Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-07-07
CHAPTER xvI.-Continued.)

CVuic nlSu swapping, De1nR over
Ell, and 1t was found necessary t
- behind a great portion of the drie,
t They made tedious way witt
rude oars; a light breeze from tn,
Invest sprung up with the dawn, and
Ting the goat-skin sail. they crep
g the coast. 1t was resolved tina
two men should keep watch an
h; and Frere, for the second time
reed his authority by giving the frs
n to Rufus Dawes. 81 am tired,
said, "and shall sleep for a littl'
g."
aat night the wind fell, and the,
to take their oars. Rowing all night
made but little progress, and Rufus
res suggested that they should pu'
the shore, and wait until the breez'
ms up. But, upon getting under TIM
Of q long line of basaltic rocks
h rose abruptly u of the sea, they
d the waves breaking furiously upoI
'rseshoe reef, six or seven miles IL
III. There was nothing for 1t but tC
I again.
aey coasted for two days, without q
Of a sail, and on the third day q
{ wind broke upon them from the
beast and drove them back thirty
g. The coracle began to leak, and
fred constant bailing. What was
st as bad, the best part Of their
r had leaked away also.
he position Of the four poor creatures
now almost desperate. Mrs. Wick
indeed, seemed completely prostrat-
md 1t vas evident that, unless some
came, she could not long survive
continued exposure to the weather.
child was in somewhat better case.
Is Dawes had wrapped her in his
en- shirt, and, unknown to Frere,
divided with her daily his allowance
eat. She lay in his arms at night,
In the day crept by his side for shell
nd protection. As long as she was
him she felt safe. They spoke lit
) each other. but when Rufus Dawes
the pressure of her tiny hand In
Or sustained the weight Of her head
his shoulder, he almost forgot the
that froze him and the hunger that
7ed him.
two more days passed. and yet no
On the tenth day after their de-
Ire from Macquarie Harbor they
4 to the end of their provisions. To
to their distress, the child was seiz-
18th fever. She was hot and cold by
:, and in the intervals Of moaning
d deliriously. Rufus Dawes, hold
Ter in his arms, watched the suffer
he was unable to alleviate, with
rage despair at his heart. Was she
e, after all?
another day and night passed, and |
eleventh morning saw the boat yet
, rolling In the trough Of the same
ted sea. The four exiles lay In
Utmost without breath. All at once
es uttered a cry, and Selling the
, put the clumsy craft about. "a
a sail!" he cried. "Do you not
lerT"
here is no SAIL" said Frere. "You
us!"
g boat, no longer following the line
he coast, was running nearly due
), straight into the great southern
4. Frere tried to wrest the thong
the hand of the convict, and bring
'oat back to her course "Are you
' he asked, In fretful terror. "to
is out to scar"
t down." returned the other, with
nacing gesture, and staring across
gray water. II tell you l see a
e day had broken, and the dawn,
9 long pale streak of sickly saffron,
wv on the left hand. Between this
( of saffron-colored light and the
of the boat cleaned for an instant
lite speck.
ere, utterly COMPOUNDED, looked.
his heart in his mouth, and again
he white speck glimmer.
ylviar" cried Rufus Dawes, "Syl-
My darlingl You are savedr'
: opened her blue eyes and looked
N, but gave no sign of recognition.
lum had hold of her, and In the
Of safety the child had forgotten
reserver. Rufus Dawes, overcome
is last cruel stroke of fortune. sat
in the stern of the boat, with the
In his arms speechless. Frere
hit that the chance he had so long.
r had come. With the mother M
ONT of death, and the child deliri.
who could testify to this hated
cts skillfulness2 No one but Mr.
ice Frere, and Mr.. Maurice Frere
nmandant of convicts, could not but
Up an "absconder" to justice.
= ship-a brig, with American col
Iying-came within hail of them
could almost distinguish figure,
IT deck. He made his way aft t.
Dawes was sitting, unconscious
the child in his arms, and stirret
.oughly with his foot.
0 forward" he said, In tones o.
and, "and give the child to me-"
fus Dawes raised his head, and
, the approaching vessel, awoke e
Consciousness of his duty. With I
augh, full Of u~nutterable bitterness
aeed the burden he had borne 3,
rly In the arms of the lieutenant.
, brig was close upon them. He
s hoomed large and dusky, shadow
be sea. Her wet decks shone Il
norning sunlight. From her bul
peered bearded and eager faces
X with establishment at this boa
Is haggard company, alone on tina
a and stormy ocean.
re, with Sylvia In his arms, waitet
er.
CHAPTER XVII.