Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-11


desconsion repealed.
81 suppose So she agreed, "but !
have gone through so much in n few
hours That am bewildcrcd. apt to for
get these nice distinctions"
jerks was closely examining the reef
! on which the Sirdar struck. Some
square objects were visible near the
palm tree. The sun. gliuting on the
waves, rendered it difficult to discern
their significance.
"What do Won make of thosc?' he in
CURED. handing the glasses and blind
! ~ ignoring Miss Deane's petulance.
Her brain was busy with other things
while she twisted the binoculars to
suit her vision Rainbow island-lris-
! II was a nice conceit. but "menial'
struck discordant note. This man
was no mental in appearance or speech.
Why was he so deliberately rude?
81 think they arc boxes or packing
! cases." she announced
"Ah, that was my own idea. | must
visit that locality
"How? VIII you swim?"
/
In n smile; II will not swim, and, by
| the way. Miss Deane. be careful when
| you are near the water. The lagoon
| Is swarming with sharks .at present.
| 7 feel tolerably assured that at low
| tide, when the remnants Of the gale
have vanished, ] will be able to walk
there along the reef"
| Sharks she cried. an there,
! What horrible surprises this Speck of
land contains! I should not have i'm
agined that sharks and seals could
! live together
You are quito right" he explained,
with becoming gravity. AS a rule,
| sharks infcst only the leeward side of
| these islands. Just now they are at
tracted in shoals by the wreck
oh" Iris shvered slightly
1--WE had better 20 back now. The
wind is keen here, Miss Dcane.'
! She knew that he purposey misun-
derstood her gesture. His attitude con
veyed rebuke. There was no further
| room for sentiment in their present ex-
istcnce. They had to deal with chill
necessities AS for the sailor, he was
glad that the chance turn OF their con-
versation enabled him to warn her
against the lurking dangers OF the la
COON. There was no need to mention
the dcvilflSh now. lie must spare her
all avodable thrills
! They gathered the stores from tho
first dining room and reached the cave
! without incident. Another fire was
/ lighted and while Iris attended to the
kitchen the sailor fellcd several young
! trees He wanted poles, and these
! were the right size and shape. He
I soon cleared n considerable space. The
! timber was soft and SO small in girth
I that three cuts with the AK usually
! suf11ced He dragged from the beach
| the smallest tarpauln he could find
and propped it against the rock in
such manner that it effectually screen
ed the mouth of the cave though ad-
hitting light and air.
| He was so busy that he paid little
heed to Iris. But the odor of fried
| ham was waited to him. He was
lifting a couple Of heavy stones to stay
the canvas and keep 1t from Tapping
in the wind when the girl called out:
wouldn't you like to have a wash
before dinner"
He Strengthened himself and looked
Mt her. Her face and hands were
shining. spotless. The change was 50
great that his brow wrinkled with per
plcXity.
Il am good pupil" she cried. "You
see l am already learning to help my
self. l made bucket out of one of
the dish covers by Singing it in two
ropes. Another dish cover, some sand
and leaves supplied basin, soap and
towel. have cleaned the tin cups and
the knives. and, see, here is my great
est treasure"
She held up n small metal lamp.
Where in the world did you find
that?" he exclaimed.
Buried in the sand inside the cave
Anything else"
His tone was abrupt. She was so dis
appointed by the seeming want Of ap
probation Of her industry that a CLEAN
of amusement died from her eyes. and
she shook her head. STOPPING at once tC
attend to the toasting of some biscuits
This time he was genuinely sorry.
"Forgive me- Miss Deane." he said
penitenty. my words are dictated by
anxiety. | do not wish you to make
discoveries on your own account. This
is a strange place, you know-an I'm
pleasant one In some respects"
"Surely can rummage about my
own cave?"
Most certainly. 1t was careless OF
me not to have examined its interior
more thoroughly"
Then why do you grumble because
found the lamp"
IL did not mean any such thing
am sorry"
II think you are horrid II you want
to wash you will find the water over
there. Don't wait. The ham will be
frzzled to cinder"
Unlucky Jenks Was ever man fatet
to incur such unmerited odium? HI
savagely laved his face and neck. The
fresh, cool water was delightful a
first but when he drew near TO thu
fire he experienced an unaccountablt
sensation of weakness Could " IN
possible thAt he was going to faint
1t was too absurd He sank to tn,
earth INDUCED in II mad dance. Iris