, 1910-03-24
AzH0ZRAHoHS BY n.y. ETeS

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the gangway, cropped him careiess,v
upon the deck and had flashed through
the air into the water.
BY the time Mr.. Hopkins reached
h gangway the half-dazed marine
had risen to his feet.
What is it?"
Why, it's the castaway, sir, the
wild man that we brought ashore to-
day"
We'll"
H said he wanted to swim to the
shore and did not want to be fol.
lowed"
why didn't you stop him?"
Il ala try, Sir, but he picked me up
as II l had been a baby and threw me
aside and went overheard"
The officer was in a quandary. He
had received no orders to prevent the
man from going out of the ship. He
was not quite sure what his duty was.
At any rate, he turned to the boat
swain's mate and babe him call away
a crew for the cutter swinging astern
He directed the coxswain to bring the
boat to the gangway and then sent the
midshipman of the watch below to re-
port the matter to the captain and ask
his orders.
Capt. Ashby. as 1t happened. was
awake. He came on deck Immediately
In his pajamas and received confirma.
ton OF the midshipman's extraordinary
story from the watch officer. 1t was
light erorgi row for the waters and
the shore cl,9.iy 20 b, seen. The cap.
tain stared over the side. He could
make out the mans head swimming
through the opening in the barrier.
He could see the splash that he made
In his rapid progress through the
quiet seas.
"Mr. Hopkins" he said, after a mo-
ment's thought. tell Mr.. Cady-the
midshipman of the watch-to take the
boat and follow after. If the man gets
safely to the shore. they are not to dis
turb, him but to come back and report
to me. II. on the contrary, he needs
help, they are to take him aboard and
bring him back to the ship"
So Il time was lost in these vari-
u maneuvers, however, that when
the order was carried out III boat
had scarcely reached the entrance to
the barrier when they saw the islander
stepping through the shallow waters
to the beach. There was, therefore,
nothing for Mr.. Cady to do but come
back and report the matter to the cap
tain. When he reached the deck of
the cruiser he found the executive Of
hcer with the chaplain Inc the sur
geon who had been summoned from
their berths In consultation with the
captain. By Mr.. Whittaker's advice,
he and the chaplain were Immediately
sent ashore to see what had happened
and what was to be done.
There was considerable anxiety in
the minds of the quartet who had
been dealing with the affair heretofore
as to what conditions might be. They
did not know the man. They did not
know what he might be doing, or to
what danger the woman. whom they
all pitied most profoundly, might be
exposed. OF all with whom he had
come in contact. the lieutenant COM
mander and the chaplain were those
who would have the most influence
over the man of the island, hence they
were dispatched to the island.
Another boat crew was therefore
called away and the two gentlemen
were rowed ashore. 1t was not yet
sunrise but still sufficiently light to
enable them to proceed. They we're
at a loss at first what to do, for they
had not yet had opportunity for ex-
ploring the island. They had learned
that the cave In which the oma
dwelt was upon the other side and
that hills rose between the landing
place and her abode. They knew, of
course, that they could get to 1t by
following the shores of the island, blu
they had a reasonably accurate idea
Of its size and they knew that that
would take a great deal of time. Time
was precious. They YER becoming
more and more fearful with every mo-
ment.
They decided. therefore. to chance
a direct march over the hill and across
the island. BY great good fortune they
stumbled into the path which was
now sufficiently defined in the grow
ing light to enable them to follow 1t.
They climbed the hill al rapidly as
was consistent with the strength of
the chaplain. who was a rather old
man, and then having reached the top
went down the other side almost at a
rum.
AS they broke out from under the
palm trees. they saw q dark object in
the gray dawn lying upon the sands
at the waters edge. 1t was a human
being undoubtedly. As they ran to-
ward 1t with q~uickening heart beats
they recognized 1t as the man. He
was lying motionless as II he had been
struck dead. In a brief space they
reached him. The lie~utenant-com-
mander knelt down by his side and
turned him over unnn his back. He