The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-05-13

py Dullet ana dropped across the
thwarts. ! thought he was deadw
dead or alive. he Is better off than
we," said De Sylvia. He questioned
Marcel again briefly. "There can be
no doubt that the man In the boat cast
of the lashings when he found that
the ship was sinking" he continued
In English. marcel saw him doing
that and wondered why he was alone.
At any rate. IL he is carried beyond
the reef he has fighting chance We
have none"
"Why not? Are these men on the
island so deaf to human sympathies
that they would murder all of us in
cold blood:"
The girls sweet. low pitched voice
sounded inexpressibly sad in that
vaulled place. Even De Sylva's stud
led control gave way before its music.
He uttered some anguished appeal to
the Deity i'm his own tongue and flung
out his hands impulsively.
What would you have me say?" he
cried. and his eyes blazed. Il might
lie 10 you and try TO persuade you that
we can exist here without food or wa
ter. whereas tomorrow or next day at
the utmost will see most Of us dead.
But in few hours you will realize
what ii means TO be kept on this bare
rock under tropical sun. You can
do one thing. Your party greatly out
numbers mine. Climb to the topmost
pinnacle and signal to the island. You
will, soon be seen"
He laughed with savage irony that
was not good to hear. but Coke caught
at the suggestion.
Even that is better'n tearin' one an
other like mad dogs" ne growled. II
know wot's comm. I've seen II wOnst."
Hozier made for the exit. where Mar
Gel stood irresolute, apparently waiting
for orders.
Where are you going" demanded
De sylvia.
ITO nee what is becoming of the life
boat"
BETTER not You cannot help your
friend. and the instant 1t becomes
known to the troops that there is a
living soul on the Grand-pere rock they
will come in a steam launch and shoot
every one at sight"
Twill that be the answer to our sig
nal?"
1t was Iris who asked the question.
and the Brazilians voice softened
again.
Yes" he said.
"Why. then. do you advise us to seek
our own destruction
He bowed. His manner was almost
humble.
ut is the easier way" he murmured.
''ls there no otherY
"None-unless we attack 200 soldiers
with sticks and stones and three re-
vOlvers aud a sword"
HoZier came back. He had merely
stepped pace or two into the sun
light. Through the northerly. dip Of
the gulley he had seen the ships boat
whired past an islet by the fierce cur
rent. Macfarlane was not visible. Per-
haps that was better so.
Attack" he said hoarsely. "How Is
that possible? A deep and wide chan
mel separates us from the main island"
The Brazilian gave startling an
swer.
I'VE have boat-a sort of boat" he
said quietly.
How many will it hold?"
''Three in smooth sea and with
skilled handling. 1t nearly overturned
when and two others crossed from
the island. a distance of 800 yards"
But we have ropes. clothes. perhaps
some few pieces of wreckage. Can
nothing be done to repair it,"
Meaning that we draw lots to see
who shall endeavor TO escape tonight?"
THE men might even do that
"Ah. yes-the men. of course.
think it hopeless. But try it. Yes:
certainly. try it,
A pause more eloquent than the
most impassioned speech showed how
this frail straw eddying in the vortex
Of their fate might yet he clutched ut.
San Benaviies. trying vainly to guess
what was being said, blurted forth an
anxious inquiry. His compatriot ex-
planned briefly. Somehow the meas
ured cadence of their talk had less
reliable sound than the vigorous An
glo-Saxon. They were both brave men.
They had not scrupled TO risk their
lives In an enterprise where success
beckoned even doubtingly. But they
were lacking when all that remained
to be settled was how best to die: in
such an hour the men of an English
speaking race will ever choose fight
ing death.
This time it was a woman who de-
cided
Iris rose to her feet. She brushed
back the strands of damp hair from
her face and with deft hands made
rough and ready coil of her abundant
trcsses
Are You planning to send me with
two others adrift In boat while sew
enteen men are left here?" she asked.
The Brazilian ceased speaking. There
was another uneasy pause. Hozier felt
that the question was addressed to
him. but he was tongue tied. almost
shamefaced. Coke, however. did not