The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-12-08

person a load fit for a pack mule.
Jacqueline looked around in bewilder-
ment. The beach lay flooded with
moonlight, but empty of all life.
Where are St. George and the
boat?" she said, wildly. Where are
Mrs. Trevor and Peter and the skip
per-"
Vic regarded her with alarm.
"Oh, miss, I've seen n 10 one! There
isn't a soul about. You must be
dreaming"
They were all here when I fell"
insisted Jacqueline. 1.-THE men were
struggling together, and the skipper
had fired a pistol at Mr.. st. George"
Miss Hatton, dear, I'm afraid
your heads a little queer" said Vic,
socthingly. That was a close call.
II the rock had struck you fair you'd
have been killed complete" She
supported her companion tenderly.
DO you feel able to walk across the
island with me? I know a spot on
Dragons Nose where we can safely
spend the night" .
IT think" answered Jacqueline, II
am quite able"
They rested awhile till her head
was again steady, then Vic spoke anx-
iously:
Say, miss, we ought to be moving!
It amt safe to stay here longer. You
keep close to my heels-Ill help you
what 1 can"
The two turned from the beach and
set their faces toward the opposite
end of the island. Vic led the way,
bearing her heavy load jauntily. BY
struggling paths, made by cattle, the
girls entered on the savage, uninhab-
tied portion of Deadman's. 1t was a
rough tramp. Often treacherous
swamps barred their advance-often
they plunged into gorges, strewn with
the bleached debris Of dead cedars,
and altogether impervious to moon
light. A r%esinous underground, black
and seemingly impenetrable, covered
most Of the ground. Through this
Wv guided her companion slowly
by the slender tracks and the dark
burrows which the sheep had every
where left. Long MOSES hung from
the spruces, and swept their faces,
like bats wings. For a mile or more,
in unbroken silence, the pair went on
and reached at length that extreme
northern point Of the island known
as Dragons Nose.
This was simply a detached portion
of Deadman's, separated from the
main island by a channel, through
which the sea boiled at high tide.
Luckily for the fugitives, the bed of
this passage was now bare.
"We'll go ever on the rocks" said
Vic. Look out you don't slip in the
seaweed, miss"
She picked her way carefully, and
Jacqueline followed. So they came
to what seemed a bank Of rugged
granite, towering high in the moon
light, with fringes of drawfed spruce
and cedar about its base. Bending
down, Vic pushed aside the green
growth and disclosed to J%acqueline
an opening in the rock-the mouth,
in fact, of a natural cave, formed by
two masses Of granite, cloven at the
base, but firmly united at the top.
The entrance was high enough to
admit even Jacqueline's tall figure.
Vic led the way into this unlocked
for refuge and from the numerous
parcels about her person she pro-
duced a candle and lighted 1t.
ANY port in a STORM" she said.
Jacqueline looked and found her
self in a fair-sized room, with rough
flint walls and a floor of dry earth.
Vic drew a breath of relief, and pro-
ceeded to divest herself Of her various
burdens.
1--WE known this cave a good while
back" she said to Jacqueline. "Joe
Raby told me about it when I first
came to the island and afterward I
looked it up myself. Here we must
shelter for tonight. I'll light a fire
now and make you q cup of tea"
Her admirable forethought had
provided we'll for the occasion. She
opened her bundles and shook out a
quantity of soft wool blankets. She
stuck her candle in a tin candlestick
and set it on a rock shelf over JAG
queline's head. Then she brought
in leaves and dry branches from the
outside thickets and lighted a fire.
There's a current of air moving
here" she explained, that sweeps
the smoke to some opening overhead,
so it won't choke us out-Joe Raby
told me that also. Best Of all, on
'tother, side Of the rock a spring OF
fresh water comes up from the cedar
roots. I've got provisions here, and
matches and candles and lots of
things"
To be Continued.