The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-02-03
CHAPTER III.

I~IHE sailor wasted no time in Idle
bewilderment. He searched
carefully for traces of the miss
- ing Lascars. He came to the
conclusion that the bodies had been
dragged from off the sun dried rocks
into the lagoon by some agency the ma
ture of which he could not even con-
lecture.
They were lying many feet above the
sea level when he last saw them, lit
tie more than half an hour earlier. At
that point the beach shelved rapidly.
He could look far into the depths of
the rapidly clearing water. Nothing
was visible there save several varie-
ties of small fish.
The incident puzzled and annoyed
him. Still thinking about it, he sat
down on the highest rock and pulled
off his heavy boots to empty the wa
ter out. He also Invested himself Of
his stockings and spread them out to
dry.
The action reminded him of Miss
Deanes necessities. He hurried to a
point whence he could call out to her
and recommend her to dry some of
her clothing during his absence. He
retired even more quickly, fearing lest
he should be seen. Iris had already
displayed to the sunlight large por-
ton of her costume.
Without further delay he set about
a disagreeable but necessary task.
From the pockets Of the first officer
and doctor he secured two revolvers
and a supply of cartridges, evidently
intended to settle any dispute which
might have arisen between the ships
officers and the native members of the
crew. He hoped the cartridges were
uninjured, but he could not test them
at the moment for fear of alarming
Miss Deane.
Both officers carried pocketbooks and
pencils. In one of these, containing
dry leaves, the sailor made a careful
inventory of the money and other val
liable effects he found upon the dead.
besides noting names and documents
where possible. Curiously enough, the
capitalist of this island morgue was a
Lascar, who in belt around his waist
boarded more than q hundred pounds
in gold. The sailor tied in q handker-
chief all the money he collected and
ranged pocketbooks, letters and jew
elry in separate little heaps Then he
stripped the men Of their boots and
outer clothing. He could not tell how
long the girl and he might be detained
on the island before help came, and
fresh garments were essential 1t
would be foolish sentimentalty to
trust to stores thrown ashore from the
ship.
Nevertheless when 1t became neces-
sary to search and disrobe the women
he almost broke down. For an instant
he softened Gulping back his emo
lions with savage imprecation, he
doggedly persevered At last he paus-
ed to consider what should be done
with the bodies. His first intent was to
scoop large hole in the sand with
piece of timber, but when he took into
consideration the magnitude of the la
Dor involved. requiring many hours Of
hard work and a waste Of precious
time which might be Of infinite value
to his helpless companion and himself,
he was forced to abandon the project.
1t was not only impracticable, but dan
gerous.
Again he had to set his teeth with
grim resolution. One by one the bod
les were shot into the lagoon from the
little quay Of rock. He knew they
would not be seen again.
He arose and shook himself like a
dog. There was much to be done. He
gathered the clothes and other articles
Into heap and placed portions Of shat
tared hacking cases near TO-. mlslead