The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-07-05

brush wood. with Sylvia sitting near
him.
He = better" said Mrs. vicksrs. dis,
dsining TO refer to the scene Of the
morning. "Sit down and have something
to eat. Mr.. Frere."
Are you betterg" asked Frsrs alb
ruptly.
To his surprise. the convict answered
quite civilly. II shall be strong again in
day or two. aud then can help you,
SIR"
Within week from the night on
which he had seen the smoke Of Frere's
IRE, the convict had recovered his
strength. and had become an important
parsonage. He was skilled Ia all the
mysteries of the prison sheds. He knew
how TO sustain life on as little food as
possible. He could fell trees without an
ak, bake bread without an oven. build
a weather-proof hut without bricks or
mortar. From rhe patient he became
the adviser; and from the adviser. the
commander.
As the time wore on. and the scanty
stock Of provisions decreased. he found
that his authority grew more and more
powerful Did question arise as TO the
qualities Of strange plant. it was Rufus
Dawes who could pronounce upon il.
Were. hsh TO be caught. 1t was Rufus ,
Dawes who caught them Did Mrs.
Niekers complain Of the instability Of her
brush wood hut. it was Rufus Dawes {
who worked wicker shield. and. plas- {
tering II with clay, produced wall that I
dened the keenest wind. He made cups
out OF pine knots. and plates out of bark v
STRIPS He worked harder than any
three men, Nothing daunted him. moth
ing discouraged him When Mrs yiek-
ers TEL sick. from anxiety. and inspffi-
cient food. Il was Rufus Dawes who e
gathered fresh leaves for her couch. who c.
eheered her by hopeful words. who vol a
nntariiy gave mp half his own allowance
OF meat that she might grow the strong \.
er on II The poor woman and her child :,
called him Mr." Dawes.
But the days stole on and no vessel
appeared Each day they eagerly scan p'
ned the watery horizon; each day they et
onged TO behold the bowsprit Of the re- W
turning Ladybird glide past the juttine In
'ock that shut out the view Of the har- "
DOR, but in vain Mrs yickers' illness -
and the stock Of provisions ~
'egan to run short Dawes talked Of 20
'utting himself and Frere on half allow VI
49, - was NNAIEAl ludls uulCo3 sue "
or came in a few days. they must no
tsrve. an
One day Sylvia was sitting In the sun -,
eading the English History" which.
y the accident of fright. she had
rought with her on the night Of the
lutiny- -Mr. Frere." said she. sud
emily. what Is an alchemistY'
"A man who makes gold" was Frere's q
Dt very accurate definition.
did the ancient Britons know itT" #.
'-No: not so old as that
Sylvia suddenly gave a little scream. a.
he remembrance Of the evening when We
e read about the ancient Britons to OF
'or Bates came wildly into her mind ten
ID though she had since re-read the tun
ssage that had then attracted her at dsy
ntion a hundred times. II had never 70,
fore presented itself to her in its full r
snihcance- Hurriedly turning the
.llthumbed leaves. she read aloud the sxs
ssage which had provoked remark: eiea
The ancient Britons were little bet hav
than barbarians- They painted their Lon
dies with woad. and. seated In their T
ht coraeles Of skin stretched upon KIN
nder wooden frames. must have pre- -
tied a wild and savage appearance.
"A eoraclel That's a boat Can't we 'ne
Ike a coraele. Mr.. DawesT'
The convict knitted his brows gloom
Come. Dawes cried Frere. forget
Z his enmity for an instant. In the
h Of new hope, cant you suggest
lethingT"
iufus Dawes. thus appealed 10 as the
head Of the little society,
a pleasant thrill Of Standardization.
don't know" he said: Il must think
(. II looks easy. and yet lie
sed as something in the water caught
eye II was a mass Of bladdery Sod =
d that the returning tide was waft-
slowly to the shore. This object.
ch would have passed unnotieed at
other time. suggested to Rufus
res new idea Yes" he added.
'ly, with a change Of tone. lit may
lone. | think I see my way. How K
do you think il is across the bay p O.
sked Frere- =
about four miles" ~
Re convict sighed. ''Too far 10 swim ~
though / might have done il once. -
this sort Of life weakens a man.
ust be done. after all
What are you going to dor asked 49,.
o kill the goat from