The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-06-14


He moved uneasily. He was only too
conscious Of the impish weakness, com
mon to all mankind, which creates 6
desire out of sheer inability to satisfy
It. Already his own throat was parched
The excitement of the early struggle
was in itself enough to engender ar
acute thirst. He thought it best te
{ meet their absolute needs as far as
possible.
Bring the tin cup" he said. 'Let
as take half our store and use the re
mainder when we eat. Try to avoid
breathing through your mouth. The
hot air quickly affects the palate and
causes an artificial dryness. We can.
not yet be In real need Of water. 1t is
aargely Imagination"
Iris needed NO second bidding. She
carefully measured out half pint OF
the unsavory fuid-the dregs Of the
casks and the scourings Of the ledge.
1I will drink nrst," she cried
seNo, no." he interrupted impat1ently.
S4Give it to me-"
She pretended to be surprised.
1.As mere matter Of politeness"-
81 am sorry, hut must insist"
She gave him the cup over his shoul-
der. He placed it to his lips and
gulped steadily.
ssTaere," he said grufHy. 81 was in a
hurry. The Dyaks may have another
Fush at any moment"
Iris looked into the vessel.
1'You have taken none at ALL" she
said.
-sNonsenser'
sMr. jerks, be reasonable! You need
1t more than /. I d-dont want to-liye
w-withont-you."
His hands shook somewhat. It was
well there was no call for accurate
shooting just then.
II assure you took all required"
he declared, with unnecessary .yehe-
mence.
z est least drink your share to please
rre::" she murmured.
1eYou wished to humbug me-" he
gruc,tsied. ~f you will take the first
5half win fake the second"
And they settled it that way. The
few mouthfuls OF tepid water gave
them new life. Nevertheless by high
moon they were suffering again. The
stime passed very slowly. The sun
rose to the zenith and filed the earth
and air with his ardor. 1t seemed to be
q miracle now appreciated for the
drst time in their lives-that the sea
did not dry up and the leaves w1ther
ON the trees. The silence. the deathly
inactivity OF all things. became intoi-
erable. The girl bravely tried to con-
Ane her thoughts to the task OF the
hour. She displayed alert watchful-
ness. an instant readiness to warn her
cnmpanion Of the slightest movement
among the trees or by the rocks to the
northwest. this being the arc OF their
periphery assigned to her.
Looking at sunlit space from cover
and looking at the same place when
sweatering in the direct rays Of rop-
scss sun are kindred operations strange
~ diverse In achievement Iris could
Eat reconcile the physical sensitiveness
ecf the hour with the careless hardl-
mood Of the preceding days. Her eyes
ached somewhat. for she had tilted her
.sou'wester to the back Of her head in
.fhe effort to cool her throbbing tenn
.5aes. she pat up her right hand to
shade the TOO vivid reflection OF the
.gIistenins sea and was astounded to
find that In few minutes the back OF
,s,er ,sand was scorched. A faint sound
of distant shouting disturbed her pain
Eul reyerie.
AHow is it." she asked, ''that we feel
fhe heat so much today? lad hardly
noticed it before
."Eor two good reasons-forced idle
ness and radiation from this confound
cd rock. Moreover. this is the hottes'
day we have experienced on the island
There is not breath of air. and the
not weather has just commenced
'Don't you think, she salo nusAl1s
1that our position here is quite nope
fess?"
They were talking to each other side
ways. The sailor never turned III:
gaze from the southern end of the val
fey.
lit is no more hopeless now than las
night or this morning" he replied.
AeBut suppose we are kept here TO
several days?
THAT was always an unpleasan
probability
ave had water then. Even with al
ample supply it would be difficult t
hold out. AS things are such cours
becomes simply impossible
Her despondency pierced his soul. :
slow agony was consuming her.
'It is hard. admit. be said. "Nev
ertheless you must bear up until nigh
falls: then we will either obtain waite
or leaYe this place
1sC,,rorr wa can do neither