The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-01-27
He stoqqered bltndlu on.


'-flease Try '10r TO liant again. ne
said. Don't you think l had better
loosen these things? You can breathe
more easily"
A ghost of q smile flickered on her
lips. 'No-no," she murmured. "My
eyes hurt me-that is all. Is there
'any-water?"
He laid her tenderly on the sand and
rose to his feet. His first glance was
toward the sea. He saw something
which made him blink with astonish-
ment. A heavy sea was still running
over the barrier reef which inclosed a
small lagoon. The contrast between
the fierce commotion outside and the
comparatively smooth surface of the
protected pool was very marked. AT
low tide the lagoon was almost COM
pletely isolated Indeed he imagined
that only q fierce gale blowing from
the northwest would enable the waves
to leap the reef, save where strip of
broken water, surging far into the
small natural harbor, betrayed the po-
sition Of the tiny entrance.
Yet at this very point a fine cocoanut
palm reared its stately column high in
air. and its long, tremulous fronds were
now swinging wildly before the gale.
From where he stood it appeared to
be growing in the midst Of the sea, for
huge breakers completely hid the coral
embankment. This sentinel of the land
had weirdly impressive effect. 1t
was the only fixed object in the waste
Of foam capped waves. Not vestige
of the Sirdar remained seward, but
the sand was Uttered with wreckage,
and-mournful spectacle-a considera-
BILE number of inanimate human forms
lay huddled up amid the relics of the
steamer.
This discovery stirred him to action.
He turned to survey the land on which
he was stranded with his helpless COM
panion. To his great relief he discov-
cred that it was lofty ana tree clad.
He knew that the ship could not have
drifted to Borneo. which still lay far to
the south. This must be one of the
hundreds of islands which stud the
China sea and provide resorts for Hal
nan fishermen. Probably it was in
habited. though he thought it strange
that none Of the islanders had put in
and food OF some sort were assured.
But before setting out upon his quest
two things demanded attention. The
girl must be removed from her present
position. 1t would be too horrible to
permit her first conscious gaze to rest
upon those crumpled objects on the
beach, Common humanity demanded,
too, that he should hastily examine
each of the bodies in case life was not
wholly extinct.
So he bent over the girl, noting with
sudden wonder that. weak as she was,
she had managed to refasten part of
her bodice.
"You must permit me to carry you n
little farther inland" he explained
gently.
Without another word he lifted her
In his arms, marveling somewhat at
the strength which came of necessity
and bore her some little distance until
a sturdy rock jutting out of the sand
offered shelter from the wind and pro-
lection from the sea and its revela-
tions.
IT am so cold and tired" murmured
Iris. as there any water? My throat
hurts me-"
He pressed back the tangled hair
from her forehead as he might soothe
n child.
"Try to lie still for very few min
stes," he said. you have not long to
suffer. will return Immediately"
TO BE CONTINUED.
CA To H = a.