Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-24

from my body He had been holding me on the raft for
hours. He rubbed his arms and grinned at me.
Say, that amt no clnch,' he said.
at was mighty good of you" l replied My head
spinning like top and splitting with pain lifted
my hand to it. 1t was bandagcd.
Its broke Durry explained. Il tied it up wild the
llnn OF me coat Then he added apologetically, but
with grim at amt no harbor f,,rl.
I'm sure it's all right | answered lingering the
clumsy wrapping about my head, "and mighty good of
YOU too. When the old boat went down so suddenly
slipped and struck my head against block That's all
knew till you pulled me up here looked about me-
seeing nothing but and sky. Not a bit of
drlttWood rose above the long swclls, now well nigh
MINDLESS.
glanced at Durry, saying, What of the rest"
He shook his head. "Iouse the only one sec"
he replied IAN yousc on the blink when | got
fppcrs in yer thatch. Kept washin off an 50 | had
to hold ye 'Twasn't no park bench wild yer gol'
We talked but little during that first day For the
most part we slept being incxprcssibly weary. The
bark had gone down SO unexpectedly that all
unprepared with neither food nor water For us it
would be quick at all. From the first
| had little hope.
Later, as night came the falling sea- and the
west famed up in gorgeous pageant of color
up and talked in low tones Durry even garruors:
but of what he said recall nothing beyond the
impression of an almost fantastic cheerfulness
We slept much during the night and through the
next day. but gradually hunger and thirst but specially
thirst, became nsstent calls crying through sleep,
and giving rest. We had tasks and therefore
distractions to occupy our thoughts So we slept
horizon for sail smoke. Always the imitabe blue
of the sky and the darker blue of the stretched be-
fore eyes without break. Not fving fish
seen. a Mother Carey s chicken we were the
only living things in all that vast monotony.
THE third night dragged endlcssly, and when the
morning broke white and still above the notched
rim of the sea l the second mates eyes turn
in pathetic questioning They gowed in their darened
sockets, and his lips black and swollen Yet his
coarsones of aspect seemed suddenly have vanished
under the refinement of suffering When he spoke, his
utterance thick, his stencd tongue scarcely
ing know that my made answering pain.
"Whats the limit in dis little game?' he asked.
zone day more for YOU" | answered.; perhaps two
for me-.
"How do you make that out27 he demanded
"Im stronger and have lived straghtcr,7 | replied
l could not help adding "Tllats virtues rcward-to
suffer longer"
He smiled his twisted smile "say, fever play the
ponics:7 he asked. "Tcn to one | outlast ve."
turned to me with another thought.
How'll go?"
Cray, perhaps: drink salt water, and jump
board l replied.
He turned and looked thoughulv at the oily swclls
sweeping down upon us, lifting they passed With
grin he turned back to me, saying, How'd cool"
He paused 50 long that in my quick irritation |
snapped out We'll WHAT
ooh, what's the usc," he replied. "What's the usc,"
and dropped back on the raft with his eyes turned up
to the blazing sky in unwinkng stare
My mind had begun to wander, and nv ears
seemed always ringing with old, half forgotten sounds
the tinkc of srect-car bells the toll of the church bell
at home the whir OF skates on hard ice seemed light