Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-08

rest for the hotter werc he able 10
STAY every Dyak on the island with
single shot Yet her gentle protest
pleased him. She could not ut the
same time be calous to human suffer.
ing and he Iris. But he declined the
discussion of such sentiments
"You were going TO say something
when n brief disturbance took place"
he inquired.
yes I was surprised to find how
hot the ledge has become"
you notice il more because you ar
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
viii be in great straits. enduring ago
MES from thirst
act us not meet the devil halfway"
h. reioned. He preferred the unfair
retort TO n confession which could only
foster dismav.
But, please, am thirsty now"
He moved uneasily. He was only too
conscious OF the impish weakness. com
mon to all mankind, which creates n
desire out Of sheer inability TO satisfy
it, Already his own throat was parchcd.
The excitement of the carly 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
mninder when we cat. 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 huid-the drcCs OF the
casks and the scourings of the ledge.
81 will drink first" she cried.
$40, no. ne interrupted impationtly.
"Give it to me-"
she pretended to be surprised
as n mere matter Of politcness"-
Il am sorry. but must insist
She gave him the cup over his shout
der. He placed it to his lips and
gulped steadily.
There" he said Grutlly. II 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 I. I d-dont want to-live
w.without-you."
His hands shook somewhat. 1t was
well there was no cali for accurate
shooting just then.
81 assure you l took all I required"
he declared, with unnecessary vehe
mence
At least drink your share to please
me, she murmured.
You wished to humbug me- he
grumbled. "If you vii, take the first
half / will take the second"
And they settled it that way. The
few mouthfuls of tepid water gave
them new life. Nevertheless by high
time passed very slowly, The sun
rose 10 the zenith and filed the earth
and air with his ardor. Ii seemed to he
a miracle - now appreciated for the
first time in their lives-that the sea
did not dry up and the leaves Withcr
on the trees. The silence. the dcathly
inactivity Of all things, became intol-
hn ri 81 -rl- t,.iC 10
fine her thoughts to the task of the
hour. She displayed alert watchful-
ness. an instant readiness 10 warn her
companion of the slightest movement
among the trees or by the rocks to the
northwest, this being the arc of their
periphery assigned TO her.
Looking at sunlit space from cover
and look ing at the same place when
swcltering in the direct rays of trop-
zeal sun are kindred operations strange
/ lv diverse in achievement. Iris could
not reconcile the physical scnSitvoness
of the hour with the careless hardi-
hood Of the preceding days. Her eyes
achod somewhat. for she had tilted her
/ sou wester to the back of her head in
[ lIlP tlDIt u fObl IcT lHTODDlIlS ttill-
/ pies. She put up her right hand TO
! shade the TOO vivid reflection OF the
! Clistcning sea and was aStounded to
/ find that in few minutes the back of
| her hand was scorched. \ faint sound
! of distant shouting disturbed her pain
! ful reVerie.
How is it," she asked, that we feel
! the heat so much today? l had hardly
| noticed it before
For two good reasOnS-fOrced idle
ness and radiation from this confound-
ed rock. Moreover, this is the hottest
! day we have experienced on the island
| There is not d breath of air, and the
hot weather has Just commenced"
| Don't you think" she said huskily,
that our position here is quite hope
less?'
They were talking to each other side
ways. The sailor never turned his
gaze from the southern end Of the val
ley.
ut is no more hopeless now than last
night or this morning." he replied.
But suppose we are kept here for
several days?"
THAT was always an unpleasant
probability"
we had water then. Even with an