The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-15

were PROBABLY not a considerable product
of rocky Loomee. The man who held it
must have been very tired, for he was
sitting down. At once there was a tramp
ling, whirring and rafting about the ship,
telling of boats descending from their davits
There was also an inside humming in Whit
tiers ears, and the red blood danced in his
veins
Whittier, haven't heard that you
have had some experience in landing boats
in the surf?o the captain inquired in his
most pronounced official accents.
The sailors head cleared instantaneously
at the knocking Of opportunity. eyes, SIT
-Swakopmund and Walhsch Bay, on the
east coast of Africa, before joined the
navy. I'm there with the goods, sir"
" Messenger, send up Mr.. Sorby and the
chief boatswain's mate. Mr. Prather, you
will have Whittier relieved; I want him to
go as steersman 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 win go in charge Of the
landing party" he directed that delighted
young officer, who had appeared promptly
on the bridge in answer to the summons
"Eekles, as chief boatswain's mate, il
would ordinarily be your duty to handle the
have had the needed experience for this
particular job, and he will go in your stead
That viii do. Hustle the ready, Mr.. Sor-
by; and you, Whittier, have a care-re-
member the little locked-up world depends
upon your own efforts now" In the busy in
slant, only Whittier, with humping heart
noted the popularity of the final phrase.
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 depression in which
grew a single, stunted palm, and in which
was gathered a goodly company of perhapsa
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.
She 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 Ikea lump
ofhog-fat, half the company with her, 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-I'm the
second ofhcer-got off, with most of the
passengers, and without micde of meat
OF water"
"Why didn't you plant a signal on the
north ends" asked Sorby. eve might
have steamed away and left you here =
"Did you ever have close look at that
cairn?" answered the Englishman dryly.
" Do, and tell me whether anything short Of
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 QUOTED,
and pale-lipped women made grateful; for
every white jacket carried several canteens
slung about his shoulders. Whittier, new
and awful fear driving the color from his
face, moved among the languid company
with shifting steps and orinkly eyes. She
was frail, was Alice, and difhdent always.
Il 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
sorae kind .fellow-traveler had carried or
directed her, in the meager shade of the top
of the little palm, which in the afternoon
sunshine was far from the tree itself. She
was In high fever, but recognized him with
a dubious gladness in her blue eyes, half
fearing that he was an appantion of de-
hrium. And the lips that he kissed muir
INJURED, Water"
AS he reached for his canteen with the
arm that was not supporting her, he was
thinking, blindly Would I do it again2
Would II"
He was carrying her in his arms, hours
later (for the several trips through the surf
had been protracted and painstaking
task, when he passed up the gangway of the
Wyomtak On the quarterback, when be
looked UP, the captain, within four feet of
him, again surprised a glance from his eyes,
now rapt IN gray glow Of joy. And again
Captain Monkaster flushed holly "Ths
little locked-up world" be muttered, as he
moved away.
Had Whittier known it, from that hour he
was in no more danger of the Stone Frigate
Or Napa than was the most guileless apDren-