The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-09-12
Bianch might have eased the


er toward Krakatoan cataclysm, it was
shake the world. Still, Constable held
the hope
He turned on the lights in the room. A
cablegram had been slipped under the
door. It proved to be an answer to a
message he had sent to Basse Terre in
the morning, regarding the movements of
the Panther.
"Str. Panther arrived and departed
here on time,"
he read. There was strength in the
word. The mail liner reasonably might
be expected to call at Martinique with
| the dawn, according to schedule. The
mails should be ready for distribution at
nine.
We'll have luncheon aboard the Mad
anne tomorrow" Constable unused, ''and
while the blessed maiden is passing cake
and pouring tea, the Madame will be
running like a scared deer, to hitch her
self to the solid old Horn, built of rock
and sealed with icebergs!''
He shaded his eyes at the window, star
ing beyond the city into the ashen shroud
-Pelee's flag of truce. Grand old mar
tyr" he murmured devoutly. Hang on,
hang onv'
There was tap at the door, and Breen
was admitted.
II haven't seen much of you in the past
three icons, miscalled days." said Consta-
ble
1T is true. 1 have felt my own in
consequence in the presence of the big
drama here. 1t is your drama, Peter.
Then, have found place of many mar
vels."
"Pere Rabeaut's?'
"None other There is something like
GOODNESS in this thrice-burned isle. Also
maiden creature, half child, half, wom-
an, wholly wonderful"
II have been glad to see you make the
best of things. Of course one can never
tell on a cruise where one is to encounter
series of business obligations as
here"
True again." Breen said gravely.
II have been busy as that, but have
accomplished nothing. Seriously, Breen,
times are running close. Guerin's the
first volley To think l haven't been to
the mountain; haven't taken a photo
graph or a note! My fellow researchers
in things seismic will never forgive me
for this. Breen, thought 1 had a sci
entifc mind-thought that even though
l bulled in all else, l was a loyal geolo-
gist; but l have betrayed even that de-
cent instinct. Another man would have
had the women away to sea and be at
tending the mountain now; but here
am, a child with mans tools. gassing the
night through, and she-across the hall
marked, for all l know, for Pelee's
own! It's good to talk, though"
There's only one way when words fail,
Peter If the mountain won't recede
from the maiden, you must snatch up the
maiden and make a getaway from the
mountain"
'I'm not pirate enough, Breen," Con-
stable replied YEARLY. "By the way,
I'm sending some of the natives of the
city-the women with babes-out to the
Madame for cool air. There is no reason
in the world why we shouldn't entertain
our friends of the shop. Soronia is too
rare a creature to be inundated by Pc
lees bursting boilers. She and the Pere
might just as well share the benefits.
You see, the presence of others makes it
possible Attend to it, will you?"
Good old Peter" Breen said softly !;
''but l don't think they would come.
Who'd feed the little song birds?'
>"Have her bring the birds along.
They'll die there"
II had planned not to go to the little
shop again, Peter"
Constable turned upon him abruptly.
"WhyY" said he.
You see, Peter, she is such a rare lit
tie soul-asking so little and so ready
to give her all for the promise of man
think of it. l have found good many
playthings, pottering around this little
sunshot planet-clear little films they are
now, which stick in the brain and won't
fade. Let me alone, Peter, and I'll wan
der back to reason presently. A very ugly
album is a sinners memory, and when
it is quite full the sinner usually dies
sometimes off Brooklyn piers. The truth
is, l found a shred of conscience devel-
oped. undersyour culture and Pelee's heat !;
and so l refused another plaything, re-
fused to crowd another film into that sui
lied album of mine. l lied, said didn't
understand that admiration meant any
thing to her-and went away. Not too
late, l trust. She is natural optimist,
and slow to lose faith in mankind"
Constable believed that Soronia had
found her first lover in 'Breen, and he
pitied the heart so suddenly impassioned
and so swiftly dethroned of its dream. He
remembered the face of Soronia in the
court shadows, and his pity fingered.
They talked until the Panther lights
shone afar in the ofing, misty with dawn
and volcano fog; then parted for an
hours rest. Constable was the first be-
low, and there was little joy with the
coming of the day. The rumblings of the
mountain were renewed. The great tow
er of ash shot up yesterday was still fall
ing; the trees and shrubbery in the gar
dens were bent with the weight of white !:
indeed, many branches were broken. The
dismal believing of cattle and the stamp
ing of ponies were heard from the barns.
It was only by keeping the doors and
windows of the house tightly shut that
living was bearable. The native who
brought the copy Of Les Colonies wore a
thick wet rag over his nostrils, and had
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