The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-26
CHAPTER III.

I~AHE 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.
sea ievef When % lie 'nasF last saM saSt 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 1t, he sat
down on the highest rock and pulled
off his heavy boots to empty the wa
ter out. He also divested himself Of
his stockings and spread them out to
dry.
The action reminded him Of Miss
Deane's 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 q large por-
tion Of her costume.
| Without further delay he set about
disagreeable but necessary task
From the pockets Of the first officer
and doctor he secured two revolvers
and q supply of cartridges, evidently
intended to settle any dispute which
might have arisen between the ship!
officers and the native members Of th'
crew. He hoped the cartridges wer,
uninjured, but he could not test then
| at the moment for fear Of alarmin,
Miss Deane.
Both officers carried pocketbooks ant
pencils. In one Of these, containing
dry leaves, the sailor made careful
inventory of the money and other va
liable effects he found upon the deat
besides noting names and document
where possible. Curiously enough, tn
capitalist Of this island morgue was
Lascar, who in belt around his wais
boarded more than hundred pound
in gold. The sailor tied in handke
chief all the money he collected an
ranged pocketbooks, letters and jev
elry in separate little heaps. Then /
:, stripped the men Of their boots IN
outer clothing He could not tell no
long the girl and he might be detalne
on the island before help came, NJ
:, fresh garments were essential.
!. would be foolish sentimentality
trust to stores thrown ashore from t
ship.
= Nevertheless when 1t became nect
:. sary to search and disrobe the WON
he almost broke down. For an insta
10 he softened. Gulping back his en-
"a tions with savage imprecation,
" doggedly persevered. At last he pa,
q ed to consider what should be do
~ with the bodies. His first intent was
"a SCOOP q large hole in the sand with
- niece of dmber, but when he took IL
consideration the magnitude of the
4 Dor involved, requiring many hours
a. hard work and waste of precic
ID time which might be of infinite val
h. to his helpless companion and himst
to he was forced to abandon the proje
a 1t was not only impracticable, but d.
So gerous.
ns Again he had to set his teeth W
W grim resolution. One by one the b.
ly les were shot into the lagoon from
ng little quay Of rock. He knew IL
would not be seen again.
By He arose and shook himself like
x's dog There was much to be done.
gathered the clothes and other artit
re. into q heap and placed portions Of 81