The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-16
CHAPTER VII.
SURPRISES.


before night closed their third day
on the island jerks managed TO con-
struct roomy PENTHOUSE, with a
framework OF sturdy trees selected or
account of their location. To these he
naiied or tied crossbeams of felled sap
tihgs; and the tarpaulins dragged from
me beach supplied roof and walls. Ii
required the united strength of Iris and
himself to haul into position the heavy
theet that topped the structure. whilst
u was compelled 10 desist from active
pNslng operations in order to fashion
rough ladder. Without some such
continuance he could not get the top
most supports adjusted at a sufficient
Although the edifice required at least
Two more days of hard work before il
would be fit for habitation Iris wished
to take up her quarters there immedi-
ately. This the sailor would not hear
of.
n'the cave" he said. you are alb
soiutely sheltered from all the Winds
That blow or rain that falls Our villa,
however, is painfully leaky and
draughty at present. When asleep, the
whole body is relaxed, and you are
then most open to the attacks of cold
or fever, in which case, Miss Deane, I
shall be reluctantly Obliged to dose you
with connection of that tree there -
He pointed to a neighboring Gin
chona. and Iris naturally asked why he
selected that particular brand
Because 1t is quinine, not made up
IN nice little tabloids, but au naturel
1t will not be a bad plan if we prepare
a strong infusion. and take a small
quantity every morning on the excel
lent principle that prevention is better
than cure"
The girl laughed.
nGood gracious! she said; that re-
Hllds me-"
But the words died away on her lips
in sudden fright. They were standing
on the level plateau in front of the
cave, well removed from the trees, and
they could see distinctly on all sides
Tor the pn was sinking i'm a cloudIess
sky and the air was preternaturany
clear, being free now from the tremu-
lous haze of the hot hours
Across the smooth expanse of sandy
ground came the agonized shrieks of a
startled bird-a large bird, it would
seem-Winging its way towards them
with Incredible swiftness, and uttering
a succession of loud full-Voiced notes
of alarm.
Yet the strange thing was that not
oird was To be seen. At that hour the
ordinary feathered inhabitants of the
island were quietly nesting amone, the
branches preparatory to making a final
selection of the nights resting place.
None Of them would stir unless actual
ly disturbed
Iris drew near 70 the sailor. Involun-
tarfly she caught his arm He stepped
half-pace in front of her to ward off
any danger that might be heralded by
this new and uneanny phenomenon.
Together they strained their ewes in
the direction of the approaching sound.
but apparently their sight was be-
wltfEed, as nothing whatever was Wis
ND ns.+ :. !, o. 49,,
now chung to jerks in a state of great
apprehension.
The clucking noise came nearer.
passed them within a yard, and was
already some distance away towards
the reef when the sailor burst into a
hearty laugh, none the less genuine be-
cause of the relief it gave to his be-
wildered senses.
Reassured, but still white with fear
Iris cried: DO Speak. please. Mr..
jerks. What was it?''
"A beetle" he managed to gasp.
"A beetIe?'
Yes, small nsignificant-looking
AtiAONs tbO-SO Sllidil lIldL ulQ not see
him until he was almost out of range
He has the 1Oudest voice for his size
in the whole of creation. A man able
10 shout on the same scale could easily
make himself heard for twenty miles"
Then l do not like such beetles; l
always hated them, but this latest va
Fiety is positively detestable. Such
nasty things ought to be kept in zoo
logical gardens, and not turned loose.
Moreover. my tea will be boiled into
spinach"
Nevertheless. the tea. although
min1s sugar or milk, was grateful
enough 10 the sailor, who enter
tanned Iris with a disquisitiOn on
the many virtues of that marvellous
beverage. Curiously enough, the lift
ing of the veil upon the mans earlier
history made these two much better
friends. With more complete acquaint-
ance there was far less tendency to-
wards certain passages which, under
ordinary conditions. could be construed