The Red Cloud chief., 1905-06-30

' Wv
will sit down for u little while I will
have everything properly fixed"
He delved with one of the bars until
II lodged in n crevicc of the coral.
Then a few powerful blows with the
back of the ax wedged it firmly enough
to bear any ordinary strain. The rope
ends reeved through the pulley on the
tree We're lying where they fell from
the girls hand ut the close of the
struggle. Tie deftly knotted them to the
rigid bar, and Il few rapid turns of a
piece Of wreckagc passed between the
two lines strung them into n tautncss
thai could not be attained by any
AMOUNT of pulling.
Iris watched the operation in silence.
The sailor always looked at his best
when hard Mt work. The half sullen.
wholly self contained expression left
his face, which lit mp with enthusiasm
and concentrated intelligence. That
which he essayed he did with all his
might.
He, toiling with steady persistence.
felt not the inward spur which sought
relief in speech, but Iris was compelled
to say something.
81 suppose" she commented with an
air of much wisdom, you are contriv-
ing an overhead railway for the safe
transit of yourself and the goodsT"
yves"
"Why are you so doubtful about it?'
Because l personally intended to
walk across. The ropes will serve to
convey the packages"
She rose imperiously. 81 absolutely
forbid you TO enter the water again.
Such n suggestion on your part is quite
shameful. You are taking Il grave
risk for no very great gain that | can
see, and If anything happens to you I
shall be left all alone in this awful
place"
She could think Of no better argu-
ment. Her only resource was n wo-
mans expedient-a plea for protection
against threatening ills.
The sailor seemed to be puzzled how
best to act.
Miss Deane,' he said, "there Is no
such serious danger al you imagine.
Last time the cutie caught me nap
ping. He will not do so again. Those
rifles I must have. II it will serve to
reassure you, l will go along the line
myself"
without another word he commenc-
ed operations. There was plenty Of
rope, and the plan he adopted was
simplicity itself. When each package
was securely fastened he attached 1t to
n loop that passed over the line stretch
ed from the tree to the crowbar. To
this l,op he tied the lightest rope he
could find and threw the other end to
Iris. BY pulling slightly she was able
TO land ut her feet even the cumbrous
rifle chest, for the travelling angle was
so acute that the heavier the article
the more readily it sought the lower
level.
They tolled in silence until jerks
could lay hands OH nothing more OF
value. Then, observing due care, he
quickly passed the channel. Fol an
instant the girl gazed affrightedly ut
the sea until the sailor stood at her
side again.
The tide had turned. In a few min
utes the reef would be partly sub
merged. To carry the case OF rifles To
the mainland was a manifestly impos-
sible feat. so jerks now did that which
lone earlier would have saved him
some labor. He broke open the chest
and found that the weapons were ap-
p~arently in excellent order.
He snapped the locks and squlnted
down the barrels Of half a dozen to
test them. These he laid on one side.
Then he rapidly constructed n small
raft from loose timbers, binding them
roughly with rope, and to this argosy
he fastened the box Of tea, the barrels
Of -four, the broken saloon chair and
other small articles which might be of
use. He avoided any difficulty in
launching the raft by building it close
to the waters edge. When all was
ready the rising tide floated II for him,
He secured 1t to his longest rope and
gave it n vigorous push off into the la
COON. Then he slung four rifles across
his shoulders, asked Iris to carry the
remaining two In like manner and be
gan to maneuver the raft landward.
"While you land the goods / will
prepare dinner" announced the girl.
"Please be careful not to slip on the
rocks" he said. II am concerned about
the rifles. If you fell you might dam
age them, and the incoming tide will
SO hopelessly rust those ! leave behind