The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-07
CHAPTER XVIII.

Days followed; many tedious
some eventful. Once Hazel res.
cued her from a huge snake that
threatened her life, and she was
i'll a week from the shock.
Scarcely had she recovered
when their great disaster came-a
terrific storm, that blew her tiny
house to bits. They barely escaped
death from failing trees. It was
frightful night, which nearly
wrecked the nerves of both.
Il n1St find a more substantial
habitation for you," said Hazel, the
next morning. He thought deeply
How would you like Cavern
he asked.
"A cavern!" cried Helen. at has
! always been the dream of my life
to live in cavern"
Hazel frightened up. But the
tnext moment he clouded again
But forgot. 1t will not do; there
is spring running right through
it.; 1t comes down nearly perpen.
dicular through a channel it has
bored or enlarged; and splashes on
the floor"
How convenient" said Helen
Nov l shall have a bath in my
room, instead of having to go miles
for 1t. BY the way, now you have
invented the shower bath, please
discover soap. Not that one really
wants any in this island; for there
is no dust. and the very air seems
purifying, but who can shake off
the prejudices Of early education? ?"
Hazel said, Now I'll laugh as
much as you like, when once this
care Is off my mind"
He ran off to the cavern, which
he had discovered some time be-
fore, and found it spacious and
safe; but the spring was falling in
great force, and the roof Of the
cave glistened with moisture. 1t
looked hopeless case. But If
necessity is the mother of inven-
ton, surely love Is the father. He
mounted to the rock above, and
found the spot where the spring
suddenly descended into the earth
with the loudest gurgle he had
ever heard, girgle of defiance.
Nothing was to be done there.
But he traced it upward little
way and found place where it
ran beside a deep decline. aha,
my friend!" said he. He got his
spade and with some hours of hard
work dug it fresh channel, and
carried it away entirely from its
course. He returned to the cavern.
Water was dripping very fast; but,
on looking up, he could see the
light of day twinkling at the top
OF the spiral watercourse he had
robbed of its supply.
Then he conceived a truly orig
inal idea; why not turn his empty
watercourse into a chimney, and so
give to one element what he had
taken from another? He had no
time to execute this just then, for
the tide was coming in, and he
could not afford to lose any one of
those dead animals. So he left the
funnel to drip.
That evening Hazel lighted a
bonfire in the cavern, and had the
satisfaction of seeing some OF the
smoke issue above. But he would
not let Miss Rolleston occupy 1t
yet. He shifted her things to the
boat and slept in the cave himself.
However, he lost no time In laying
| down a great hearth, and built a
fireplace and chimney in the vace.
The chimney went up to the hole
in the arch of the cave; then came
the stone funnel, stolen from ma
ture; and above, on the upper sur
| face of the cliff, came the chimney
pot. Thus the chimney acted like
a German stove; 1t stood In the
center and soon made the cavern
very dry and warm and a fine re.
treat during the rains.
Day glided by after day. and
week after week, in vigorous occu
pations, frightened by social inter
course, and In some degree by the
beauty and the friendship of the
animals. or all this industry we
can only afford a brief summary
Hazel fixed two uprights at each
side OF the cavern's mouth, and
connected each pair by a beam,o,,
netting laid on these and covered
with gigantic leaves from the pros
trate palms made sufficient root
In this sheltered spot. On this ter
race they could sit even in the rain
and view the sea. Helen cooked
In the cave, but served dinner vi
on this beautiful terrace. He go'
hogshead OF oil from dead sea
lion, and so the cave was always
lighted now and that was great
comfort and gave them more
hours OF indoor employment and
conversation. or the same OF.
boiled down and mixed with wood
ashes, he made soap, to Helen's
great delight.
Helen cooked and washed and
manufactured salt and collected a
store of wild cotton. though II grew
very sparingly and 1t cost her
hours to find few pods. But In
hunting for II she found other
things-health for one.
Relieved of other immediate
cares. Hazel's mind had time To
dwell upon the problem Helen had