The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-16

And die of the cold or be struck by lightning. Of course I knew you weren't dirty really. Is there any placer
 She nodded. mollified
 .I think know one. Come. and she stretched out her hand.
 He took it. and thus hand in hand they made their way to the highest point of the island where the trees grew. for here the rocks piled up to- gether made kind of cave in which Rachel and her mother had sat for g little while when they visited the place As they groped their way towards il the lightning blazed out and they saw a great jagged flash, strike the tallesi tree and shatter it. causing some wild beast that had sheltered there to rusI past them snortfnR.
 That doesn't look very safe,' said Richard. halting. .'but come on, il isp't likely to hit the same spot twice
 f'Hadn't you better leave your gun,' : she suggested. for all this while thai weapon had been slung to his back and she knew that lightning has an affin- ity for iron.
 Certainly not,n he answered, Cit is new one which my father gave me and won't be parted from it.''
 Then they went on and reached the little cave just as the rain broke over tucHl III SdfII6SL. AS IL CndnCeQ Ine place was dry. being so situated thai all water ran away from it. They crouched in < shiver1ng. trying to cov- CT themselves with dead sticks and brrshwood that had lodged here in the wet season when the whole island was under water.
 Tt would be nice enough if only we had a fire" said Rachel, her teeth chattering as she spoke.
 The lad Richard thought a while. Then he opened a leather case that hung on his rifle sling and took from 1t a powder flask and flint and steel and some finder. Pouring little pow der on the damp finder. he struck the flint until at length a spark caught caught also. though reluctantly. anu while Rachel blew on it. he felt round for dead leaves and little sticks. some of which were coaxed into flame
 After this things were easy since fuel lay about in abundance. so that soon they had a splendid fire burning in the mouth of the cave. whence the smoke escaped. Now they were able to warm and dry themselves. and as the heat entered into their chilled bodies their spirits rose. Indeed the contrast be- tween this snug hiding place and blaz- ing fire of drift wood and the roaring tempest without. conduced to cheerful ness in young people who had just narrowly escaped from. downing.
 1T am so hungry" said Rachel. pres entity.
 Again Richard began to search, and this time produced from the pocket of his coat a long and thick strip of sun dried meat,
 Gan you, eat biltong?, he asked.
 tsOf course" she answered eagerly.
 Then you must cut it up.'' he said. giving her the meat and his knife. ssMy arm hurts me. can't.''
 "Ohp' she exclaimed. "how selfish am. I forgot about that stick strik- ing you. Let me see the place.
 He took off his coat and knelt down while she stood over him and examin- ed his wound by the light of the fire, to find that the left upper arm was bruised. torn and bleeding. As it will be remembered that Rachel had no handkerchief. she asked Richard for his. which she soaked in a, pool of rain water just outside the cave. Then, having washed the hurt thoroughly, she banged his arm with the hand kerchief and bade him put on his coat again. saying confidently that he would be we'll in a few days.
 You are clever. he. remarked, with admiration. "Who taught you to band age wounds?"
 My father always doctors the Kaf- frs and help him." Rachel answered, as. having stretched out her hands for the pouring rain to wash them. she took the biltong and began to cut it in thin slices.
 These she made him eat before she touched any herself. for she saw that the loss of blood had weakened him. Indeed her own meal was a light one, since half the strip of meat must, she declared. be put aside in case they should not be able to get off the island. Then he saw why she had made him eat first and was very angry with him self and her. but she only laughed at him and answered that she had learn ed from the Kaffirs that men must be fed before women as they were more important in the world.
 ''You mean more selfish 7 he answer ed. contemplating this wise little maid and her tiny portion of biltong, which pretend that ersappetite was already satisfied with it's superabundance. Then he fell to imploring her to take the rest. sayin9 that he would be able to shoot some game in the morning, but she only shook her little head and set her lips obstinately.
 Are you a hunter?" she asked. to change the subject.
 tsYes" he answered with pride. "that is, almost. At any rate have shot eland, and an elephant but no lions yet was following the spoor of a lion just now. but it got up between the rocks and bo1ted away before could shoot I think that it must have been after you.''
 .sPerhaps.' said Rachel. There are some about here: I have heard them roaring at night"
 .aThen.', he went on. while I was staring at you running across this island, I heard the sound of the water and saw it rushing down the donga, and saw, too, that you must be drown ed. and-you know the rest"
 'tYes. know the rest.'' she said, looking at him with shining eyes. You risked your life to save mine. and therefore, she added with quiet con viction .'it belongs to you.'
 He stared at her and remarked simply:
 .I wish it did. This morning wish ed to kill a lion with my new roer," and he pointed to the heavy gun at his side. above anything else: but to- night wish that your life belonged to me-above anything else"
 Their eyes met. and child though she was. Rachel saw something in those of Richard that caused her to turn her head. H
 s'Where are you going?' she asked. quickly.
 Back to my fathers farm in Graaf- Reinet. to sell the ivory There are three. others besides my father-two Boers and one Englishman."
 "And I am going to Natal. where you