The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-08
!" w nat Is lty"


Wild man that we brought ashore to-
day."
Well"
He said he wanted to swim to the
shore and did not want to be fol.
lowed"
why didn't you stop him?"
Il did try, sir, but he picked me up
as If l had been baby and threw me
aside and went overheard"
The officer was In a quandary. He
had received no orders to prevent the
man from going out of the Ship He
was not quite sure what his duty was.
At any rate. he turned to the boat
SWANS mate and babe him call away
crew for the cutter swinging astern.
He directed the coxswain to bring the
boat to the gangway and then sent the
midshipman of the watch below to re,
port the matter to the captain and ask
his orders.
Capt. Ashby, as it happened, was
awake. He came on deck Immediately
In his pajamas and received confirma-
ton Of the midshipman's extraordinary
story from the watch officer 1t was
Acer with the chaplain and the sur
geon who had been summoned from
their berths in consultation with the
captain. BY Mr.. Whittaker's advice,
he and the chaplain were Immediately
sent ashore to see what had happened
and what was to be done.
There was considerable anxiety in
the minds Of the quartet who had
been dealing with the affair heretofore
as to what conditions might be. They
did not know the man. They did not
know what he might be doing, or to
what danger the woman, whom they
all pitied most profoundly. might be
exposed. OF all with whom he had
come in contact. the lieutenant COM
mander and the chaplain were those
who would have the most influence
over the man Of the island, hence they
were dispatched to the island.
Another boat crew was therefore
called away and the two gentlemen
were rowed ashore. 1t was not yet
sunrise but still sufficiently light to
enable them to proceed. They were
at loss at first what to do, for they
had not yet had opportunity for ex-
ploring the island. They had learned
that the cave in which the woman
dwelt was upon the other side and
that hills rose between the landing
place and her abode. They knew, of
course. that they could get to 1t by
following the shores of the island, but
they had a reasonably accurate idea
OF its size and they knew that that
would take great deal of time. Time
was precious. They were becoming
more and more fearful with every mo.
ment.
They decided, therefore, to chance
a direct march over the hill and across
the island. BY great good fortune they
stumbled into the path which was
now sufficiently defined in the grow.
ing light to enable them to follow it.
They climbed the hill as rapidly as
was consistent with the strength OF
the chaplain, who was a rather old
man, and then having reached the TOP
went down the other side almost at a
run.
AS they broke out from under the
palm trees, they saw a dark object in
the gray dawn lying upon the sands
at the waters edge. 1t was a human
being undoubtedly. AS they ran to
ward it with quickening heart beats
they recognized it as the man. He
was lying motionless as If he had been
struck dead. In brief space they
reached him. The lieutenant-com
mander knelt down by his side and
turned him over upon his back. He
was as senseless as IL he had been
smitten with thunder bolt
rs he alive?" asked the chaplain
bending over him.
Mr.. Whittaker's hand searched his
heart.
1T beats feebly," he said. "He
seems to have tainted, collapsed IL
some strange way. wish We hat
brought the surgeon. wonder what
can be the cause of it?'
Look" said the chaplain.
He pointed to little heap Of some
thing dark on the sands a foot or two
away.
What is IT." asked the officer.
The chaplain stepped over to 1t.
1T is the clothes of the woman" HI
said in an awe-struck voice, "and tina
Bible We were to take away with III
with the other things but which sh,
said she would give us in the morn
ing"
Great heaven" exclaimed Mr.
Whitaker, you don't think"
At the same instant the sam,
thought had como to both men.
1T looks like it." said the chaplain
with bated breath. Poor woman
may God help her!"
THAT is what IL the matter will
him." returned the lieutenantcom
mander. He has sought her in hel
cave and has not found her. He hal
discovered these things and he know,
that she 10 soAs. The shock has a
most killed him"
what II to be dsae new"
Here the man Of action interposeA
DO you watch By hin. chaplain.
said the lieuten ant-commandar rising