Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14
BY WILLIAM FREDERICK DIX


he found the electric light buttons and pushed Them
but no light
"By Jovei" he exclaimed, startled "the dynamos
aren't running! No light of course, and he dashed
down the Corridors returning after several minutes with
his filled with emergency lanterns Il have found
the kerosene too he said and fell to work again Soon
he had the lanterns filled and lighted and hung them
the saloon, corridor, and stairs. Then they went
deck great moon was rising from the sea, and the
deck gowed in the soft light The woods about them
and chatted little. Then Miss Forrest rose.
4 am very tired think I'll go below" she said.
Goodnight he replied. Here's the key to the
companionway door Lock it on the inside. And you'd
better leave two lamps burning below. Every
thing is locked up. hope you will sleep we'll Please
try to, and don't worry"
She smiled bravely Goodnight" she said "Im all
right
Barrston took turn two on deck, and from the
stern looked long and meditativey out at the sea- hen
he threw away his cigar, locked himself in his cabin
and went to bed.
THE next morning Barriston awoke earlier than usual
and once more Dathed and dressed without the aid
of his The morning was, usual, radiant one,
and he found it curious sensation to step out from his
cabin upon the familiar deck Of the ship to find it
powered in tropical forest.
ave need deckhand here he remarked whnsically
to himself, ito sweep the leaves off the deck. Wanted,
ocean-going deckhand experienced in gardening.
and he leaned the ships rail and picked hibiscus
flower for his buttonhole He found the door to the
companionway unlocked and descended to find Miss
odor of hot coffee greeted his nostrls.
"Good morning, Mr. Robinson!' was her CHEEKY greet
GOOD morning, Miss Crusoe!' he replied. 4 do
hope slept well"
@very we'll, after got to sleep, she replied. a
wish YOU would open some portfolios in the saloon and
set the table while make the toast. This bread is
trhe stale The eggs will be ready presently and there
are bacon and marmalade.
Il have been exploring the storeroom, she said
they sat at their cozy tete-atete breakfast There
enough to last us for years-barres of flour, of
timed meats and vegetables and condensed milk, gro
ceres of every kind, and, may be pleased to know
wines, cigars and on, enough for a regiment sup
pose shall find plenty of fresh fruit and fish and
game the island
"Ive been thinking my qualifications for this
uninhabted island proposition, he said Il suppose
here glorious chance to show how modern science
can triumph the primitive forces of Nature,
chance for to read you wise lectures upon the flora
and fauna that encounter, chance to extract the
fiber from certain plants and make you soft-textured
materials for picturesque costumes to draw various
helpful liquids and palatable foods from herbs and
trees manufacture household utensils from the
PLEASANT calabash as per Mr. Swiss Robinson, and in
short to give continuous performance OF applied
cleverness.
Il am the recipient of varied and expensive edu-
cation and have academic degree or two to my
but after reflection have decided that said education
far fitting for anything useful, is complete
fzzle. don't know anything about science. Such airy
rihes as physics, chemistry mechanics, geology, bota
n.y. and their ilk passed serenely my head col
lege | don't know how the wheels go round in any
machinery outside of motorcar, and couldn't figure
out the relationship between the cosne ana the n.y.
pothenuse my life; that is, if there any rela
tionshp. shoot fairly straight, and Ill try to
think of the various precautions tor to take but
what in the world is there to guard against There
wreck could swim out to and bring back ll-itting
clothes for to to dig or tree habtation
to build, hordes of savages to fight single handed
Why, the Daphne found her dock without any
special help from me- and she is safe here that
storm could hurt her Really, cant think of bloom
ing thing to do Perhaps its to to study out that
awe-inspiring Of machinery down yonder in the
inferno day, shake up the fires, keep them 60
ing, the machinery man the Wheel cut loose