The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-04-26
By LOUIS
TRACY
Copyright. 1905. by
Edward J. Clode

force of the western current.
| Was it intact? Could they escape?
Was this ark stranded on the island
for their benefit? IF it were seaworthy.
whittier should they steer-to those is
lands whose blue outlines were visible
on the horizon?
These and hundred other questions
coursed through his brain during the
race over the rocks, but all such wild
speculations were promptly settled
when they reached the craft, for the
4 keel and the whole Of the lower TIM
bers were smashed into match wood.
But there were stores on board
jerks remembered that Captain Ross
foresight had secured the provisioning
! Of all the ships boats soon after the
first wild rush to steady the vessel
after the propeller was lost. Masts,
sails, oars, seats-all save two water
casks-had gone, but jerks, with eager
hands, unfastened the lockers, and
| here he found a good supply of timed
meats and biscuits. They had barely
recovered from the excitement Of this
| find when the sailor noticed that be-
hind the rocks on which the craft was
! firmly lodged lay a small natural basin
full of salt water, replenished and
| freshened by the spray Of every gale
and completely shut off from all sea-
ward access.
1t was not more thai. four feet deep,
beautifully carpeted with sand and Sc
clEded by rocks on all sides. Not the
hniest crab or fish was to be seen. 1t
provided an ideal bath.
Iris was overjoyed. She pointed to-
ward their habitaion.
ssIr. jerks" she said, 9T will be with
you at teatime."
| He gathered all the tins he was able
to carry and strobe off, enjoining her
to FIRE her revolver if for the slightest
reason she wanted assistance, and Civ
ing a parting warning. that if she de-
layed too long he would come and
shout to her.
sT wonder" said the girl to herself,
watching his retreating figure, what
he is afraid Of. Surely by this time
we have exhausted the unpleasant sur
prises Of the island. Anyhow, now for
/ a splash
She was hardly in the water before
she began to be afraid on account of
jerks. Suppose anything happened to
him while she was thoughtlessly enjoy
ing herself here! So strongly did the
thought possess her that she hurriedly
dressed again and ran off to find him.
He was engaged in fastening num-
Der Of bayonets ransversely to long
piece Of timber.
.What are you doing that for?" she
asked
Why 6iG you return so soon? Did
anything alarm you?"
81 thought you might get into mis-
chief" she confessed.
s.No. On the other hand, am trying
to make trouble for any unwelcome
visitors he replied. 81 intend to set
this up in front Of our cave in case we
are compelled to defend ourselves
against an attack by savages. With
tbs barring TIE way they cannot rush
the position
On the nineteenth day Of their resi-
dence on the island the sailor climbed,
as vas his invariable habit, to the
Summit rock while IRIS prepared break
fast. At this early hour the horizon
was clearly cut as the rim of sap
phire. He examined the whole arc Of
the sea with his glasses, but not sail
was in sight. According to his calcu-
lations the growing anxiety as to the
fate Of the Sirdar must long ere this
have eliminated in the dispatch from
{ Hongkong or Singapore Of special
search vessel, while British warships
IN the China sea would be warned to
keep close lookout for any traces OF
the steamer, to visit all islands on their
route and to question fishermen whom
they encountered. So help might come
any day or it might be long deferred.
He could not pierce the future, and it
was useless to vex his soul with ques-
tionings as to what might happen next
week. The great certainty Of the hour
was Ir;s-the blue eyed. smiling divin-
ity who had come into his life-wait-
ing for him down there beyond the
trees. waiting to welcome him with
sweet voiced greeting. and he knew.
With fierce devouring joy. that her
cheek would not pale nor her lip trem-
be when he announced that at least
another sun must set before the ex-
pecteJ relief reached them.
He replaced the glasses in their case
and Gived into the wood. giving pass
Ing thought to the fact that the wind
after blowing steadily from the south
for nearly q week, had yeered round to
the northeast during the night. Did
the change portend storm? Well.
they were now prepared for all such
eventualities and he had no forgot
tea tlae they possessed, amc rs other
treasures. = box Of books tyT rainy