The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-09-02
CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY
By LOUIS
TRACY
Copyright. 1908. by
Edward J. Ciede


so ho-rid.'
She could not see the sailors grim
smile 1t would materially affect his
rest for the better We're he able to
slay every Dyak on the island with a
single shot. Yet her gentle protest
pleased him. She could not at the
same time be callous to human suffer
ing and be Iris. But he declined the
discussion of such sentiments.
you We're going to say something
when a brief disturbance took place.
he inquired
Eyes. | was surprised TO find how
hot the ledge has become"
You notice it more because you are
obliged to remain here"
After pause she said
Il think / understand now why you
were so upset by the loss of our wa
ter supply. Before the day ends we
will be in great straits, enduring ago.
MES from thirst
LET us not meet the devil halfway"
he rejoined. He preferred the unfair
retort to confession which could only
foster dismay.
But please, am thirsty now
He moved uneasily. He was only too
conscious of the impish weakness, COM
mon to all mankind, which creates
desire out of sheer inability to satisfy
it. Already his own throat was parcaed.
The excitement of the early struggle
was in itself enough to engender an
acute thirst He thought it best to
meet their absolute needs as far as
possible.
Bring the tin cup he said. LET
us take half our store and use the re-
mainder when we eat. Try to avoid
breathing through your mouth. The
hot air quickly affects the palate and
causes an artificial dryness. We can
not yet be in real need of water. 1t is
largely imagination"
Iris needed no second bidding. She
carefully measured out half pint of
the unsavory fluid-the dregs of the
casks and the scourings of the ledge.
Il will drink first" she cried.
mo, no." he Interrupted impatiently.
"Give it to me-
She pretended to be surprised.
GAS a mere matter of politeness"-
Il am sorry, but l must insist
She gave him the cup over his Shout
Ger. He placed it to his lips and
gulped steadily.
There he said gruffly. 81 was in a
hurry. The Dyaks may have another
rush at any moment
Iris looked into the vessel.
'You have taken none at all,' she
said.
NONSENSE
''Mr jerks, be reasonable, You need |
it more than l. d-dont want to-Iive |
w-without-you.'
His hands shook somewhat. 1t was
well there was no call for accurate
shooting just then.
81 assure you 1 took all I required
he declared, with unnecessary vehe-
'At least drink your share to please
me- she murmured.
You wished to humbug me-" he
grumbled. IF you will take the first
half l will take the second
And they settled it that way. The !
few mouthfuls of tepid water gave
them new life. Nevertheless by high /
noon they were suffering again. The
time passed very slowly. The sun
rose to the zenith and filled the earth
and air with his ardor. 1t seemed to be
a miracle now appreciated for the
first time in their lives-that the sea
did not dry up and the leaves wither
On the trees. The silence, the deathly
inactivity Of all things, became intol-
cradle. The girl brayely tried to con-
fine her thoughts to the task of the
hour. She displayed alert watchful-
hess, an instant readiness to warn her
of the slightest movement
among the trees or by the rocks to the
northwest, this being the arc of their
assigned to her.
Looking at a sunlit space from cover
md looking at the same place when
;weltering in the direct rays of a rop
cal sun are kindred operations strange
Y diverse in achievement Iris could
lot reconcile the physical sensitiveness
# the hour with the careless hardi-
lood of the preceding days. Her eyes
ched somewhat, for she had tilted her
ou'wester to the back of her head in
he effort to cool her throbbing tenn
lies. She put up her right hand to
hade the too vivid reflection of the
sea and was astounded to
ind that in a few minutes the back Of
er hand was scorched. A faint sound
f distant shouting disturbed her pain
ul reverie.
How is it, she asked, that we feel
he heat so much today? / had hardly
oticed it before"
For two good reasons-forced idle
ess and radiation from this confound-
d rock Moreover. this is the hottest
ay we have experienced on the island !
here is not breath of air, and the
OF weather has just commenced"
Don't you think" she said huskily,
that our position here is quite hope ,
,ssr''
They were talking to each other side
rays The sailor never turned his
axe from the southern end of the val ,
".
1T is no more hopeless now than last {
light or this morning" he replied ,
But suppose we are kept here for
.veral days?''
That was always an unpleasant I
{
I'VE had water then Even with an