Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-04

49, N
Trendon reported his patient
ss as quite recovered.
Cl starved for water" proffer
ed the surgeon. Tissues fairly dried
out. Soaked him up. Fed him broth.
Put him to sleep. He's all right. Just
wakes up to eat. Then or again like
a twO-year-old. Wonderful constitu-
ton"
1.-THE gentleman wants TO know if
he can come on deck, sir" saluted an
orderly.
"Waked up, Ell? Come on, Barnett.
Help me boost him on deck"
The two officers disappeared to re-
turn in a moment arm in arm with
Ralph Slade.
Nearly twenty-fOur hours rest and
skilful treatment had done wonders.
He was still a trile weak and mcer-
tain, was still little glad to lean on
the arms of his companions, but his
eye was bright and alert and his hol-
low cheeks mounted a slight color.
This. with the clothes lent him by Bar
nett transformed his appearance and
led Captain Parkinson to congratulate
himself that he had not obeyed his
first impulse to send the castaway for
ward with the men.
The officers pressed forward.
''Mighty glad to see you out" Hope
you've got your pins under you again"
"Old man, I'm mighty glad We came
along"
The chorus of greeting was hearty
enough. but the journalist barely paid
the courtesy of acknowledgment. His
eye swept the horizon eagerly until it
rested on the cloud of volcanic smoke
biilowing up across the setting sun. y
sigh of relief esca ped him.
where are weT' he asked Barnett.
a. mean since you picked me up. How
long ago was that anyway"
Yesterday" replied the navigating
officer "We've stood off and on look
ing for some of our men"
Then that's the same volcano
Barnett laughed softly. well, they
aren't quite holding a caucus of vol.
canoes down in this country. One like
that is enough"
But Slade brushed the remark aside
Head for it, he cried eXcitedly
1--WE may be in time! There's man
on that islandr'
"A man." Another Not Billy
Edwards?" Not some of our hoysT
Slade stared at them bewildcred,
Hold on" interposed DR.. TrendOr
authoritatively whats his name|
he inquired of the journalist.
barrow" replied the latter per
cy barrow. Do YOU know him."
"Who in Kamchatka is Percy Oar
row. demanded FOrsythe.
why, he's the assistant It's Ion:
story
''Of course it's a long story. There:
q lot we want to know" interrupted
Captain Parkinson. "Quartermaster
head for the volcano yonder. Nj
Slade, we want to know where yol
came from. and why ysu left tn
schooner and who Percy barrow is
And there's dinner so We'll adjourn
to the messroom and hear what yol
can tell us But there's one thin;
we're all anxious to know-how cam
you in the dory which we found ant
left on the Laughing Lass later thai
two days ago."
Il haven't set eyes on the Laughing
Lass for-well, don't know how long
but it's five days anyway, perhap
more" replied Slade.
They stared at him incredulously.
"Oh, see" he burst out suddenly
"Therc were twin dories on the schoor
err. The other ones still there, SUI
pose Did you find her on the ster
davits?"
Yes"
That's it, then. You see. when
left
Captain Parliinson's raised han
checked him. IF You will be so goot
Mr.. Slade, let US have it all at once
after mess"
At table the young officers at shar
hint from DR.. Trendon conversed o
indifferent subjects until the journals
had partaken heartily of what the phi!
stefan allowed him. Slade ate wit
keen appreciation.
II tell you. that's good" he sighe,
when he had finished. "Real, liv
after dinner. coffee too. Why, gentI
men, | haven't eaten a civilized mea