Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-06-01

heat in the middle of the day was most
oppressive. AT a little distance from the
beach was sandy rise, that led up to
the face of the cliff, and on the eastern
side of this rise grew a forest of young
trees. Frere proposed to cut down these
trees and make a sort of hut with them.
1t was soon discovered, however, that
the pocket knives were insufficient for
this purpose, but by dint of notching the
young saplings, and then breaking them
down, they succeeded, in a couple Of
hours, in collecting wood enough to
roof over a space between the hollow
rock which contained the provisions and
another rock, in shape like a hammer,
which jutted out within five yards of it.
Mrs. Vickers and Sylvia were to have
this hut as a sleeping place, and Frere
and Bates, lying at the mouth of the
larder, would at once act as a guard to 1t
and them. Grimes was to make for him
self another hut where the fire had been
lighted on the previous night.
When they got back to dinner, inspir-
tied by this resolution, they found poor
Mrs. Vickers In great alarm. Grimes,
who, by reason of the dent in his skull,
had been left behind, was walking about
the sea beach, talking mysteriously, and
shaking his fist at an imaginary foe. On
going up to him they discovered that the
blow had affected his brain, for he was
delirious. Frere endeavored to soothe
him, without effect, and at last, by
Bates advice, the poor fellow was rolled
In the sea. The cold bath quelled his
violence, and being laid beneath the
shade of rock hard by, he fell into
condition of great muscular exhaustion,
and slept
The condition of the unfortunate
Grimes soon gave cause for the greatest
uneasiness. From Numbering foolishly,
he had taken to absolute violence, and
had to be watched by Frere. After
much muttering and groaning, the poor
fellow at last dropped off to sleep, and
Frere, having assisted Bates to his sleep
ing place in front of the rock, and laid
him down on a heap of green brushwood,
prepared to snatch few hours slumber.
Wearied by excitement and the labors
of the day, he slept heavily, but toward
morning was awakened by q strange
noise.
Grimes, whose delirium had apparent
ly increased, had succeeded in forcing
his way through the rude fence of brush
wood, and had thrown himself upon
Bates with the ferocity of insanity.
Growing to himself, he had seized the
unfortunate pilot by the throat, and the
pair were struggling together. Bates,
weakened by the sickness that had fol-
lowed upon his wound in the head, was
quite unable to cope with his desperate
assailant but, calling feebly upon Frere
for help, he made shift to lay hold upon
the jackknife of which we have before
spoken. Frere, starting to his feet,
rushed to the assistance of the pilot, but
was too late. Grimes, enraged by the
sight of the knife, tore it from Bates
grasp, and, before Frere could catch his
arm, plunged it twice into the unfortu-
nate mans breast.
'T'm a dead manw cried Bates, faint
ly.
The sight of the blood, together with
the exclamation of his victim, recalled
Grimes to consciousness. He looked in
bewilderment at the bloody weapon, and
then finglng it from him, rushed away
toward the sea, into which he plunged
headlong.
Frere hurried to the side Of Bates,
and, lifting him up, strove to stanch the
blood that flowed from his chest. 1t
would seem that he had been resting
himself on his left elbow, and that
Grimes, snatching the knife from his
right hand, had stabbed him twice in the
right breast. He was pale and senseless,
and Frere feared that the wound was
mortal. Tearing off his meek handker-
chief, he endeavored to bandage the
wound, but found that the strip of silk
was insufficient for the purpose. The
noise had reused Mrs. Vickers, who,
sitting her terror, made haste to tear
off a portion of her dress, and with this
a bandage of sufficient width was made.
Sylvia brought some water from the
spring, and Mrs. Vickers bathing Bates
head with this, he revived little.
Don't die, Mr.. Bates-oh, don't diev'
said Sylvia, standing, piteously, near,
but afraid to touch him. Don't leave
mamma and me alone in this dreadful
placer
Poor Bates, OF course, said nothing
but Frere frowned heavily, and Mrs
Vickers said reprovingly, "SylviaW jus,
as If they had been in the old house or
distant Sarah Island.
In the afternoon Frere went away tc
| drag together some wood for the fire, and
when he returned he found the pilot
near his end. As the sun sank Bates
rallied, but the two watchers knew thai
it was but the final flicker of the expir
ing candle. Hes going" said Frere
at length, under his breath, as though
fearful of awaking his half-slumberinl
soul. Mrs. Vickers, her eyes streaming
with silent tears, lifted the honest heat
and molstened the parched lips with hel
soaked handkerchief. A tremor shool
the once stalwart limbs, and the dying
man opened his eyes. For an instant
he seemed bewildered, and then, lookin.
| from ono IN the other intellipenra re