Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-05-02

He threw the piece Of rock contemp-
tuously among the bushes. But. be-
ing thorough in all that he undertook.
he returned to the cave and again
conducted an Inquisition. The silver
hued vein became more strongly mark
cd ut the point where 1t disappeared
downward into collection of lubble
and sand That was all. Did men
give their toll, their lives. for this? So
II would appear. BE that as it mi ut
he had more pressing work. If tie
cave still held secret ii must remain
there.
Iris had gone back to her sago kncad-
ing. Shouldering the AK. he walked to
the beach. Much debris from the steam
err was lying high and dry. 1t was in
easy task for an athletic man to reach
the palm tree, yet the sailor hcsit tied
with almost imperceptib!e qualms.
"A baited rat trap" he mrttered.
Then lie quickcned his pace. With the
first active spring from rock To rock
his unacknowledged doubts vanished.
He might find stores Of priceless uiil-
ity. The reflection inspired him.
Jumping and climbing like ca,. in
two minutes he was near the tee.
He could now see the true eXpana
ton of its growth in seemingly i'm.
possible place. Here the bed OF the
sea bulgcd upward in Il .MIll sand
cay. which silted round the base Of a
limestone rock so different in color and
formation from tie coral reef. Ma
ture, whose engineering co:t"ivances
can force springs TO mountain tops,
managed to deliver to this isol"tod ref
uge sufficient supply of water to
nourish the palm. and the roots. firmly
lodged in deep crevices. were well pro-
tected from the waves.
Ectween tie sailor and the tree in
tervened Il small stretch of shallow wa
ter. I.andward this submerged saddle
shelved steeply into the lagoon. Al
though the water in the cove was twen-
ty fathOms in depth. its crystal clear
ness was remarkable. The bottom,
composed Of marvelously white sand
and broken coral. rendered other OBJ
iects conspicuous. He could see plenty
Of fish. but not single shark, while
on the inner slope Of the reef was
plainly visible the destroyed fore part
of the Sirdar. which had struck be-
yond the tree. relatively to his present
standpoint. He had wondered why no
boats were cast ashore. Now he saw
The reason. Three Of them were still
fastened to the davits and carried
down with the hull.
Seaward the water was not so clear.
The waves created patches of foam,
and long submarine plants swayed gen.
tly in the undercurrent.
To reach Palm Tree rock - antici-
patng its subsequent name-he must
cross Il space Of some thirty feet ana
wade up to his waist.
He made the passage with ease.
Pitched against the bole Of tie tree
was Il long. narrow case, very heavy,
iron clamped and marked with letters
IN black triangles and the broad arrow
Of the British government.
Titles. by all the gods." shouted the
sailor.
The Sirdnr carried a consignment OF
.,rms and ammunition from Hongkong
10 Singapore Providence had decreed
that practically ineXhaustible store
Of cartridges should be hurled across
tie II oon To the island. And here
were rifles enough to equip half Il COM
pan. He would not risk the precious
uy in IN attempt to open the case He
must 20 back for n crowbar
What else was there in this store
house thrust by Neptune from the
ocean bcI? \ chest of tea. seemingly
unchanged: three barrels Of flour. ut
terly ruined: Il saloon chair. smashed
from its pivot: Il battered chronometer.
For tie rest. fragments of timber In
termingled with pulverized coral ana
broken crockery.
A little farther on the deep water
entrance to the lagoon curved between
sunken rocks. On one Of thciI rested
the Slrdar's huge funnel. The north
west section of the rec: WAS bare.
Among the wreckage he found coll
of stout rope and Il pulley. He Instant
ly conceived the idea Of constructing
an aerial line to ferry the chest of tea
ncross the channel lie lad flrGeI.
He threaded the pulley with the rope
and climbed tie tree. adding toucn
Of artistic completeness to the ruin of
his trousers by the operation. He had
fastened the pulley high up the trunk
before he realized how much more SIM
plc it would lie to break open TIE chest
where it lay and transport it's contents
in smal parcels.
He laughed lightly. 81 am becoming
addlc hea;,e!." he said to himielf.
"Anyhow. now the job is done, may
as well make use of it.
Eccoiling the rope ends. he cast them
across to tile reef In such small ways
do mon throw invisible dice with death
With those two lines he would within
q few Gecting seconds drag himself
back from eternity.
Picking UP tie ax. he care'e'sly
steppcd into the water. not knowing
that Iris. having welded the incip!ent
sago into Il Hat pancake. lad stro!ied
to the beach and was watching him.
The water was hardly above his
knees wien there came Il swirling rush
from the seuweed. \ long teniacie shot
out like lasso and grippcd his right
lee. Another coiled around his waist.
my God.' lie gurgled rs horrid
sucker closed over his mouth and nose.
He was in the grip Of deviiiish.
A deadly sensation OF nausea almost
overpowerei him. bat the love OF life
came to his aid AID he tore the suffo-
eating feeler from his face. Then the
~. ,rI,. .rJal nnl ouo of the C,1nt arms