The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-04-12

touching tie flesh. In word, he was
practically un;njured.
He had the deglike habit Of shaking
himself at tie close Of fray He did
so now when he stood up. Iris showed
clearer signs Of the ordeal. Her face
| was drawn and hagsard, the pupils OF
her eyes dilated. She was gazing into
depths illimitable, unexplored. Com
passion awoke at sight Of her.
Come" said jerks gently. LET US
get back to the island
He quietly resumed predomlnance,
helping her over the rough pathway OF
the reef, almost lifting her when the
difficulties were great.
He did not ask her how it happened
that she came so speedily to his assist
ance. Enough that she had done it,
daring all for his sake. She was weak
and trembling. :.
Reaching the firm sand, she could
walk alone.
"Did-the thing-grip you?" she
neryously inquired.
Gall over at once, it felt like. The
beast attacked me with five arms"
She shuddered. sT don't know how
you could light it." she said. CHOW
strong, how brave, you must bee'
This amused him. "The veriest cow
ard will try to save his own life" he an
swered. eff you use such adjectives to
me- what words can 1 find to do JUS
tee to you, who dared to come close
to such a vile looking creature and
kill ii. must thank my stars that you
carried the revolver"
"Ah!' she said. "That reminds me.
You do not practice what you preach.
I found your pistol lying on the stone
in the cave. That is one reason why
followed you
1t was quite true. he laid the
weapon aside when delving at the rock
and forgot to- replace it in his belt.
'It was stupid Of me-" he admitted,
'but I am not sorry
"Why"
Because, as it is, owe you my
life"
"You owe me nothing" she snapped.
AIt is very thoughtless Of you to run
such risks. What will become Of me
If anything happens to you? My point
Of view is purely selfish, you see.''
"Quite so. Purely selfish" He smll-
ed sadly. "Selfsh people Of your type
are somewhat rare, Miss Deane"
She moved toward the cave, but ne
cried:
.Wait one minute. I want to get
couple of crowbars."
.'What for?"
eI must go back there" BE jerked
his head in the direction Of the reef.
She uttered a little sob Of dismay.
81 will incur no danger this time" he
explained. ST found rifles there. We
must have them: they may mean sal
yation.'
When Iris was determined about
anything her chin dimpled. 1t puck
cred Delightfully."- now.
ST will come with you,' she announc-
ed.
A"yery we'll. 1 will wait for you. The
tide will serve for another hour"
He knew he had decided rightly. She
could not bear to be alone-yet. Soon
the crowbars were secured, and they
returned to the reef. Scranbling now
with difficulty over the rough and dan
gerous track, Iris was secretly amazed
by the remembrance Of the daring ac-
tivity she displayed during her earlier
passage along the same precarious
roadway.
Then she darted from rock to rock
with the fearless certainty Of cha
mois. Her only stumble was caused,
she recollected, by an absurd effort TO
avoid wetting her dress. She laughed
nervously when they reached the place.
This time jerks lifted her across the
intervening channel.
They were standing on the landward
side of the shallow water In which he
foncht the octopus.
Already the dark fluid emitted by his
assailant il its final discontinue was
passing away owing to the slight move
ment of the tide.
"Now that you have brought me here
with so much difficulty, what are you
going to do:" she said. "It will be
madness for you to attempt to ford
that passage again. Where there is
one Of those horrible things there are
others, suppose"
'4That is one reason why brought
the crowbars,'' he explained. EFF you
will sit down for little while will
have everything properly fixed"
he delved with one Of the bars until
it lodged in a crevice Of the coral.
Then a few powerful blows with the
back Of the ak wedged it firmly enough
to bear any ordinary strain. The rope
ends reeved through the pulley on the
tree were lying where they fell from
the girls hand at the close Of the
struggle He deftly knotted them to the
rigid bar, and a few rapid turns Of a
Il &1,o