Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-05-25

ONeT tue Octdu. Fur dWds II uuih fringe broke the sea line-a suggestion of fouage-an island or mirage? Tantalizing. 1t lay like shadow, flu 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 1t 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. It was very small, but 1t gleamed like spark sprung from the embers of the dawn.
 "The dlsky birdr' His dried lips tried to laugh. Eff it ain't the dicky bird" The bird looked at him. "Bf that doesn't beat"- But he could not think what 1t beat" The bird cock ed its head. "Ain't you afeared O luC. IL SdNC ~ 1CCpiC Shu p. w CApt 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 sailors oilskin pouch, one of the few possessions he had been allowed by the police to retain. he took from it q 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 1t looked at the tiny white morsels. but, finally con- quering shyness, hopped 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 a few mouthfuls of biscuit and then placed the filled 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 early shafts of day showed him the bird on its perch. It had apparently found shelter from the heavy down. pour beneath some outjutting timber and seemed no worse for the experi- 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 1t slowly but irresistibly. The Frisco Pet swore joyfully. His eyes shone. "I may do him yetr' 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 a great deal. The sharper bangs 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 at Dearie. Through the confusion of his thoughts he felt he had dOne some despicabie thing.
 ''That weren't fair play, were It now?" he said, looking at the bird "That afn't like pal" he repeated. The bird remained silent. He fancied reproach in it's beadlike eyes. They seemed to bore into him. And you such a 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 ond night of infinitely greater duration than the preceding one, but dawn re- vealed the island very near-so near, indeed. the bird made up it's mind to try to reach it. It looked at the man for moment and then flew away Long he watched it. little dark spot now that he could no longer see the ruby on its breast. At length it was lost to sight, swallowed up by the green blur.
 The small winged creature gone. th' man missed it. "'Peared like twa: glad to leave such a pal" he though respectfully. The floating timbers be came we'll nigh intolerable. He kep asking himself if he could swim t land; but, knowing his weakness iron long fasting, he curbed his impatience
 His eyes grew tired with staring a
 the longed for spot. He suffered tn
 torments of Tantalus and finally coul'
 endure them no longer, so, making hi clothes into bundle, he tied ther around his neck and slipped into tn