Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-07-07
CHAPTER xvI.-fcontipued.,

of the harbor. When first launched she
had come nigh swapping, being over
loaded and it was found necessary to
leave behind great portion of the dried
meat. They made tedious way with
their rude oars; light breeze from the
northwest sprung up with the dawn, and,
hosting the goat-sSin sail. they crept
along the coast. 1t was resolved that
the two men should keep watch and
watch; and Frere, for the second time,
enforced his authority by giving the first
watch to Rufus Dawes. II am tired"
he said, land shall sleep for a little
while"
That night the wind fell, and they
had to take their oars. Rowing all night,
they made but little progress, and Rufus
Dawes suggested that they should put
IN to tho Shore and wait until the breeze
sprung up. But, upon getting under the
lee OF a long line of basaltic rocks
which rose abruptly out of the sea, they
found the waves breaking furiously upon
horseshoe reef, six or seven miles in
length. There was nothing for 1t but to
coast again.
They coasted for two days, without a
sign Of 4 sail, and on the third day a
great wind broke upon them from the
southeast and drove them back thirty
miles. The coracle began to leak, and
required constant bailing. What was
almost As bad, the best part of their
water had leaked away also.
The position Of the four poor creatures
was now almost desperate. Mrs. Wick
ers, indeed, seemed completely prostrat-
cd, and 1t was evident that, unless some
help came, she could not long survive
tho continued exposure to tho weather.
The child was In somewhat better case.
Hufus Dawes had wrapped her In his
WOODEN shirt, and, unknown to Frere,
had divided with her daily his allowance
OF meat. She lay in his arms at night.
and In the day crept by his side for shell
ter and protection. As long as she was
near him she felt safe. They spoke lit
tie to each other, but when Rufus Dawes
felt the pressure of her tiny hand In
his, or sustained the weight of her head
upon his shoulder. he almost forgot the
cold that froze him and the hunger that
gnawed him.
30 two more days passed. and yet no
sail! On the tenth day after their de-
parture from Macquarie Harbor they
came to the end Of their provisions. To
add to their distress, the child was seiz-
ed with fever. She was hot and cold by
turns. and In the intervals Of moaning
talked deliriously. Rufus Dawes hold
Ing her In his arms. watched the suffer
'ng he was unable to alleviate, with
savage despair at S.s heart. Was she
to die. after ALI
So another day and night passed. and
tho eleventh morning saw the boat yet
alive, rolling in the trough of the same
deserted sea. The four exiles lay In
her almost without breath. All al once
Dawes uttered a cry, and seizins the
sheet, put the clumsy craft about. "a
sail! a sail!' he cried. "Do Won not
see herr
There is no SAIL" said Frere. "Yuu
mock us!''
The boat, no longer following the linz
Of the coast, was running nearly due
south, straight into the great southern
ocean. Frere tried to wrest the thong
from the hand of the convict, and bring
the boat back to her course. Are you
mad" he asked, in fretful terror. "to
run US out to scar
Sit down." returned the other. with
4 menacing gesture, and staring across
the gray water. II tell you see a
sailr
The day had broken, and the dawn.
In one long pale streak of sickly saffron.
lay low on the left hand Between this
streak OF saffron-colored light and the |
bows of the boat glen for an instant
4 white speck.
Frere, utterly CO. atded. looked.
~ltn MS heart In his IT, 9Th, and again
did the white speck ss- 1ner.
"Sylviaw cried Ruff Dawes "SvI-
via! My darlingl You no savedw
bhe opened her blue eyes and looked
1t him, but gave no sign Of recognition.
Delirium had hold of her, and In the |
hour OF safety the child had forgotten |
her preserver. Rufus Dawes, overcome
BY this last cruel stroke Of fortune. sat |
down In the stern of the boat, with the |
child In his arms speechless. Frera
thought that the chance he had 40 long
I'd for had come. With the mother A.
The point of death, and the child deliri- |
'us, who could testify to this hated
,onvict's skillfulness? No one but Mr.
Maurice Frere, and Mr.. Maurice Frera
II commandant Of convicts could not hut |
rive up an "absconder" to justice.
The ship-a brig, with American col |
'rs fying-came within hail of them
Frers could almost distinguish figures
IN her deck. Ho made his way aft to
where Dawes was sitting, unconsciou.
With the child in his arms, and stirred
lin roughly with his foot.
"Go forward" he said. In tones of
Command, land give the child to me-"
Rufus Dawes raised his head. and
seing the approaching vessel, awoke To
he consciousness of his duty. With a
ow laugh, full of unutterable bitterness.