Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-28


 and here they at opce found them selves in delightfully."- secluded and tiny bay, sandy. tree lined, sheltered on three sides by cliffs and rocks.
 "Oh," cried Iris excitedly, what lovely spot, a perfect Smugglers' cove"
 Charming enough to look at" was the answering comment. but open tps the sea. If you look at the smooth ri band of water out there you will per ceive passage through the reef. A great place for sharks, Miss Deane, but no place for bathers."
 They passed on. While traversing the coral strewn south beach, with its patches of white soft sand baking in the direct rays of ehe sun, Jenks per ceived traces of the turtle which swarmed in the neiyhboring sea.
 Delicious eggs and turtle soupr' he announced when Iris asked him why he was so intently studying certain marks on the sand, caused by the great sea tortoise during their nocturnal wis fits to. the breeding ground.
 If they are green turtle,' he con tinued, i've are if the lap of luxury. They lard the alderman and inspire the poet. When q ship comes to our assistance I will persuade the captain to freight the vessel with them and make my fortune"
 T suppose, under the circumstances, you were not rerh man, MT. Jenks,' said Iris timidly.
 T possess a wealthy bachelor uncle who made me hia heir and allowed me four hundred a yoir, so was sort of Croesus among staff corps officers. When the smash 6ame he disowned me by cable. By selling my ponies and my other belongings [ was able to walk out of my quartNs penniless, but free from debt.'
 And all thrsHh deceitful wo- man.
 Yes"
 She ventured a further step.
 "Was she vef bad to you Mir Jenks?'
 He stopped And laughed-actually roared-at the suggestion.
 Bad to mew Ae repeated T had nothing to do wita her. She was hum plugging her husband, not me. Fool that I was. I cop~ not mind my own business"
 So Mrs. CostobNl was not flirting with the man whe, suffered on her ac- count. It is Ngrettable but true statement that Ifs would willingly have hugged Mrs. dkstobell at that mo- ment.
 Rounding Europs point, the sailors eyes were fixed 6 their immediate surroundings, but Iris gazed dreamily ahead Hence it vas that she was the first to cry in amaSement:
 "A boat! See. tbsfe! On the rocks.'
 There was no mistake. A ships boat was perched high and dry on the north side of the cape. Even as they scrambled toward 1t Jenks understood how it had come there.
 When the Sirdat parted amfdships the after section fell back into the depths beyond the reef. and this boat must have broken loose from its davits and been driven ashore here by the force of the western current
 Was it intact? Could they escape? Was this ark stranded on the island for their benefit? If it were seaworthy, whither should they steer-to those is- lands whose blue outlines were visible on the horizon?
 These and 8 hundred other questions coursed through his brain during the race over the rocks. but all such wild speculations were promptly settled when they reached the craft, for the keel and the whole of the lower tim bers were smashed into match wood.
 But there were stores on board. Jenks remembered that Captain Ross foresight had secured the provisioning of all the ships boats soon after the first wild rush to steady the vessel after the propeller was lost. Masts, sails. oars. seats-all save two water casks-had gone. but Jenks. with eager hands. unfastened the lockers. and here he found good supply of timed meats and biscuits. They had barely recovered from the excitement of this find when the sailor noticed that be- hind the rocks on which the craft was firmly lodged lay a small natural basin full Of salt water. replenished and freshened by the spray of every gale and completely shut ofY from all sea ward access.
 It was not more than four feet deep. beautifully carpeted with sand and se- cluded by rocks on all sides. Not the uniest crab or fish was to be seen. It provided an ideal bath.
 Iris was overjoyed. She pointed to- ward their hsbitation.
 "Mr. Jenks.' she said. q will be with you at teatime'
 He gathered all the tins he was able to carry and strode ofY. enjoining her to fire her revolver if for the slightest reason she wanted assistance. and giv- ing a parting warning that If she de- layed too long be would come and shout to her.
 '1 wonder" said the girl to herself. watching his retreating figure. what he is afraid of. Surely by this time we have exhausted the unpleasant sur prises of the island. Anyhow. nov for e splsshr'
 She was hardly in the water before she began to he afraid on account of Jenks. Suppose anything happened to