Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-25

fringe broke the sea Inca suggestion
Of foliage--an island or mirage
Tantalizing, It lay IKE a shadow. illu
sive, unattainable as the "forgotter
isles" The man staggered to his feet
| his garments were torn. His hlll
hung over his brow. He shook bis
arms at the island-this phantasy. this
vain, empty vision. He regarded II
now as some savage creature might a
bone just out Of its reach. From his
lips vile words fell-to be suddenly
hushed. Between him and what be
gazed at along the range Of vision an
object on one of the projecting timbers
caught his eye 1t was very small, but
# cleaned like spark sprung from
the embers of the dawn.
"The dicky birdr' His dried lips
tried to laugh. "Ef It amt the dicky
birdp The bird looked at him. "Ef
that doesn't beat But he could not
think what it beat" The bird cock
ed its head. "Ain't you afeared o.
mel" 1t gave a feeble chirp. 'Well.
I'm dashedv' said the man and after
this mild expression Of his feelings
forgot to curse again.
Toward noon the man began TO suf-
fer more acutely from thirst, and.
drawing out a sailors oilskin pouch
one Of the few possessions he had
been allowed by the police to retain
he took from It a piece Of tobacco,
which he began to chew. At the same
time he eyed the rest Of the contents
half ships biscuit, some matches
and mariners thimble. The biscuit
he broke and threw few crumbs
where the timbers were dry, near the
bird. For a long time 1t looked at the
tiny white morsels, but, finally con-
quering shyness, hoped from its perch
and tentatively approached the ban
quet Hours went by The man
chewed and the bird pecked.
That night it rained in real. tropical
earnest, and he made a water vessel
of his shoe, drank many times, ate a
few mouthfuls of biscuit and then
placed the filled receptacle where he
so he found himself. wondering If the
dawn would reveal his little feathered
shipmate or whether it had been swept
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 81 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 n great
deal. The sharper pangs of hunger
assalled 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 at
Dearie Through the confusion of his
thoughts he felt he had done some
thing.
"That weren't fair play, were ii
now?" he said. looking at the bird
THAT amt like a pal" he repeated
The bird remained silent He f0ucieu |
reproach in its beadlille eyes. They
seemed TO bore into him. And you
such II small chap too" he muttered
Then he 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
md night OF infinitely greater duration
han the preceding one. but dawn re |
1ealed the island very near-so near,
indeed, the bird made up its mind TO
ry TO reach It, II looked at the man
'or moment and then tlew away
long he watched It, Il little dark spot
low that he could no longer see the
'uby on It's breast At length it was
ost to sight, swallowed up by the
,reen blur.
The small winged creature gone, the
nan missed II. "'Peared like twas
Had to leave such n pal" he thought
The floating timbers be-
anne well nigh lntolerable. He kept
Isking himself II he could swim to
and; but, knowing his, weakness from
ong fasting, he curbed his impatience.
lis eyes grew tired with staring at
he longed FOR spot. He suffered the
of Tantalus and finally could
ndure them no longer, so, making his
lothes into bundle, he tied them
round his neck and slipped into the
water
Half an hour later found him prone
nd exhausted on the yellow sands.
Searby tall and stately trees nodded
{ him. Close az hand a great crab
egarded him with reflective interest,
between prudence and car
Iiyorous desire, Guttonous inclina-
lon 10 sample the goods the gods had
a