The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-07-06
Tor The Term of His Natural Life
CHAPTER XVI.-(Continued
BY MARCUS CLARKE


An hour after sunrise next morning
the frail boat, which was the last hope
OF these four human beings, drifted with
the outgoing current toward the mouth
or the harbOr. When first launched she
had come nigh swapping, being over
loaded, and it was found necessary to
leave behind great portion Of the dried
meat. They made tedious way with
their rude oars; light breeze from the
northwest sprung up with the dawn, and,
hoisting the goat-skin sail. they crept
along the coast. 1t was resolved that
the two men should keep watch and
watch; and Frere, for the second time,
enforced his authority by giving the first
watch to Rufus Dawes. II am tired, +"
he said, land shall sleep for a little
while"
That night the wind fell, and they
had to take their oars. Rowing all night,
they made but little progress, and Rufus
Dawes suggested that they should put
In to the Shore and wait until the breeze
sprung up. But upon getting under the
leo Of long line of basaltic rocks
found the waves breaking furiously upon
q horseshoe reef, six or seven miles in
length. There was nothing for it but to
coast again.
They coasted for two days, without q
sign Of 4 sail, and on the third day a
great wind broke upon them from the
southeast and drove them back thirty
miles. The coracle began to leak, and
required constant battling. What was
almost as bad, the best part Of their
water had leaked away also.
The position Of the four poor creatures
was now almost desperate. Mrs. Wick
ers, indeed, seemed completely prostrat-
Cd, and it was evident that, unless some
help came, she could not long survive
the continued exposure to tho weather.
The child was in somewhat better case.
Rufus Dawes had wrapped her in his
had divided with her daily his allowance
of meat. She lay in his arms at night,
and In the day crept by his side for shell
ter and protection. As long as she was
near him she felt safe. They spoke lit
tie to each other. but when Rufus Dawes
felt the pressure of her tiny hand in
his, or sustained the weight Of her head
upon his shoulder, he almost forgot the
cold that froze him and the hunger that
Unawed him.
So two more days passed. and yet no
uail! On the tenth day after their de-
parture from Macquarie Harbor they
came to the end of their provisions. To
add to their distress, the child was seiz-
ed with fever. She was hot and cold by
turns. and in the intervals Of moaning
talked deliriously. Rufus Dawes, hold
ing her in his arms, watched the suffer
ing he was unable to alleviate. with
a savage despair at his heart. Was she
to die, after all?
So another day and night passed, and
the eleventh morning saw the boat yet
alive, rolling in the trough of the same
deserted sea. The four exiles lay in
her almost without breath. All at once
Dawes uttered a cry, and Selling the
sheet, put the clumsy craft about. "A
sail! a sail!' he cried. "Do you not
sec her?'
There is no SAIL" said Frere. "You
mock us!'
The boat. no longer following the line
Of the coast, was running nearly due
south, straight into the great southern
ocean. Frere tried to wrest the thong
from the hand of the convict, and bring
the boat back to her course. Are you
mad" he asked, in fretful terror, ito
run US out to sear'
"Sit down." returned the other, with
q menacing gesture, and staring across
tho gray water. II tell you I see a
sailr'
The day had broken, and the dawn,
IN one long pale streak Of sickly saffron,
lay low on the left hand. Between this
streak of saffron-colored light and the
bows of the boat cleaned for an instant
a white speck.
Frere, utterly COMPOUNDED, looked,
with his heart in his mouth, and again
did the white speck glfmmer.
"Sylviaw cried Rufus Dawes, "Syl-
via! My darling! You are savedv'
She opened her blue eyes and looked
at him, but gave no sign Of recognition.
Delirium had hold of her, and in the
hour of safety the child had forgotten
her preserver. Rufus Dawes, overcome
by this last cruel stroke Of fortune. sat
down in the stern of the boat, with the
child In his arms speeches.. Frere
thought that the chance he had 30 long.
ed for had come. With the mother Al
the point of death, and the child deliri.
Gus, who could testify to this hated
convict's skillfulness? No one but Mr.
Maurice Frere, and Mr.. Maurice Frere
as commandant of convicts, could not but
give up an "absconder" to justice.
The ship-a brig, with American col
ors fying-came within hail of them
Frere could almost distinguish figure.
on her deck. He made his way aft r.
where Dawes was sitting, unconscious
with tho child in his arms, and stirred
him roughly with his foot.
"Go forward" he said, in tones o.
command, "and give the child to me-"
Rufus Dawes raised his head, and
seeing the approaching vessel, awoke t,
the consciousness Of his duty. With ,
low laugh, full Of unutterable bitterness
ne placed the burden he had borne q,
tenderly in the arms of the lieutenant.
The brig was close upon them. He
canvas doomed large and dusky. shadow
ine the sea. Her wet decks shone II
the morning sunlight. From her bull
warks peered bearded and eager faces
looking with establishment at this boa
and its haggard company. alone on tina
barren and stormy ocean.
Frere, with Sylvia in his arms, wa1te'