The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-03-03
CHAPTER V-Continued.

mOlS. Tier only SlulupiS was S""''
she reeollected, by an absurd enort TO
avoid wetting her dress. She laughed
nervousy when they reached the place.
This time jerks lifted her across the
intervening channel.
They were standing on the landward
side of the shallow water In which he
fought the octopus.
Already the dark fluid emitted by his
assailant in its final discontinue was
passing away owing to the slight move
ment Of the tide.
"Now that you have brought me here
with so much difficulty, what are you
going to do?" she said. 1T will be
madness for you to attempt to ford
that passage again. Where there is
one of those horrible things there are
others, Isuppose"
"That is one reason why l brought
the -crowbars,,' he explained. IF you
will sit down for little while 1 will
have everything properly fixed"
He delved with one Of the bars until
it lodged in crevice of the coral
back of the AK wedged it firmly enough
to bear any ordinary strain. The rope
ends reeved through the pulley on the
tree were lying where they fell from
the girls hand at the close Of the
struggle. He deftly knotted them to the
rigid bar, and few rapid turns of a
piece of wreckage passed between the
two lines strung them into tautness
that could not be attained by any
amount of pulling.
Iris watched the operation in silence.
The sailor always. looked at his best
when hard at work. The half sullen,
wholly self contained expression left
his face, which lit up with enthusiasm
and concentrated intelligence. That
which he essayed he did with all his
might
He, toiling with steady persistence,
felt not the inward spur which sought
relief in speech, but Iris was compelled
to say something
81 suppose" she commented with an
air of much wisdom, you are contriv-
Ing an overhead railway for the safe
transit Of yourself and the goods"
"Y-yes"
-+.Why are you SO doubtful about it?'
Because l personally intended to
walk across. The ropes will serve to
convey the packages"
She rose imperiously. 81 absolutely
forbid you to enter the water again.
Such suggestion on your part is quite
shameful. You are taking grave
risk for no very great gain that l can
See and if anything happens to you |
shall be left all alone in this awful
place"
She could think of no better argu-
ment. Her only resource was a wo-
mans expedient-a plea for protection
against threatening ills.
The sailor seemed to be puzzled how
best to act
Miss Deane," he said, "there is nc
such serious danger as you imagine
Last time the cutie caught me nap
ping. He will not do so again. Those
rifles | must have If it will serve tc
reassure you, l will go along the line
myself"
without another word he commenc
ed operations. There was plenty OF
rope. and the plan he adopted was
simplicity itself. When each package
was securely fastened he attached it tC
n loop that passed over the line stretch
ed from the tree to the crowbar. nc
this loop he tied the lightest rope liz
could find and threw the other end tC
Iris. BY pulling slightly she was able
to land at her feet even the cumbrou;
rife chest, for the travelling angle was
so acute that the heavier the article
the more readily it sought the lower
level.
They toiled in silence until jerks
could lay hands on nothing more OF
value. Then, observing due care, III
quickly passed the channel. For al
instant the girl gazed affrightedly a
the sea until the sailor stood ut he
side again.
The tide had turned. In few min
utes the reef would be partly sub
merged. To carry the case Of rifles t.
the mainland was a maDifestly impos
sible feat, so jerks now did that which
done earlier would have saved hin
some labor. He broke open the ches
and found that the weapons were ap
parently in excellent order.
He snapped the locks and squinte'
down the barrels of half dozen t.
test them. These he laid on one side
Then he rapidly constructed a small
raft from loose timbers, binding then
roughly with rope, and to this argos.
he fastened the box of tea, the barrels
of -four, the broken saloon chair ant
other small articles which might be o
use. He avoided any difficulty IL
launching the raft by building 1t clos
to the waters edge. When all wa
ready the rising tide floated it for him
He secured it to his longest rope ant
gave it a vigorous push off into the la
COON. Then he slung four rifles acros
his shoulders, asked Iris to carry TIN
remaining two in like manner and be
gan to maneuver the raft landward.
"while you land the goods l VIII
prepare dinner" announced the girl.
"Please be careful not to slip on tn
ROCKS" be said. II am cnnnarned ahou