The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-08
grated on the shingie. Marcel was IN

hurry
Are you ready?' asked De Sylvia.
bending toward Iris.
Yes" she said.
Then you had better kneel behind
Marcel and steady yourself by placing
your hands on his shoulders Yes.
that Is 1t. Do not change your posi-
ton until you are ashore. Now, you
Mr.. Hozier"
Marcel murmured something.
"Ah. good" cried De Sylvia softly.
Domingo. too. has secured cata.
maran. He Is bringing it at once In
order to save time"
A second spectral figure emerged
from the gloom Without waiting for
further Instructions Marcel swung his
paddle. and the one craft passed the
other In the center OF the pool. Iris
felt Hozier's hands on her waist. He
obeyed orders and uttered no souod
but the action told her that she might
trust him implicitly. When the mar.
row cleft was traversed and she saw
the open sen on her right there was
ample need for some such assurance
Of guardianship
Viewed from the cliff the swell that
broke on the half submerged reef was
OF slight volume. but II presented q
very different and most disconcerting
aspect when seen in profile. 1t seemed
TO be an almost impossible feat for any
man 10 propei three narrow blanks.
top heavy with human freight. across
a wide channel through which such a
sea was running. Indeed. Hozier him.
self. sailor as he was. felt more than
doubtful as TO the fate Of their argosy
Z 1t Marcel padded ahead with untiag
ging energy once he was clear of the
tortuous passage. and. before the cata-
maran had Travelled many yards, even
Iris was able to understand that the
outlying ridge of rocks both protected
their present track and created much
OF the apparent turmoil
At last the raft. for 1t was little else,
bore sharply out between two huge
powders that might we'll have fallen
from the mighty pile of Grand-pere It.
self. Pointed and angular they were
and set like a gateway to an abode of
giants. Beyond there was n Skinner
OF swift moving water. With a silver
mist on the surface. though from a
height OF few feet II would have been
easy to distinguish the bold contours
of Fernando Noronha Itself.
Marcel held up a warning hand even
while he brought the catamaran
ashore on the sbingle so gently that
not pebble was disturbed He rose,
gaunt scarecrow. stepped off and
drew the shallow craft sonew hat far
ther up the sioping beach. Then he
helped Iris to her feet and Indicated
that she was To come with him AT
once she shrank away In terror
Though In some sense prepared for
this parting. she felt II now as the
crueiest blow that fortune had dealt
her during day crowded with mis-
fortune. lD all likelihood those two
would never meet again. She needed
no telling as to the risk ne wonld soon
be called on to face. and her anguish
was made the more bitter by the neces-
sty that they should go from each
Others presence without spoken
word.
Nevertheless she forced herself 10
extend hand in farewell. Her eyes
were blinded with tears. She knew
that HozieI drew her nearer. With
the daring of one who may well cast
the world $ convention TO the winds he
gathered her 10 his heart aud kissed
her Then she uttered little sob OF
happiness and sorrow and tainted
IL was not until she was lying help
less IN his embrace. with her head
ptllowed on MS breast and an arm
thrown imply across his shonldpr.
that Philip understood what han hap
peDed He loved her. and she. the
promised wife OF another man. nad
tacitly admitted thar she returned mis-
love. Stumbling through the gloom he
carried her uulil the brazilian left him
hnd went On alone toward wretched
nut
A dog barked Marcel whistled soft
ly, and the animal began 10 wnimper
The BRAZILIAN vauisned HoZler stili
beld IRIS IN his arus. His heart was
betting Unanimously. His throat acned
with the labor OF his lungs. His
straining ears caught ruStIngs among
the grass aud roots. but otherwise
solemn peace DrOoded over the scene
Then Marcel came aud aroused hlm
from the stupOr that mad settled on
MIN. and together they entered the
novel. where dark skinned woman
and comeiy giri uttered words OF
sympathetic sound when iris was laid
on low treStie ana HOZier took
farewell kiss from her uDneeding lips.
Two weary hours elapsed before the
little army OF the Grand prre rock was
reunited on the shore OF Cotton Tree
bay. hen there was a further de
lay while thPlf lndpfatignble scouts
M