holds 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 70 Iris with
the precious beverage She heard him
and managed 10 raise herself on an ell
bow The poor girls eyes glisteued 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 it tastes What Is itG'' she in
quired.
But the eagerness with which she
quenched her thirst renewed his own
momentarily forgotten torture His
tongue seemed to swell He was ab.
solutely unable 70 reply.
The water revived Iris like a magic
draft Her quick intuition told her
what had happened.
You have had none yoursclfr' she
cried. GO at once and get sonnet And
please bring me some more-'
he required no second bidding. Aft
er hastily gulping down the contents
OF several leaves he returned with n
further supply. Iris was now sitting
up The sun had burst royalty through
the clouds. and her chilled limbs were
gaining some degree OF warmth and
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
for more Her troubled brain refused
20 wonder at such reply from an ordI-
nary seaman. The sailor deliberately
spilled the contents OF a remaining leaf
on the sand
mo. madam" he said. with IN odd
mixture Of Difference and drmness. NO
more at present ] must hrst procure
you some food"
She looked up at him In momentary
silence
1.-THE ship is lostl" she said after
pause
Yes. madam"
Are We the only people savedY"
81 fear So"
''Is this desert islandy"
Il think not madam II may BY
chance De temporarily uninhabited. but
fishermen from China come TO all these
places. l have seen no other living be-
ings except ourselves. Nevertheless
the islanders may live on the south
side"
at surely cannot be possible that the
Sirdar has gone 10 pieces-a magnid-
cent vessel OF her size. and strength?"
He answered quietly: 1T is too true.
madam. ! suppose you hardly knew
she struck, it happened 50 suddenly.
Afterward. fortunately for you. you
We're unconscious"
How do you know" she inquired
quickly. \ food OF vivid recollection
was pouring in upon her
"I-er-well, | happened 10 be near
you, madam, when the ship broke Up.
and we--er-drifted ashore together"
She rose and faced him. Il remem-
Der now" she cried Historically. You
caught me as l was thrown into the
corridor. We fell into the sea when
the vessel turned over. You have saved
my life. Were il not for you / could
not possibly have escaped"
She gazed nj him more earnestly. see
ing that be blushed beneath the crust
of salt and sand that covered his face.
why" she went on. with growing ex-
element, you are the steward I ma
Oced in the saloon yesterday. How
Is IL that you are now dressed as |
sailor"