Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-15

where the tllltttiS were uFN, near the
bird. For Il long time it looked ut the
tiny white morsels. but, finally con-
Gucring shyness. hoped from It's perch
ana tentatively approached the ban
quct Hours went by. The man
chewcl and the bird pccked.
That night II rained in real, tropical
earnest, and lie made 4 water vessel
Of his shoe drank many times. ate Il
few mouthfulS Of biscuit and then
placed the filed receptacle where he
had thrown the crumbs. AZ he did
50 he found himself wondering II the
dawn would reveal his little feathered
away by the violence of the rain. The
early shafts of day showed him the
bird on its perch. 1t had apparently
found shelter from the heavy down.
pour beneath some outjutting timber
and seemed no worse for the expert
ence. The mans second glance was
in the direction Of the island. What
he saw brought sudden exclamation
TO his lips. The land certainly seemed
much nearer. Some current was
sweeping them toward it slowly but
irresistibly The Frisco Pet swore
joyfully. His eyes shone. Il may do
him yet" he muttered. The bird chirp-
ed. He looked at it. breakfast, ehY
he said and tossed few more crumbs
near the shoe.
The second day he brooded great
deal. The sharper pangs Of hunger
assailed him. and he grew desperate
ly impatient, the distance to the island
decreased so gradually.
Hardly knowing what he did, he
drew forth the last little bit Of the
biscuit, ground 1t between his teeth
and greedily swallowed it. The act
seemed to sober him. He raised his
big hand to his brow and looked ut
Dearie. Through the confusion Of his
thoughts he felt he had done some
despicable thing.
'"That weren't fair play, were II
now?" he said, looking ut the bird.
THAT amt like pal" he repeated.
The bird remained silent. He fancied
reproach in its beadlike eyes. They
seemed to bore into him. And you
such Il small chap. tOOw he muttered
Then lie turned his back on the island
and with head resting on his elbow
uttered no further complaint.
That second day on the raft seemed
much longer than the first, the sec
ond night Of infinitely greater duration
than the preceding one, but dawn re-
vealcd the island very near-so near.
indeed. the bird made up its mind to
try to reach 1t. 1t looked at the man
for moment and then flew away.
Long he watched 1t. little dark spot,
now that he could no longer see the
ruby on its breast. At length 1t was
lost to sight, swallowed up by the
green blur.
The small winged creature gone, the
man missed 1t. "'Peared like twas
glad to leave such a pal" he thought
regretfully. The floating timbers be-
came well nigh intOlerable He kept
asking himself IL he could swim to
land; but, knowing his weakness from
long fasting. he curbed his impatience
His eyes grew tired with staring at
the longed for spot. lie suffered the
tormcnts of Tantalus and finally could
endure them no longer. SO. making his
clothes into q bundle, he tied them
around his neck and slipped into the
water.
Half an hour later found him prone
and exhausted ON the yellow sands
Nearby tall and stately trees nodded
at him. Close at hand great crab
regarded him with reflective interest,
hesitating between prudence and car
nivorous desire. Gluttonous inclina-
ton to sample the goods the gods had
provided prevailed over caution. 1t
moved quickly forward, when what 1t
had considered only an unexpected
and welcome piece de resistance abb
ruptly got up. The tables were turn
ed. That which came to dine was
dined upon. A crushing blow demon
strated the law Of the survival of the
fittest. The weaker adorned the board.
The man tore 1t to bits-ate 1t like the
famished animal he was.
Fora week nothing of moment in
terrupted the even tenor Of his ex-
istence. He led the life Of a savage
and found 1t to his liking. pounced
upon turtles and cooked them. kept
his fire going because he had but few
matches. One day a box was washed
ashore. a message from tho civilized
centers to the field Of primitive man!
On its cover were the words, Via
Sailing Vessel Lord Nelson" followed
by the address. The convict pried the
boards apart and gave a shout. Rum.
and plenty Of it--bottle after bottle
In IN overcoat Of straw, nesting low
ingiy one upon another! The man
licked his lips, knocked OF a neck,
drank deep. and then. stopping many
times. carried his treasure to his bow
er.
Day after day turned Its page, merg-
ed into the past; sometimes, perforce.
he got up, and, not q pleasant thing
to look at. staggered to the beach
with his club. There he would STAY
some crawling thing from the sea.
return with his prize to mingle eating
with drinking until, stated with both,
he would fall back unconscious among
the flowers. But the prolonged in
diligence began to have a marked ef-
feet on his store. Bottle after bottle
was tossed of. the empty shells flung
aside to the daisies. At length the
day came when only two bottles re-
NAMED In the case. one full pair, sole
survivors Of the lot. The man took
them out set them up and regarded
them: a sense Of impending disaster,
Of imminent tragedy, shivered through
his dulled consciousness. He reached
for the bottles and fondled them.
started to knock the head from one
and put 1t down. Resisting desire, he
told himself he would have a look ut
the beach: the ocean had generously
cast one box Of well primed bottles at
his feet; perhaps 1t would repeat its
hOSnita hIo octinN op6 r,oko hin, 1uco