Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-18
NUMBER Is.

ashore t..cy would have put in an ap-
pe,rance long since
"DO you think, then, that we may re-
main here l)agT'
1T is impossible to form an opinion
on that po Mt. Help may come In
day. On the other hand'-
YES"
1T is wise thing. Miss Deane, to
prepare for other contingencies"
do you mean." she said slowly,
that we may be imprisoned here FOR
weeks, perhaps mOnths?"
IF you st your mind back few
hours you will perhaps admit that we
are very fortunate to be here ut all
She whisked round upon him. DO
not fence with my question. Mr.. jerks.
Answer me-
He bowed. There was a perceptible
return of his stubborn cyn!cism when
he spoke.
The facts are obvious. Miss Deane.
| The loss of the Sirdar will not he
| definitely known for many days. 1t
| will he assumed that she has broken
down. The agents in Singapore will
await oabled tidings Of her where
abouts. She might have driftcl any
where in that typhoon. Ultimately
they will send out a vessel to search,
impe.led To that course Il little earlier
by your fathers anxiety. Pardon Ele.
| did not intend TO pain you. | am
speaking MY mind
Go on" said Iris bravely.
"The relief ship must search the en-
tire China sea. The gale might have
driven disabled steamer north. south,
east or west. \ typhoon travels I'm
whirling spiral. you sec, and the direc-
ton of a drifting ship depends wholly
upon the locality where she sustained
damage. The coasts Of China. Java,
Borneo and the Philippines are not
equipped with lighthouses Oh every
headland and cordoned with telegraph
wires. There are river pirates and saw
age races to be reckoned with Casting
aside all other possibilities and assum-
ing that a prompt search is made TO the
south of our course. this part Of the
ocean Is full Of reefs and small islands.
some inhabited permanently. others
visited occasionally by fishermen lie
was about TO add something. but check
ed himself
ITO sum up" he continued hGrricdiy,
I'VE may have to remain here for many
DAYS. even montls. There is always
chance of speedy help. We must act.
however OH tie basis % '!e cu,.Du for
an indefinite period. am discussing
appearances as tley are. \ survey of
the island may change all these views
In what way"
He turned AMI pointed 10 ~"
nit of the tree covered hill :" Il
them.
From that point. he said. I'VE may
see other and larger islands. II so,
they will certainly be inhabited. | am
surprised this one is not
lie ended abruptly. They were los
ing time. Before Iris coGId Join him
he was already hauling u large un-
damaged case out Of the water.
He laughed unmrthfully. Cham
pngner lie said. "A good l'rard tor
This man WAS certainly mn enigma.
Iris wrinkled her pretty forehead in
the effort to place him in n fitting cate
CORY His words and accent were
those Of IN educated gentleman. yet
his actions and manners We're Studiols-
" rncouth when he thought sic was
obse~r.ng liz. Tie vc.e.r Of rough
ness puzzled her. That lr was nat
urally Of refined temperament she
knew quite we'll not alone by percep-
tion. but by the rlHin evidence of his
earlier dealings with hc"
TO the best of nor ability she silently
helrci in the work 9f salvage. They
made queer collection. \ case OF
champagne and another Of brandy.
box Of books. Il pair Of night glasses.
compass. several! boyos Of ships bis
cults coated with al lH >. -
their hardness hay.". been ..i.-". i
but a few seconds: two lIr cases I
hams in equally good condition. soH0
hu-e dish covers. Il bit of twisted IRON
work and IL great quantity OF cordaSe
and timber.
There was one very heavy package.
which their united strength could NOT
lift. The sailor searched around until
DC found an iron bar that could be
wrenched from its socket. With this
he pried open the -rong outer cover
and revealed the contents-regulation
boxes of ammunition, each containing
800 rounds.
All" he cried. Now we want some
rifles"
What good would they beg inquir'
ed Iris.
He softly denounced himself as
fool but he answered III once: 10
shoot birds. OF course. Miss Deahe'
There are plenty here. and many Oh
them are edible"
They worked i'm silence for another
hour. The sun WAS nearing T." Zeiitn.
They were distressed with i!e incTeas-
iug heat OF the day. jerks secured
ham and some biscuits some pieces of
driftwood and the binoculars ana lhvit-
ed Miss Deane to accompany MN 10
the grove. She obcyed without Il Wo'u.
though she wondered how lee p:oHoSeu
tn light a tire. To contribute "Jilc
thing toward the expected feast she
picked up Il dish cover and bottle ot
champagne.
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