The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-04

were probably not considerable product
of rocky Loon.cc. The man who held it !
must have been very tired, fer he was
sitting down. at once there was tramp
ling, whirring and rafting about the ship,
telling Of beats descending from their davits. ,
There was also an inside huinning in Whit |
tiers cars, and Tic rcd blood darccd in bis !
veins.
whittier, haven't heard that you
have had scmc experience in landing boats :
IN thc surt?' tic captain inquired in his |
mcst pronounced official accents.
Tic sellers head cleared instantaneously
at the knocking OF opportunity. Eyes, sir /
--Swakcpn,urd and Walhsch Bay, on the
cast coast Of Africa before ] joined the !
navy. Fm there with the goods, sir" T..
Messenger, send up Mr.. Sorby and the
chief bcatswain's mate. Mr.. Prather, YOU
will have Whittier relieved; l want him to-
20 as stecrsman for the landing party.
Send in only the sailing launch at first, until
We find out the how and where Of things.
Mr. Sorby, you willgo in charge Of the
landing party" he directed that delighted
young officer, who lad appeared promptly
on the bridge in answer to the summon5.
"Eckles, as chief boatswains mate, it
would ordinarily be your duty to handle the
landing boat, but Whittier here happens TO
have had the needed experience for this
particular jo3, and he will go in your stead. ,
That will do. Hustle the ready, Mr. Sor-
by; and you, Whittier, have care-re-
member the little locked-up world depends
upon your own efforts now" In the busy in
slant, only Whittier, with a humping hearr,
4L. 80 ,kNft t1o E,,,
The landing, which was made in the sail
less sailing launch, because of its size and
broad beam, was effected skilfully and
without incident. Whittier, standing bare
headed in the stern sheets, manipulated the
heavy steering oar in a manner to make
good his anxious boast The man on the
dune, who had remained seated there, was
quickly surrounded by the boats crew. He
pointed behind him to a depression in which
grew single, stunted palm, and in which
was gathered a goodly company of perhaps
hundred people-men, women and children.
They're suffering with the thirst, was
the signalman's succinct greeting. And
Whittier sprinted madly toward the cast
away group, followed by the Others.
The signalman told his story briefly, after
refreshing himself from Ensign Sorby's
canteen, which he did slowly, and with
moderation, in the manner of men who have
known thirst before.
"Shc climbed the reef where it was under
the wash, he related in the monotone of the
bred mariner, "but busted her belly on the
way and went down on the inside like lump
ofhog-fat, half company withher, captain
and most of the crew. There's no bottom
in the brine at that slump in the reef. Only
us that had to man. the boats-Im the
second oficcr-got off, with most of the
passengers, and without mickle Of meat
or water"
"Why didn't you plant signal on the
north end2" asked Sorby. "We might
have steamed away and left you here"
"Did you ever have close look at that
cairn2" answered the Englishman dryly.
"Do, and tell me whether anything short OF
a goat with wings could climb it. It's an
irregular cobblestone, straight up every foot
around it, except on the water side, where
you can't get at it through the breakers"
With the advent of the sailors among
them, complaining children were quieted,
and palc-lpped women made grateful; for
every white jacket carried several canteens
slung about his shoulders. Whittier, a fiey
and awful fear driving the color from his
face, moved among the languid company
with shifting steps and crinkly eyes. She
was frail was Alice, and difident always.
1t might have been that if none, in the hour
of stress, came to urge and help her, she
would be left
Then he saw her, She was lying where
some kind fellow-trayeIer had carried or
directed her, in the meager shade of the top
Of the little palm, which in the afternoon
sunshine was lar from the tree itself She
was in high fever, but recognized him with
dubious gladness in her blue eyes, half
fearing that he was an appariton Of de-
lirium, And the lips that he kissed MUIR
INJURED, "Waterl' XII HR
As he reached for his canteen with the
arm that was not supporting her he was
thinking, bhndy Would do it againp
Would II" finN r
He was carrying her in his arms, hours
later Qor the several trips through the su.f
had been a protracted and painstaking
task, when he passed up the gangway of the
Wyomtdh. On the quarterback, when ho
looked up, the captain, within four feet Of
him, again surprised glance from his eyes.
now rapt in gray glow Of joy, And again
Captain Monkaster flushed hotly. "Ths
little locked-up worldl" he muttered as hs
moved away.
Had Whittier known it, from that hour he
was in no more danger Of the Stone Ffigats
o. Napa than was the most guileless spprcn-
tice boy on the ship. Z /.