Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-08
CHAPTER II-Continued.

CdA116n 44-SOuCluucu
Walking through TIE dry river bed
Rachel rea chcd the island, which was the
last and highest OF line OF similar is
lands that separated from each other by
narrow breadths of water. lay like
chain between the dry donga and the
river. Here she began to gather her
sooseberries. picking the silvery. octag-
onal pods from the green stems on
which they grew. At first she opened
these pods. removing from each the yell
low. subacid berry. thinking that thus
her basket would hold more, but present
II abandoned that plan. as it took too much
time. Also. although the plants were pIen-
ticul enough. in that low and curious
light it was not easy TO see them among
the dense growth of reedy vegetation.
While she was thus engaged she became
aware of low moaning noise and
stirring of the air about her which caused
the leaves and grasses to culver without
bending Then followed an ice-cold wind
that grew in strength until 1t blew Keen
and hard. ruftiing the surface OF the
marshy pools. Still Rachel went on with
her task, for her basket was not more
than half full till presently the heavens
above her began to mutter and to groan
and drops of rain as large as shllllngs
fell upon her back and hands. Now she
understood that il was time for her TO be
going, and started to walk across the
island-for at the moment she was near
its further side--to reach the deep, rocky
river bed or dOnSa
Before ever she came there. with awful
suddenness and inconceivable fury. the
tempest burst. A hurricane of wind tore
down the valley to the sea. and for few
minutes the darkness became SO dense
that she could scarcely stumble forward.
Then there was light. dreadful light:
all the heavens seemed 10 take fire, yes,
and the earth, too: it was as though its
last dreadful catastrophe had fallen on
the world.
Buffeted breathless. Rachel at length
reached the edge of the deep river bed
that may have been fifty yards in width,
and was about to step into it when she
became aware of two things. The first
was seethng. roaring noise so loud
that it seemed to still even the bello wing
of the thunder. and the next. now seen,
now lost, the lightning pulsed and
darkened the figure of youth. white
youth, who had dismounted from horse
that remained near to but above him,
and stood, gun in his hand. upon rock
at the further side of the donga.
He had seen her also and was shouting
to her. of this she was sure. for although
the sound of his voice was lost in the tu-
multi, she could perceive his geStlcula-
tons when the lightning fiared and even
the movement of his lips. Wondering
vaguely what a white boy could be doing
in such a place and very glad at the pros
pect of his company, Rachel began to adj
vance toward him in short rushes when
ever the lightning showed her where to
set her feet She had made two of these
rusheS when from the violence and char
derstood that he was trying TO prevent
her from coming farther. and paused
confused.
Another instant and she knew why
Some hundreds of yards above her the
river bed took turn and suddenly round
this turn. crested with foam, appeared a
wall of water in which trees and car
| casses Of animals were whirled along like
straws. The flood had come down from
the mountains. and was advancing or
her more swiftly than horse could gal
lop. Rachel ran forward a little way
then, understanding she had no time &c
cross stood bewildered, for the fearful
tumult of the elements and the dreadful
roaring of that advancing wall of foam
overwhelmed her senses. The lightnings
play again with tenfold frequency and
force. They struck upon the nearing
torrent. they struck in the dry bed be-
fore it, and eaped upward from the earth
as though Titans and gods were hurting
spears at one another.
In the lurid sheen of them she saw the
lad leap from his rock and rush toward
her. A flash fell and split boulder not
thirty PAGES from him. causing him to
stagger but he recovered himself and rar
on. Now he was quite close, but the
water was closer still. 1t was coming il
tiers or lodges. thin sheet of foam ir
front. then other layers laid upon it. eacl
of them a few yards behind its fellow
On the top ledge In It's very crest. was q
bull buffalo. dead. but held head on and
down as though it were charging. ant
Rachel thought vaguely that from the di
| rection In which it came in few mo-
ments it's horns would strike her An
other second and an arm was about hel
waist-she noted how white ii was where
the sleeve was rolled up dead white ir
the lightnng-and she was being dragged
toward the shore that she had left. The
first film of waters struck her and nearly
washed her from her feet. but she was
strong and active. and the touch of tina,
arm seemed to have given her back hel
wits. so she regained them and splasheo
forward Now the next tier took them
both above the knees. but for moment
Swallowed. so that they did not fall. The
high bank was scarce five yards away
and the wall of waters perhaps score.
Together for life and DEATH said an
English voice in her ear. and the shout OF
1t only reached her in a whisper.
The boy and the girl leaped forward like
bucks. They reached the bank and strug-
gled up it. The hungry waters sprang al
them like living thing. graspins theil
feet and legs as though with hands; a
STICK as II WnlTleu Dy StTuck ire TAU ol
the shoulder. and where ii struck the
clothes were rent away and red blood APP
peared. Almost he fell. but this time i,
was Rachel who supported him. Then
one more struggle and they rolled eX'
hauSted on the ground, just clear of the
lip of the racing flood.
Thus through tempest. threatened by
the waters of death from which he
snatched her. and companioned by heav-
| ems lightninss. did Richard Darrien come
| into the life of Rachel Dove
Presently. having recovered their breath
| they sat up and looked at each other by
| lightning light. which was all there was
He was a handsome lad of about seven
| teen. though short for his years: sturdy
| I'm build, very fair-skinned and. curiously
| enough. with a singular resemblance &c
Rachel, except that his hair was j few
| shades darker than hers. They had the
same clear gray eyes and the same Well
! cut features: indeed seen together, mos
people would have thought them brother
and sister and remarked upon their fam
ily likeness. Rachel spoke the first.
who are you she shouted into his cal
in one of the intervals of darkness, 'ant
why did you come here?'
! My name is Richard Darrien. he an
| swered at the top of his voice. and
don't know why l came. | suppose some
thing sent me to save YOU
| Yes she replied. with conviction
| something sent YOU. If you had moi
| come | should be dead now shouldn't L
| In glory, my father says.
Il don't know about glory. u" what Il
/ is he remarked. after thinking this say
| ing over but YOU would have been roll
| ing out to sea in the flood water. lik.
| that buffalo with not a whole bone il
you. which isn't my idea of glory