The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-01


little farther inland" he explained
gently.
Without another word he lifted her
in his arms, marveling somewhat at
the strength which came of necessity,
and bore her some little distance until
sturdy rock jutting out of the sand
offered shelter from the wind and pro-
lection from the sea and its revela-
tons
Il am so cold and tired" murmured
Iris. rs there any water? My throat
hurts me-"
He pressed back the tangled hair
from her forehead as he might soothe
a child.
''Try to lie still for q very few min
utes," he said. You have not long to
suffer. I will return Immediately"
His own throat and palate were on
fire owing to the brine, but he first
hurried back to the edge of the lagoon.
There were fourteen bodies in ALL three
women and eleven men. four of the
latter being LaScars. The women We're
saloon passengers whom he did not
know. One of the men was the sur
geon. another the first officer. a third
Sir John Tozer. The rest were passen-
gers and members of the crew. They
were all Dead some had been peaceful
~ drowned others were fearfully
mangled by the rocks. Two of the Las
cars, bearing signs of dreadful injuries,
were lying on a cluster of low rocks
overhanging the water. The remainder
rested on the sand.
The sailor exhibited no visible emo
ton while he conducted his sad scru-
tiny. When he was assured that this
silent company was beyond mortal help
he at once strobe away toward the
nearest belt of trees. He could not tell
how long the search for water might
be protracted, and there was pressing
need for it.
When he reached the first clump Of
brushwood he uttered a delighted ex-
clamation. There, growing In prodigal
luXuriance, was the beneficent pitcher
plant, whose large curled up leaf, shap.
ed like a teacup, not only holds last
ing quantity of rain water, but mixes
Herewith it's own palatable and nat
ural juices.
With his knife he severed two OF
the leaves and fastened to Iris with
the precious beverage. She heard him
and managed to raise herself on an ell.
bow. The poor girls eyes glistened at
the prospect Of relief. Without word
of question or surprise she swallowed
the contents of both leaves.
Then she found utterance. "How
odd it tastes. What Is it?' she in.
CURED.
But the eagerness with which she
quenched her thirst renewed his owr
momentarily forgotten torture. His
tongue seemed to swell. He was alb
solutely unable to reply
The water revived Iris like a magic
draft. Her quick intuition told hel
what had happened.
You have had none yourself" she
cried. "Go at once and get some! And
please bring me some more"
He required no second bidding. Aft
er hastily gulping down the contents
of several leaves he returned with 9
further supply. Iris was now sitting
up. The sun had burst royalty through
the clouds, and her chilled limbs were
gaining some degree of warmth and
elasticity.
What is it," she repeated after an
other delicious draft.
'"The leaf Of the pitcher plant. Ma
ture is not always cruel. In an un
usually generous mood she devised this
method of storing water"
Miss Deane reached out her hant
to wonder at such a reply from an ordi
nary seaman The sailor deliberately
spilled the contents of a remaining Leaf
on the sand.
mo, madam" he said, with IN ode
mixture of Difference and firmness. "Nt
more at present. / must first procure
you some food"
She looked up at him in momentary
| silence.
The ship is lost?" she said after 1
pause.
Eyes, madam"
care we the only people saved"
II fear so.''
as this desert island:"
II think not, madam. 1t may b,
chance be temporarily uninhabited, blu
| fishermen from China come to all thes,
| places. l have seen no other living be
| ings except ourselves. Nevertheless
the islanders may live on the soutl
side"
| 'It surely cannot be possible that tn
| Sirdar has gone to pieces-a magnif
cent vessel of her size and strength"
He answered quietly: lit Is too true
madam. 1 suppose you hardly knew
she struck, it happened SO suddenly
Afterward. fortunately for you. yo'
were unconscious"
How do you known she inquiries
| quickly. A flood Of vivid recollection
was pouring in upon her.
"I-er-well, 1 happened to be nea
you, madam. when the ship broke NJ
and we-er-drifted ashore together"
She rose and faced him. Il remem
Der now" she cried Historically. "Yo'
| caught me as 1 was thrown into tn
corridor We fell into the sea whel
the vessel turrsed over. You have saves
my life. Were it not for you coul'
not possibly have escaped"
She gazed at him more earnestly, see
ing that he blushed beneath the crus
of salt and sand that covered his face
why" she went on, with growing e1