The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-09-24
CHAPTER xvI-Continued.


Senorita Mercedes, who was watched
all the time, and who had been sleep
ing with the unconcern OF an infant.
talked very little when awake. Her
mind seemed to be away from the
Pranzos and everybody on II. Jerry
offered her food, but she paid no at
tention to him and ate practically
nothing. Once in a while she was
overheard to humble 20 herself, and
occasionally to smile as though
amused
Her father permitted her to have
her own way much OF the time" said
the captain to Jerry. as they stood be-
hind the girl. She was a belle in
Pandaro, and her frequent visits to
Madrid were marked by social tri-
umphs. 1t is said that she once tried
to kill herself because she could not
have every dance with young officer
of the Spanish army. People gener-
ally considered her eccentric and most
unusual, but / don't think they be-
lieved her to be insane. Senior Lopez
had no notion Of placing her in any
asylum for the violently demented."
In the middle of the third night on
the rock a joyous sound came from
the signal station TO the brave little
party on the wreckage. Jerry Cham
bers shouted down that a vessel was
discerned to the northward, far out at
sea- All but three or four of the men.
almost delirious with hope, scrambled
up the rock.
She is moving away" cried one
man. She does not see u.s."
more wood. more wood" screamed
the captain. She must see us or we
are lost"
All the infiammable material that
could be carried up the rock soon was
blazing But still the vessel at sea
kept moving away. tttr
Fire the whole wreckage" cried
Jerry. IT'S our only chance in the
world"
II was a matter of but a short time
before the heavy timbers of the i'll
fated craft began to blaze. So dense
became the smoke that the survivors
were forced to pick their hazardous
way to the other side of the rock. Jer-
ny and the captain succeeded in carry
ing Senorita Mercedes TO place
where the breathing was bearable. but
three men who followed them were
suffocated and fell to death in the
sea below. Jerry, almost overcome
by the smoke. managed TO reach a
place where he could, at intervals of a
few minutes, watch the vessel at sea
She doesn't see u.s." cried he, his
hope almost expiring. "She is going
away from u.s."
II was now that the flames were
highest. The wind had shifted so
that the only point Of observation be-
came untenable. The vast clouds of
smoke rolled against the rock and
drove the survivors far down the other
side. Five other men either were suf
located or lost in their efforts to pick
their way.
Jerry managed to get TO the north
ernmost end of the rock. from where
he could catch an occasional glimpse
of the vessel at sea. He kept his po-
sition only a few minutes, but in that
precious period he saw rocket shoot
into the sky from the fading object far
TO the eastward. Another rocket and
still another were sent up, but Jerry
saw only the first.
They see us. They see u.s." he
cried in hysterical ecstasy. as he pro-
ceeded to pick his way back to the
horror-stricken group.
Thank God" went up from every
throat. Two OF the strongest men col
iapsed, but SenOrita Mercedes, the
frailest Of all, was unmoyed Her
chin resting in her hands, she sat as
she had sat for hours. staring 10 the
westward.
II was not until five hours had
elapsed that the rescuer could send