The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-22

1 deposit that he had discovered, and paint ed on the rocks of the outer reef in huge letters, visible far at sea:
 AN ENGLISH LADY WRECKED HERE
 On another line of rocks he wrote: BEWARE THE REEFS. He made a map of the place and erect
 ed great signals on top of the tallest
 trees. On the highest hill he piled a
 huge quantity of wood, whose flame
 would surely shine over many miles of
 sea, should a vessel approach without sighting the island.
 But all this time his brain was busy with still more important and far more difficult problem-how to send to the outer
 world the information that Helen Roles | ton was on the island. One day 1t came to him like a flash.
 Helen happened to tell him that she had kept her watch wound through all the days in the open boat. This would en- able him to get the longitude. The lati- tude he could get partially by guess and partially by some calculations. In few days he had his problem worked out on bits of bark with ink made
 from cochineal insects and tree gum.
 With this same scarlet ink he wrote mes ss, ges on pieces of parchment-like mate rial made from seals bladder and tied
 them up in water-tight packages Then he made great hoop which ho covered with rushes. With this he re :. paired to lagoon where wild duck con-
 eregated. Slipping the hoop over his body he waded very slowly toward the
 birds and at last managed to get near
 enough to one to seize it by the leg. His problem was solved. That day the first bird took to the air, bearing on it's
 ieg the intelligence that an English lady was cast away on an unknown island in longitude 103 degrees 30 minutes west, and between the thirty third and twenty sixth parallels of south latitude.
 Day after day he waded into the lagoon and caught duck or two. Every time he liberated one he noticed that 1t always flew to the eastward, and never tried to settle again on the is- land; thus he felt that there was u chance that at least one bird might ultimately fall into the hands of some intelligent person on the mainland.
 He had sent out AS ducks, and was rising, as usual, before daybreak to catch another couple when he was seized with sharp pain in his knees and found that he was lamed by an attack of rheumatism, due. no doubt to his long immersions. He dragged himself toward his tools and began To whitte a crutch.
 At that moment Helen, who always
 
 ming to his side and asked what was the matter. When she learned, she said: NO wooden crutches when I am by" and put her shoulders under his arm.
 He looked at her in surprise and his eyes began to fill. Until now he had served her without expecting even friendship; for who was he. a convict, to expect 1t? He would have given
 fl.; t,, were-to be on this island with her till the end of days, serving her, loving her from afar; yet he had left untried no means that keen brain or supple strength could compass to bring deliv- erance to her.
 From this time on he passed every day as in heaven. Indeed, the island was fast becoming the world for these two, and life a dream of happiness. when one evening just before sunset. about two months after the last of the ducks had been liberated, they saw a cloud of smoke on the horizon. 'It is a steamship" said Penfold. "It is coming for you. Steamships never visit these waters by chance. That ship has come for you. Your af- 1 nanced husband, Arthur Wardlaw. is on board"
 The sun was fast setting. The ship went steadily on. IL was eVluent tndL with the light as it was, she would pass the low lying island without being able to sight it, though no doubt there were many eyes on board straining for glimpse of it.
 Quick! Help me to the hill!' said Penfold. "The bonfire will attract their eyes at once, and in three hours that ship will be at anchor and you you will be rescued.'
 Give me the torch" said Helen. You
 cannot climb up the hill I will 1ighr the pile"
 Thank you! Thank your said Penfold. | To light that bonfire was as bitter as | death to him. He was glad enough that | she should do it herself. There are eight l bundles of straw placed in just the right 1 places. Light each one"
 | While she was gone Penfold retired to the cave to prepare the evening meal, for