The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-06-15

position. It would be too horrible to
permit her first conscious gaze to rest
upon 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 refasten part Of
her bodice.
''You must permit me to carry you
little farther inland" he explained
gently.
Without another word he lifted her
in his arms, marveling somewhat at
the strength which came Of necessity,
and bore her some little distance until
sturdy rock jutting out Of the sand
offered shelter from the wind and pro-
lection from the sea and it's revela-
TONS
Il am so cold and tired" murmured
Iris. "Is there any water? Ny throat
hurts me-
He pressed back the tangled hair
from her forehead as he might soothe
a child.
'Try to lie still for very few min
utes," he said. ''You have not long to
suffer. will return Immediately"
His own throat and palate were on
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 Lascars. The women were
saloon passengers whom he did not
know. One of the men. was the sur
geon, another the first officer, third
Sir John ToZer. The rest were passen-
gers and members of the crew. They
were all dead; some had been peaceful
~ drowned, others were fearfully
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 it.
When he reached the first clump of
brushwood he uttered a delighted e.
clamation. There, growing in prodigal
luxuriance, was the benefcent pitcher
plant, whose large curled up leaf, shap-
ed like a. teacup, not only holds a last
ing quantity Of rain water, but mixes
Herewith it's 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 word
the contents of both leaves.
Then she found utterance ''How
odd it tastes. What is it?' she in
CURED.
But the eagerness with which she
quenched her thirst renewed his own
momentarily forgotten torture His
tongue seemed to swell He was alb
solutely unable to reply.
The water revived Iris like magic
draft. Her quick intuition told her
what had happened.
"You have had none yourselfv' she
cried. "Go at once and get some! And
please bring me some more!'
He required no second bidding. Aft
er hastily gulping down the contents
of several leaves he returned with
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
to 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 an odd
mixture Of Difference and firmness. ssNo
more at present I must first procure
you some food"
She looked up at him in momentary
silence
'The ship is lost?' she said after a
pause.
Eyes, madam"
care we the only people saved?''
Il fear so.'
'Is this a desert island?'
II think not, madam. It may by
chance be 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'
1T surely cannot be possible that the
Sirdar has gone to pieces-a magnif-