The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26

The emergence into a sunlit pan
Drama of land and sea, though expect
ed, was profoundly enthralling They
appeared to stand almost exactly IN
the center of the island, which was
crescent-shaped. It was no larger
than the sailor had estimated. The
new slopes now revealed were covered
with verdure down to the very edge
of the water, which, for nearly a mile
seaward, broke over Jagged reefs. The
sea looked strangely calm from this
height. Irregular blue patches on the
horizon to south and east caught the
mans first glance. He unslung the
binoculars he still carried and focused
them eagerly
Islands, he cried, "and big ones.
tooi''
How oddr' whispered Iris, more
concerned in the scrutiny of her i'm
mediate surroundings: jerks glanced
at her sharply. She was not looking
at the islands, but at a curious hol-
low, a quarry-like depression beneath
them to the right, distant about 300
yards and not far removed from the
small plateau containing the well,
though isolated from it by the south
angle of the main cliff.
Here, in a great circle, there was
not vestige of grass, shrub or tree,
AT first the sailor deemed it to be the
dried-up bed of a small lake. This
hypothesis would not serve, else it
would be choked with verdure. The
pit stared up at them like an ominous
eye, though neither paid further at
tention to 1t, for the glorious prospect
mapped at their feet momentarily
swept aside all other considerations.
What a beautiful placer murmured
Iris. Il wonder what it is called"
Limbo
The word came instantly The sail
ors gaze was again fixed on those dis
tant blue outlines. Miss Deane was dis
satisfied.
''Nonsense!" she exclaimed. 1--WE are
not dead yet. You must find a better
name than that"
well, suppose we christen it Rain
bow island
why Rainbow"
That is the English meaning of
Iris in Latin, you know"
$50 it is. How clever of you to
think of it! Tell me, what is the mean
ing of Robert in Creek"
He turned to survey the northwest
side of the island. 81 do not know"
he answered. 1T might not be far
fetched to translate it as "a ships
steward a menial.' "
Miss Iris had meant her playful re-
tort as a mere Ight-hearted bubble.
1t annoyed her, d young person of
much consequence, to have her kindly
| cOndescension repealed.
81 suppose So" she agreed: "but 1
have gone through so much in a few
hours that 1 am bewildered, apt to
forget these nice distinctions"
Were these two quarreling, or fiirt-
ing? Who can tell?
jerks was closely examining the reef
on which the Sirdar struck Some
square objects were visible near the
palm tree. The sun. glinting on the
waves, rendered it difficult to discern
their significance.
What do you make of thOse?' he
inquired, handing the glasses, and
blandly ignoring Miss Deane's petu-
lance. Her brain was busy with other
to suit her vision. Rainbow island
Iris-it was a nice cOnceit. But
'meniaF' struck a discordant note.
This man was no mental i'm appearance
or speech. Why was he so deliberate
ly rude?
It think they are boxes or packing
cases." she announced.
"Ah, that was my own idea. 1 must
visit that locality"
IlOW w III YOU SWlit.
No he said, his stern lips relaxing
| in a smile, 4 will not swim; and by
the way, Miss Deane, be careful when
you are near the water The lagoon
is swarming with sharks at present. I
feel tOlerably assured that at low tide,
when the remnants of the gale have
vanished, l will be able to walk there
along the reef"
"Sharksr' she cried. In there. What
horrible surprises this speck of land
containsl 1 should not have imagined
that sharks and seals could live to-
gether,'
You are quite right" he explained,
with becoming gravity. LAS a rule,
sharks infest only the leeward side OF
these islands Just now they are at
tracted in shoals by the wreck"
oh" Iris shivered slightly.
I'VE had better go back now. The
wind is keen here, Miss Deane."
She knew that he purposely misun-
derstood her gesture. His attitude
conveyed a rebuke. There was no fur
Their room for sentiment in their pres
ent existence; they had to deal with
chill necessities. AS for the sailor. he
was glad that the chance turn of their
conversation enabled him to warn her
against the lurking dangers of the la
coon. \There was no need to mention
the de7fl-fish now; he must spare her
all avOidable thrills.
They gathered the stores from the
first al fresco dining room and reached
the cave without incident. Another
fire was lighted, and whilst Iris at
tended to the kitchen the sailor feIled
several young trees. He wanted poles,
and these were the right size and
shape. He soon cleared a considerable
space. The timber was soft and so
small in girth that three cuts with the
AK usually sufficed. He dragged from
the beach the smallest tarpaulin he
could find, and propped it against the
rock in such manner that it effectual-
ly screened the mouth of the cave,
though admitting light and air.
He was so busy that he paid little
heed to Iris. But the odor of fried
ham was waited to him. He was lift
ing a couple of heavy stones to stay
the canvas and keep it from Tapping
in the wind. when the girl called out
Wouldn't you like TO have a wash
before dinner?''
He Strengthened himself and looked
at her. Her face and hands were
cbiripo spOfIacS Tho ohanOa woo 90