Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-05-09
NUMBER l9.

ce.vc ,.,ssage through the reef. A
great pl;:ce for sharks, Miss Deane, but
no place for bathers."
They passed on. While traversing
the coral streWu south beach, with Its
patches Of white soft sand baking in
the direct rays Of the sun, jerks per.
ceived traces of the turtle which
swarmed In the neighboring sea.
delicious eggs and turtle soup" he
announced when Iris asked him why
he was so intently studying certain
marks on the sand caused by the great
Sen tortoise during their nocturnal WIS.,
its to the breeding ground.
IF they are green turtle he con-
tinued, I'VE are in the lap Of luxury
They lard the alderman and inspire
tile poet. When a ship comes to our
assistance | will persuade the captain
to freight the vessel with them and
make my fortune
IL suppose. under the circumstances,
YOU We're not rich man. Mr.. jerks
said Iris timid.y.
Il possess wealthy bachelor uncle
who made me his heir and allowed me
four hundred year, so was a sort OF
Croesus among staff COPS officers.
When the smash came he dis)wncd mo
by cable. by selling my ponies and my
other belongings ! was able to walk
out of my quarters penniless, but free
from debt"
And all through deceitful wo-
man"
Yes
She ventured further step.
"Was she very bad 10 you, Mr..
Jenks?"
He stopped and Enthusiastically
roared-at tie suggestion.
Bad to me- he repeated. IL had
nothing to do with her. She was hum
bugging her husband. not me. Fool
that was. / could not mind my own
business"
So Mrs. Costobell was not flirting
with the man who suffered on her ac-
count. 1t is regrettable but true
statement that Iris would willingly
have hugged Mrs Costobell at that mo-
ment.
Rounding Europa point, the sailors
eyes were tiXel on their immediate
surroundings. but Iris gaZel dreamlly
ahead. Hence it was that She was the
first TO cry in amazement:
"a boat. See. there. ON the rocks
There was 10 mistake. \ slips boat
WAS pcrchel high and ITy on the
north side of the care Even as they
scrambled toward it jerks understood
how il had come there.
When tie Sirilar parted an Iship5
the after section fell back into the
depths beyond the reef ana this boat
must have broken loose from its davits
and been driven ashore here by the
force of the western current.
Was il intact: to:li .':cv eScapeI
Was this ark strani2l i the island
for their benefit: If L were Seawo"thy,
whittier sit., t,", steer Ia those is
lands WI so blrc outlines We're visible
OH tie llDr.E ~:
These and hundred other questions
coursed through his brain d'ri"g the
race over the rocks. but ali such wild
spCculations were promptly settled
when they reached the craft. for the
keel ana tie whole OF the lower TIM
bers were smashed into match wood.
But there were stores Oh ho"-'l.
i,.t a ~ ,
foresight had secured tie provisioning
of all the ships boats SpIn after tEe
Irst wild rush To steady the vessel
after the propeller WAS lost. Masts.
sails. oars. seats-al save two water
casks-had gone. but jerks. with eager
hands. unfastened TIE lockers. ana
here lie found 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 Oh which the craft was
firmly lodged lay small natural basin
full of salt water. repleniShed ana
frcshened by the spray of every gale
and completely shut off from all sea-
ward access.
1t was not more than four feet deep.
beautifully carpeted with sand and Sc
cluded by rocks on all sides. Not the
tiniest crab or fish was to be seen. 1t
provided an ideal bath.
Iris was overioyed. She pointed to-
ward their habitatiOn.
"AIr. Jenks.' she said, IL will be with
you at teatlmc."
He gathered all the tins he was able
to carry and strobe of. enjoinlng her
to fire her revolver If for the slightest
reason she wanted assistance. ana CIV
Ing parting warning that If she de-
laycd too long he would come and
shout to her.
81 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. nov for
a splash
She was hardly in the water before
she began to he afraid on account OF
jerks. Suppose anythlni happened to
him while she was thou 'itiess.y enjoy
ing herself here. So strongly did tie
thought possess her that she hurr.rdly
dressed again and ran o. - find Lin.
He was engaged in fastening Il mum
ber OF bayonets transvcrfciy to n long
piece Of timber
What are you doin; that tor!" she
asked
"Why did you return so soon? Did
anything alarm you!
81 thought you might get into mis-.
chief" she confessed.
mo On the other hand. am trying
to make trouble for any unwr:come
visitors" he replied II intcnd II set
this up in front Of our cave In case we
are compelled TO defend ourselves
against an attack by savages. WITH
this barring the way they cannot rush