Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-05-09
6heWings ef the
~ By LOUIS
~ 4 ~ q TRACY
: nv II II "A = A/Y Copyright 1908. by
~ Edward J. Clode
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
emotions are necessarily
|IH transient, but for the hour they
III exhaust the psychic capacity
The sailor had gone through
such mental stress before it was yet
noon that he was benumbed, wholly in
capable of further sensation.
Being In good condition, lie soon re.
covered his physical powers. He was
outwardly little the worse for the en-
counter with the devifish. The skin
around his mouth was sore His waist
| and legs were bruised. One sweep OF
| the ak had cut clean through the bulg-
ing leather of his left boot without
touching the flesh. In word. lie was
practically uninjured.
He had the doglike habit of shaking
himself ut the close of fray. He did
so now when he stood up. Iris showed
| Clearer signs of the ordeal. Her face
was drawn and haggard, the pupils Of
her eyes dilated She was gazing into
Cepths illimitable. uneXplored. Com
| passion awoke at sight of Eer.
Come" said jerks gently. Let us
| get back to the island"
lie quietly resumed pretlominance,
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 1t.
daring all for his sake. She was weak
and trembling
Reaching the firm sand. she could
| walk alone.
"Did-the thing-grip your" she
nervously inquired.
"All over at once, 1t felt like. The
beast attacked me with five arms"
She shuddered. II don't know how
you could fight It," she said. How
strong. how brave. you must be-"
This amused him. 1.-The veriest cow
ard will try to save his own life." he an
swered. IF you use such adjectives to
me. what words can find to do JUS
tice to you, who dared to come close
to such q vile looking creature and
kill 1t. must thank my stars that you
carried the revolver"
"Ahw she said. THAT reminds me.
You do not practice what you preach.
! 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.
1T was stupid of me-" he admitted.
'but l am not sorry"
Why"
Because, as It is, owe you my
life"
You owe me nothing" she snapped.
"It is very thoughtless Of you to run
such risks. What will become of me
II anything happens to you? My point
of view is purely selfish, you see."
Quite so. Purely selfish" He smil-
ed sadly. Selfish people Of your type
are somewhat rare, Miss Deane."
She moved toward the cave. but he
cried
Walt one minute. want to get
couple of crowbars."
What for:"
81 must go back there" He jerked
his head In the direction Of the reef
She uttered little sob Of dismay.
II will incur no danger this time" he
eyD!ained. 81 found rifles there. We
must have them; they may mean sal
vation."
When iris was determined about
anything her chin dimpled. 1t puck
cred delightfully."- now.
Il will come with you." she announc-
ed
Very well. will wait for you. The
tide will serve for another hour"
He knew he had decided rightly. She
could not bear to lie alone-yet. Soon
the crowbars were secured. and they
returned to the reef Scrambling now
with difficulty over the rough and dam
cerous track, Iris was secretly amazed
by the remembrance of the daring ac-
tivity size displayed during her earlier
passage along the same precarious
roadway.
Then she darted from rock to rock
with the fearless certainty of a cha
mols. Her only stumble was caused,
she recollected. by an absurd effort to
avoid wetting he" dress. She laughed
nervously when they reached the place
This tine jerks lifted her across the
Intervening channel.
They were standing on tie landwari
81 'e of the shallow water in which be
'>""h; the octopus.
Already the dark Cu.I emitted by his
,;sailant in its final discontinue WAS
p; ssing away owing to the slight move.
nc q, 1f TIC t,dc
nv 1T yol have Lrpu,;t me here
witt 50 much t.i!itut:. what are you
goin- to ,!o:" size said. 1t will Ec
madness for you to attempt to ford
that passage again. Where there is
one Of those horrible things there are
others. suppose"
"That Is one reason why brought
the crowbars," he explained. IF you
will sit down for little while will
have everything properly fixed"
He delved with one Of the bars until
1t lodged In crevice of the coral.
Then a few powerful blows with the
back of the AK wedged it nrmly 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 ut the close Of the
struggle. He deftly knotted them to the
rigid bar, and few rapid turns Of a
piece of wreckage passed between the
two lines strung them into tautness
that could not be attained by any
amount of pulling.
Iris watched the operation in silence.
The sailor always looked at his best
when hard at work. The half sullen,
wholly self contained expression left
his face, which lit up with enthusiasm
and concentrated intelligence. That
which he essayed he did with all his
might.
He, toiling with steady persistence,
/ Solt mt tha inwar ri anur which S0uQht