Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-23

voice. It's some kind of fever. I'm
so thirsty
l picked up the can that was lying out
side and ran off for some water.
Shall / put it round the corner?" l
asked.
Il can't stand" she said, with groan
So went in.
She was lying on the sail I'd thrown
over to her. and her teeth were chatter
ing as with the ague, but she tried to
laugh.
"A bit hard. those stones" I suggested;
and she gave a great sigh.
They make me ache. she owned.
So l fetched lot of grass, and rolled
up my coat Il didn't want it, having a jer
sey) for a pillow, and lifted her onto it,
covering her up with the sail. Then
boiled her an egg, but she only ate half
of it. The next time she wouldn't eat
any, and / couldn't get her to touch any
thing else, although she kept drinking
water.
IF only I could have some milk she
was always saying. There was such
lot aboard" She meant the timed stuff.
Well | said, there might be some
in the bows now. Perhaps 1 could float
out with plank, when the tides going
that way and back again when it turns
NO, no. she cried. Don't leave me.
Don't leave me! Those horrid little COB
Inns will take me if you do She was
light-headed, off and on. and l had to sit
beside her and pretend that l kept the
COLLINS off.
She got worse and worse. and at last
she was SO bad that she only moaned and
anything but water. She kept clutching
as if she wanted to hold something, apd l
had to give her my hand to quiet her.
Then she went off into a stupor, and
thought the end was coming. didn't be-
lieve it was the fever that was killing her
as much as having nothing she could take
except water, and at last l made up my
mind that I'd try to get her some milk
from the ship.
I'd noticed the tide set that way when
it was going out So, about an hour be-
fore the turn, I took plank and floated
with it, swimming and guiding it as we'll
as l could, though I wasn't much of
swimmer. 1t was slack water by the reef
and l managed to steer into little cove
and climb up the rock. from which
could jump on the side of the old ship, as
it lay over and crawl in through a port
hole. Then slid and clambered about the
inside until l reached the galley, and the
hunks and lockers in the forecastle Here
] found lot of things. / tied up several
bundles of clothes, blankets and other
articles. flashing them to spars and boxes,
and threw them over thinking some OF
them might chance to float ashore. The
milk | put in boxes, with some tools. and
then fixed up grating with planks. To
this | fastened the boxes and some more
blankets, and let the whole thing like
raft into the water with a rope. l then
slid down the rope, cut 1t with my
knife. and foated off. 1t seemed as if |
was going to miss the island altogether:
but for rowlocks | stuck two marlin spikes
through the grating and sculled with an
oar I'd taken; and, after going backward
and forward with the contrary currents
about two hours, I drifted into a useful
one: and al last l reached the island. just
at the corner and ran ashore. Then l
walked knee-deep III the water, towing the
raft, till ] was opposite the cave, and
hauled it up on the beach there.
| opened Il tin of milk, mixing it with
water, and gave her spoonful ia taken
d spoon. Then ! gave her some brandy
that I'd found aboard; and afterWard COW
cred her up with blankets that she
would get hot and sweat out the fever
She breathed harder, and | hoped she'd
be all right; but | fell asleep unawares,
being dogtired: and when ] woke she
lying with her eyes open, booking at me.
She said. I'm going to get better" and
| said Thank Cod And she said,
Yes and smiled and went to sleep
When she awoke | gave her more milk
and water, and when she'd finished it she
looked surprised and asked me where it
came from, so l told her about my trip to
the wreck She lay staring at me with
her eyes looking big in her pale face.
If you hadn't reached the island
again. she said. with d shudder.
YOU'D have been no worse off than if
hadn't gone l explained
oh" she cried 81 wasn't thinking Of
myself. I was thinking that you risked
your life for me- She held out her hand
and | shook it. Il wish we were-the
same side of the line she said, and I
felt if I'd been dOused with cold water.
"Ah" | said. THE line-I know I'm a
rough sort of chap. and not fit company
for the likes of you; but you needn't be
afraid of me-"
I'm not frightened" she told me- Il
think you are good and brave and honor
able. l know you are. Only-I wish there
wasn't any line
You can rub it out with your foot" /
said with a laugh.
No" she said, with choke and little
shake of her head. Il can't. 1t is you
who must remove the line" But l SHOOK
my head
No, missile | contradicted You set
it between u.s. and you must take it away.
If you don't, | stay on my own side, once
you're well and strong: but till you are
I'm going to look after you
She put her hands behind her head and
lay there and laughed.
Il shall take my time getting we'll" she
declared Il like being looked after"
and | erinned-
quite we'll and we'd have another walk
after tea 1t was bright moonlight as we
walked along the beach: and when we
came to the line, stopped, looking down
at 1t.
The line that separates me from good
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