Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-22
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: ~ By LOUIS
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/: AVA AA1AA/D Copyright. 1905 by
~ Edward y.C
Copyright. 1905. by
Edward J. Clode

face was pleasant, II masterful. Its
somewhat sullen, self contained ex-
preston was occasional and acquired.
She wondered how he could be so ener-
getic. Personally she was consumed
with sleepiness.
He produced a revolver.
"Do you mind if fire shot to test
these cartridges?" he inquired. "The
powder is all right, but the illuminate
In the caps may be damaged"
She agreed promptly. He pointed
the weapon at cluster Of cocoanuts,
and there was loud report. Two nuts
fell to the ground, and the air was fill
ed with shrill screams and the tapping
of innumerable wings. Iris was mo-
mentarily dismayed, but her senses
confirmed the sailors explanation :
"Sea Birds
"Can you use revolver?' he asked.
"My father taught me. He thinks
every woman should know how to de-
fend herself IL need be-"
Excellent. Well, Miss Deane, you
must try to sleep for couple of hours.
purpose examining the coast for some
distance on each side. Should you
want me, shot will be the best sort
Of signal"
81 am very tired" she admitted.
"But you"
"Oh, am all right! 1 feel restless
that is, mean will not be able to
sleep until night comes and before we
climb the hill to survey our domain
want to find better quarters than we
now possess"
Perhaps were she less fatigued she
would have caught the vague anxiety,
the note of distrust, in his voice. But
the carpet Of sand and leaves on which
she lay was very seductive. Her eyes
closed. She nestled into comforta-
BILE position and slept.
The man moved the revolver out Of
harms way to spot where she must
see it instantly, pulled his sou'wester
well over his eyes and walked off
quietly.
They were flung ashore on the north
west side of the island. Except for
the cove formed by the coral reef, with
its mysterious palm tree growing ap-
parently in the midst of the waves, the
shape of the coast was roughly that
Of the concave side of bow, the two
visible extremities being about three
quarters Of mile apart.
He guessed by the way In which the
sea raced past these points that the
land did not extend beyond them. Be-
hind him 1t rose steeply to considera-
BILE height, $50 or 200 feet. In the cen.
ter was the tallest hill, which seemed
to end abruptly toward the southwest.
On the northeast side 1t was connect.
ed with rocky promontory by ridge
Of easy grade. The sailor turned to the
southwest as Offering the most likely
direction for rapid survey.
He was not surprised to find that
the hill terminated in sheer wall of
rock, which stood out, ominous and
massive. from the wealth of verdure
clothing the remainder of the ridge.
Facing the precipice and separated
from 1t by strip of ground not TWEEN.
ty feet above the sea level in the high.
est part was another rock built emf
ncnce quite bnre of trees, blackened by
the weather and scared in manner
that nttested the attacks Of lightning.
The intervening belt was sparsely
dotted with trees. casuarinns, pooh and
other woods he did not know, resem.
bling ebony and cedar. A number of
stumDs showed that the nx had been
ut work, but not recently. He passed
into the cleft and climbed tree that
offered easy access. AS he expected.
after rising few feet from the ground
his eyes encountered the solemn blue
line of the sea, not half mile distant.
He descended and commenced sys-
temntic search. Men had been here.
Was there housef Would he sudden
ly encounter some hermit Malay or
Chinaman1
At the foot of. the main cliff was a
cluster of fruit bearing trees-plan.
tatns, areca nuts and cocoa palms. A
couple Of cinchonas caught his eye. In
one spot the underground was rank
and wildly green. The cassava, or
tapioca plant, reared its high passion
flower leaves above tho grass, and
some sago palms thrust aloft their
thick stemmed trunks.
Here is change of menu, ut any
rate" he communed
Breaking thick branch Off a poon
tree, he whitfield away the minor
stems. A strong stick was needful to
explore that leafy fastness thoroughly.
A few cautious strides and vigorous
whacks with the stick laid bare the
cause Of such prodigallty in soil COW
cred with drifted sand and Jumps Of
black and white speckled coral. The
trees and bushes inclosed u well-safe-
guarded. In fact, from being choked
with sand during the first gale that
blew.
Delighted with this discovery, more
precious than diamonds ut the mo-
ment-f for he doubted the ACCESSIBILITY
of existing on the water supply Of the
pitcher plant-he knelt to peer into the
Excavation. The well had been proper
ly made. Ten feet down he could see
the reflection Of his face. Expert hands
had tipped the secret reservoir of the
island. By stretching to the full ex-
tent Of his arm he managed to plunge
the stick into the water. Tasting the
drops. he found TINT they were quite
sweet. The sand and porous rock pro-
vided the best of filter beds.
He rose, well pleased, and noted that
on the opposite side the appearance
Of the shrubs and tufts of long grass
indicated the existence Of n grown over
path toward the cliff. He followed 1t,
walking carelessly,, with eyes seeking
the prospect beyond. when something
ratified and cracked beneath his feet.
Looking down, he was Mortified to find
he was trampling on skeleton.
Had n venomous snake coiled Its glis-
tening folds around his leg he would
not have been more startled. But this