The Red Cloud chief., 1906-09-14
Gxss aHruI hungry" az

Iyne neeOe0 no rurtner explanation
The little ones had lost their mother.
Her disfigured body, broken out Of all
recognition, was tossing about some
where In the undercurrents Of the
channel. None of the women dared to
tell the children the truth, and 1t was
a h~eartrending task to deny them food.
So they were permitted to leave their
refuge, with the kindly belief that they
would come to no harm and perchance
obtain a further supply from n Of
those sweet faced girls who explained
so gently that the rations must run
short for the common good.
Pyne glanced up at the lantern. Out
side he could see Brand hauling down
the signal. He sprang to the tray and
secured his half biscuit and teacup.
Come along, Elsie he said, crook
ing his left arm for her. Follow close.
Mamie. Mind you don't fall"
Your mamm Is asleep he assured
them in Il whisper on the mex landing.
"She just can't be woke up for quite a
long time"
Then he n~avigated them to the door
of the second bedroom, where Mrs.
Taylor was. He broke the hard biscuit
in two pieces and gave II to each
child.
Here, Mamie, you carry the cup and
| 60 shares In the tea"
II don't like tea" protested Mamie.
"If l can't have coffee l want some
milk"
well, now, you wait a little bit, and
you'll be tickled to death to see what
I'll bring you. But drink the tea. It's
good and hot. Skip inside, both of
you."
He held the door partly open, and
they vanished. He heard Mrs. Taylor
say:
Didn't l tell you those two little
dears would do their own business
best?"
He regained the service room to find
Brand sleeping the remains of his bis
cult in an almost empty cup. The
lighthouse keeper greeted his young
friend with Il smile.
81 suppose that you, like the rest of
us, never had such al appetite in all
your days." he said.
"Oh, Pm pretty well fixed" said
Pyne, with Il responsive grin.
"Then you are fortunate. There is
usually a wretched little fiend lurking
In q mans inner consciousness which
prompts him to desire the unattaina'
bic. Now, l am a poor eater, as a rule
yet this morning l feel ! could tackle
the toughest steak ever cut off a su
p~erannuated cow"
81 don't deny" admitted Pyne, "that
the idea of a steak sounds good. That
is, you know" he went on languidly
ut might sort Of appeal to me about
/ O'clock"
81 should have thought you could dc
with one now, especially after the hard
night we have gone through. Perhaps
you are q believer in the French sys
ten and prefer a light breakfast"
Brand finished the last mOrsel of bis
cult and drank the cup dry.
Its a first rate proposition-wheI
you are accustomed to it," said Pyne
But talking about eating when there's
little to eat is a poor business anyway
Don't you find that?"
Il do indeed"
Brand rose and tapped the barome
ter, adjusting the sliding scale to rea,
the tenths.
Slightly better" he announced. 81
only the wind would go down or ever
change to the norrard""
What good would a change of wine
do?" inquired Pyne, greatly relieved
himself by the change Of topic.
1T would beat down the sea to SOM
extent, and then they might be able t
drift a buoy, with a rope attached
close enough to the rock at low tide t
enable us to reach 1t with a cast Of
graphing iron"
> "Do you mean that W. could be fer
ried to the steamer by that meansT
THAT is absolutely out Of the ques
ton until the weather moderates to
far greater extent than I dare hope a
present. But, once we had the line, W
> could rig up a running tackle and oil
tain some stores"
, 'Is 1t as bad as all that?" said tn
younger man after a pause.
, They looked at each other. TIL
knowledge that all true men ave O
:. their kind leaped from eye TO eye.
q "Quite that bad" answered Brand.
Pyne moistened his lips. He produC
a ed a case containing two cigars. Ii
I held 1t out.
"Let us go shares in consolation" h
said.
Brand accepted the gift and affecte
r a livelier mood.
by lucky chance l have an ampl
sapply Of tobacco. 1t will ka@2 =