The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-09

inland for a dozen yards or more and knelt on the soft white sand.
 Well, bless me, he's going to pray Lord Cranton muttered reverently. re- moving his ,hideous plaid cap; then his mouth began to open slowly till his chin was resting on his wet cravat. Joe Ru- pert was digging long and narrow hole, using his hands in the method employed by dogs when they scratch for amuse- ment or for some hidden animal.
 "A most extraordinary chap" the Briton murmured, then conviction leaped upon him suddenly. "A grave. by Jover' he whispered. "Cricky! l might have known itl'
 The Earl was morally certain for whom this resting place was being fashioned especially so in view of the episode of the Kentuckian's big blue gun; still, not being the type of man to seek for safety by ignominious flight, he held his ground and watched the work with absorbing interest. True, his teeth were chattering somewhat, but the breeze from the sea was chilly and the hour was late Then milord received a second paraIytio jolt. MT. Rupert, having finished the grave to his evident satisfaction, rolled into it and began to heap the soft, warm sand upon his legs and body.
 For himselfr' gasped the British lord; then his look of horrof changed into a smile, the Snlll6 lHtO d Bliu, anu biO grin into a cracking laugh. It dawned upon him that this practical American, in the simplest and most practical man ner possible, had merely gone to bed. So, chuckling to himself, Lord Cranton dug another hole and scooped the sand upon his patrician person, in sort or childish pleasure at the novelty.
 "Jollyr' he murmured, as the warm sand chased away the chill of night and the icy ooze of his sodden clothes. By love, that mad vulgarian is rather clever, after all.'
 In the morning Lord Cranton was awakened early by a bright sun shining in his face, by the roar of breakers and the sound of shrill discordant cries. He rubbed his eyes and cursed his valet, then remembered suddenly, and laughed. He scuffled from his temporary grave and found himself upon a tiny island. Be- fore him lay a curving beach which ended abruptly at the south while north ward it rose in a rock cliff where count less sea fowl screamed and wheeled above their nests. To the east was the sea. with huge green rollers beating upon the shore, and half mile away on a spine of rock lay the battered Afric, deserted. half submerged and heeling over upon her wounded side. And yet there was life on board. One man, half naked, was lowering a hamper into a boat. and soon he clambered down a rope himself and began to pull for shore. His lordship glanced at the open grave beside his own and drew conclusions. The American l had swum to the wreck, collected cook s | supplies, and now was returning rap 1 idly.
 sBreakfasti" breathed the nobemap,
 with a bland. anticipatory smile. "Deuced 1 descent of him, 'pon my wordi' With 8 sort of gnawing eagerness he | ha a ] the waves, and at every stroke of the
 glistening oars his appetite increased. His Judgment of the American had been mis- l placed, and, like the man and gentleman 1 Lord Cranton was, he was now prepared 1 to make amends. Then, too. this chap ], had saved his life, favor not to be
 measured lightly, since 1t is not given unto every man to perform deed so 1 clearly meritorious.
 | "Good morning!' he hailed in a cheery | shout. when the boat lay just beyond the l line of breakers. "A dashed fine day,
 call it. My grave was simply ripping l and now, by George, I'm rather keen on
 a bit of breakfast How dye find your self?"
 | To his vast surprise, however, he re- 1 ceived no answer. The boatman swung
 his craft around with one vigorous
 stroke. rested upon his oars, and sur
 
 | found contempt; then he pulled away fol l distance of fifty yards and landed
 through the surf.
 1 Tn silence the astonished Britor l watched him-watched him while hs gathered driftwood and built fire. Clear 1 ly this selfish beast intended breakfast ing alone, a fact which was not in the least to the watchers liking. Lord Gran ton was in no position to beg s favor o I his enemy, yet he set his fine white teetf
 and crossed to the man man who squat
 ted on the sand before the fire. "Sir," said the noble one, in level courteous tone," may I ask if you will Sell me a portion of your fooG?"
 "'Taint for sale" growled Joe. as h' filled a coffee pot from a big fat wate
 bottle and set the utensil carefully on hi l fire.
 The Englishman bit his lip and for 1
 time was silent. tapping the beach with
 slender nervous foot. At length he spok
 again:
 ] 'Um-I dare say, then. may use you