The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1910-07-15


fringe broke the sea line-a suggestion
of foliage-an island or a mirage?
Tantalizing, it lay like shadow, illu-
sive, unattainable as the forgotten
isles" The man staggered to his feet.
His garments were torn. His hair
hung over his brow. He shook his
arms at the island-this phantasy, this
vain, empty vision He regarded it
now as some savage creature might
bone just out of its reach. From his
lips vile words fell-to be suddenly
hushed. Between him and what he
gazed at along the raags of vision an
object on one Of the projecting timbers
caught his eye. 1t was very small, but
it cleaned like spark sprung from
the embers of the dawn.
'The dicky birdv' His dried lips
tried to laugh. EFF it amt the dicky
bird!" 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
me-" 1t gave feeble chirp. We'll.
I'm dashed"' 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 piece Of tobacco.
which he began to chew. At the same
time he eyed the rest Of the contents
half a ships biscuit, some matches
and q mariners thimble. The biscuit
he broke and threw a few crumbs
where the timbers were dry, near the
bird. For long time it looked at the
tiny white morsels, but, finally con-
quering shyness, hoped from it's 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 water vessel
of his shoe, drank many times. ate
few mouthfuls of biscuit and then
| placed the filed receptacle where he
, had thrown the crumbs. AS he did
. 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
t early shafts of day showed him the
2 bird on its perch. 1t had apparently
;. found shelter from the heavy down.
4 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
e he saw brought sudden exclamation
l to his lips. The land certainly seemed
much nearer. Some current was
I sweeping them toward it slowly but
e irresistibly. The Frisco Pet swore
: joyfully. His eyes shone. 81 may do
I him yeti" he muttered. The bird chirp-
g ed He looked at it. Breakfast, eh?'
u he said and tossed a few more crumbs
= near the shoe.
y The second day he brooded a great
= deal. The sharper pangs of hunger
= assailed him, and he grew desperate
ly impatient, the distance to the island
4 decreased so gradually.
Hardly knowing what he did. he
drew forth the last little bit of the
" biscuit, ground it between his teeth
q and greedily swallowed it. The act
a seemed to sober him. He raised his
q big hand to his brow and looked at
IS Dearie. Through the confusion of his
thoughts he felt he had done some
d despicable thing.
"That weren't fair play, were it
9, now?" he said, looking at the bird
a THAT amt like a PAL" he repeated
s. The bird remained silent He fancied
d reproach in it's beadlike eyes. They
j. seemed to bore into him. "And you
lie such a small chap, toow he muttered
II Then he turned his back on the island
r. and with head resting on his elbow
Is uttered no further complaint.
n That second day on the raft seemed
It much longer than the first, the sec
ond night Of infinitely greater duration
e, than the preceding one, but dawn re
n. vealed the island very near-so near
l. indeed, the bird made up its mind t.
t try to reach it. 1t looked at the mar
;" for a moment and then flew away
1t Long he watched 1t, little dark spot
!" now that he could no longer see the
G ruby on its breast. At length 1t was
lost to sight, swallowed up by the
N green blur.
y The small winged creature gone, the
e, man missed it. "'Peared like twas
r glad to leave such PAL" he though,
d regretfully. The floating timbers be
lie came well nigh intolerable. He KEEP
r. asking himself if he could swim t.
r land; but, knowing his weakness from
II long fasting, he curbed his impatience
v His eyes grew tired with staring a
ID the longed for spot. He suffered the
ii torments of Tantalus and finally coulG
to endure them no longer, SO, making his
lie clothes into bundle, he tied then
he around his neck and slipped into the
lie water.
" Half an hour later found him prone
g. and exhausted on the yellow sands
Is Nearby tall and stately trees nodded
u at him. Close at hand great crat
Is regarded him with reflective interest