Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-24

she had ni;.ll,..el to refasten part of her bodice
 You must permit me to carry you a 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 iutting out of the sand offered shelter from the wind and pro- tection from the sea and its revela- tions.
 "I am so cold and tired" murmured Iris. 'Is there any water? My throat hurts me"
 He pressed back the tangled hair from her forehead as he might soothe a child.
 Try to lie still for rery few min utes," he said. You have not long to suffer I will return immediately"
 His own throat and palate were on fire owing to the brine. but he first hurried back to the edge of the lagoon. There were fourteen bodies in all, three women and eleven men. four of the latter being Lascars. The women were saloon passengers whom he did not know. One of the men was the sur geon another the first officer. a third Sir John Tozer. The rest were passen- gers and members of the crew. They were all dead: some had been peaceful ly drowned. others were fearfully mangled by the rocks. Two of the Las cars bearing signs of dreadful injuries, were lying on cluster of low rocks overhanging the water. The remainder rested on the sand.
 The sailor exhibited no visible emo- ton while he conducted his sad scrl- tiny. When he was assured that this silent company was beyond mortal help he at once strode away toward the nearest belt of trees. He could not tell how long the search for water might be protracted. and there was pressing need for it.
 When he reached the first clump of brushwood he uttered delighted ex- clamation. There. growing in prodigal luxuriance, was the beneficent pitcher plant. whose large curled up'leaf. shap- cd like teacup. not only holds last ing quantity of rain water. but mixes herewith it's own palatable and nat. ural juices.
 With his knife he severed two of the leaves and hastened to Iris with the precious beverage. She heard him and mana ged to raise herself on an el- bow. The poor girls eyes glistened at the prospect of relief Without a word of question or surprise she swallowed the contents of both leaves.
 Then she found utterance. How odd it tastes. What is it:" she in, quired.
 But the eagerness with which she quenched her thirst renewed his own momentarily forgotten torture. His tongue seemed to swell. He was ab. solutely unable to reply.
 The water revived Iris like a magic draft. Her quick intuition told her what had happened.
 You have had none yourself" she cried. Go at once and get some. And please bring me some more.'
 He required no second bidding. Aft. CT hastily gulping down the contents of several leaves he returned with a further supply. Iris was now sitting up. The sun had burst royalty through the clouds. and her chilled limbs were gaining some degree of warmth and elasticity.
 What is it." she repeated after an. other delicious draft.
 "The leaf of the pitcher plant. Ma. ture is not always cruel. In an un. usually generous mood she devised this method of storing water"
 Miss Deane reached out her hand for more. Her troubled brain refused to wonder at such reply from an ordi. nary seaman. The sailor deliberately spilled the contents of a remaining leaf on the sand.
 "No. madam" he said. with an odd mixture of deference and firmness. "Nc more at present. I must first procure you some food"
 She looked up at him in momentary silence.
 "The ship is lostT she said after a pause.
 "Yes. madam"
 Are VIC the only people savedT
 T fear so.''
 'Is this a desert islandf"
 "I think not. madam. T. may by chance be temporarily uninhabi bu' fishermen from China come to all these places. have seen no other living be ings except ourselves. Nevertheless the islanders may live on the soutf side"
 ''It surely cannot be possible that ths Sirdar has gone to pieces-a magnif cent vessel Of her size and strength:
 He answered quietly: It is too true madam. I suppose you hardly knew she struck it happened so suddenly Afterwsrd. fortunately for you. you were unconscious"
 How do you knovT" she inquired quickly A food of vivid recollection was pouring in upon her.
 "I-e--weiL I happened 10 be nea, you. madam. when the ship broke up and ve-er-drifte1 ashore together"
 She rose and faced him. T renen her now she cried hyste-ically. "Yor