St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-05-18

hatred that had blinded him to all
save the realization of his inability t
wreak vengeance. Now, though he
managed to reach the edge of the
Swaying mass from which the line
dangled, he was too weak to draw
himself up on the floating timbers.
But he did pass a loop beneath his
arms, and thus sustained he waited
for his strength to return. Finally, his
mind in a daze, the convict clambered,
after repeated efforts, upon the wreck
age, fastened the line about him again,
and, falling into a saucer-ike hollow.
he sank into Inconsistencies
The night wore on. He did not move.
The sea began to subside. Still he lay
as il dead Dawn's rosy lips kissed
away the black shadows, touched ten
DERBY the waves tops, and at length
the man stirred. He tried to sit up,
but at first could not. Finally he rails
ed himself and looked about him.
No other sign of the vessel than that
part Of it which had served him so
well could he see This fragment
seemed rent from the bow. Yes, there
was the yellow wooden mermaid bob
bling to the waves. but not as of old.
Poor castout trollop! Now the seas
made sport of her who once had held
her head so high!
The convict continued to gaze out
over the ocean. Far away a dark
fringe broke the sea Ene-a suggestion
of foliage-an island or a mirage?
Tantalizing, it lay like a 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 a
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 range of vision an
object on one Of the projecting timbers
caught his eye. 1t was very small, but
1t cleaned like a spark sprung from
the embers of the dawn.
"The dicky birdr' His dried lips
tried to laugh. EFF it amt the dicky
birdp' The bird looked at him. EFF
that doesn't beat But he could not
think what it beat" The bird cock
ed its head. "Ain't you afeared O.
me?" It gave feeble chirp. well,
I'm dashedr' 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 a ships biscuit, some matches
and a 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 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
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
Ehipmate 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
joyfulIy. His eyes shone. 81 may do
him yetv he muttered. The bird chirp-
ed. He looked at it. Breakfast, eh?'
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 it 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
despicable thing.
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