Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-13
VII.
The Free Lance.

NC Z Tcc AduCS.
By the following afternoon DR.. Trendon
reported his patient ssite recovered.
Starved for water" proffered the sur
geon. Tissues fairly dried out. Soaked
him up. Fed him broth. Put him to sleep
He's all right Just wakes up to eat: then
off again like a two-year-old. Wonderful
constitution"
THE gentleman wants to know IL he can
come on deck. SIR" saluted an orderly.
Walked UP. Ell. Come on, Barnett. Help
me boost him on deck"
The two officers disappeared to return in
moment arm in arm with Ralph Slade.
Nearly twenty-four hours rest and skill
ful treatment had done wonders. He was
still trif1e weak and uncertain. was still
little glad to lean on the arms of his
companions. but his eye was bright and
alert, and his hollow cheeks mounted a
slight color This, with the clothes lent him
by Barnett transformed his appearance.
and led Capt. Parkinson to congratulate
himself that he had not obeyed his first
impulse to send the castaway forward with
the men.
The officers pressed forward
Mighty glad to see you out" Hope
you've got your pins under you again.
old man. IN mighty glad we came along
The chorus Of greeting was hearty
courtesy Of acknowledgment. His eye swept
the horizon eagerly until it rested on the
cloud of volcanic smoke billowing up across
the setting sun. A sigh of relief escaped
him.
Where are WEI" he asked Barnett 81
mean since you picked me up. How long
ago was that. anyway"
Yesterday" replied the navigating off,
Ger. We've stood off and on, looking for
some Of our men,
Then that's the same Volcano"
Barnett laughed softly We'll. they aren't
quite holding caucus of volcanoes down
in this country One like that is enough"
But Slade brushed the remark aside
Head for it he cried excitedly.~ I'VE
may be in time! There's a man on that
island"
"A mani Another" mot Billy Ed
Slade stared at them bewildered
Hold on" interposed DR.. Trendon au-
thoritatively. Whats his name?" he in
quired of the journalist.
barrow" replied the latter. Percy
Darrow. Do you know him?"
Who in Kamschatka Is Percy Darrow?'
demanded Forsythe.
why, he's the assistant. It's long
story
"of course, it's long story, There's
Parkinson. "Quartermaster. head for the
volcano yorder. Mr.. Slade. we want to
know where you came FROM and why you
left the schooner. and who Percy Darrow
is. And there's dinner, SO we'll just ad-
Journ to the messroom and hear what you
can tell US. But there's one thing we're all
anxious to know: how came you in the
dory which we found and left on the
Laughing Lass no later tnan two days
ago."
Il haven't set eyes on the Laughing Lass
for-well, l don't know how long but it's
-re days anyway, perhaps more" replied
Slade.
They stared at him incredulously
oh l see!' he burst out suddenly:
there were twin dories on the schooner
The other ones still there. 1 suppose Did
you find her on the stern davits?''
Yes"
That's it. then. You see when left"
Capt. Parknsons raised hand checked
him. IF you will be SO good, Mr.. SIade,
let US have 1t all at once, after mess"
At table the young officers, at a sharp
hint from DR.. Trendon, conversed on indif-
ferent subjects until the journalist had par
taken heartily Of what the physician al
lowed him. Slade ate with keen apprecia-
ton.
II tell YOU, that's good" he sighed. when
he had finished. Real, live. after-dinner
coffee. too. Why. gentlemen, l haven't
eaten civilized meal with all the trim
mings, for over two years. Doctor, do you
think little of the real stuff would hurt
me? It's a pretty dry yarning"
"One glass;" growled the surgeon, mo
more"
Scotch high-ball. then" voted SIade,
The higher the better"
The steward brought tall glass with ice
in which the newcomer mixed his drink.