Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-05-10

DdugB
proyeuder of some sort Though the force
Of the gale was quite strong enough to Inn
pede me greatly managed to struggle through
the torn shrubbery and tangled vines until
once more gained the open beach. and STOOD
appalled before the oceans sublime fury.
Great seas hurled themselves at the trihing
island. and actually threatened to engulf It
According to my calculation had now been
above forty hours without food. Worn out by
the wretched weather, and quite famished
grasped a stick to aid my injured leg. and set
out to discover food and shelter.
After painful effort came to the second
patch of cocoanuts, and was not disappointed.
for most Of the fruit lay scattered on the
ground. shaken down by the storm. After a
BIT of hard work In removing tie outer husk,
l RECALLED myself upon a ripe cocoanut and Its
nrmer and more matured flesh. and this had
to serve me. for saw nothing else that was
eatable at this time.
Night came on while EfH >Ainfully wan
dered in search Of shelter. and would have
been glad to occupy the pit again had the DIFF
fculty Of returning there been less formidable
The night proved Wild one. and ! lay
stretched out to leeward of giant tree. whose
underground roots and buttresses gave me
Just little protection from the chilling blast
Here In this miserable situation l passed the
tedious hours till day appeared.
NY injured leg had grown worse and swell
ed to a considerable size. throbbing and
alarming me thoroughly. Hunger and thirst
once more assaulted me. and painfully ! drag
ged myself forward in the hope of finding
some sort of sustenance. II the brigantine had
been lost in the hurricane there was very lit
tie chance Of another vessels coming to Nuula-
kita for months and months. Possibly II
might be years before the place was visited.
Such despairing thoughts as these produced
sort Of sinking Of the soul. an apathetic sad
ness Why struggle farther? But still l
wriggled forward over the soft sands. which
seemed barren enough. soldier crab cross
ed my path, and devoured him raw without
q qualm.
Even at this early stage OF my imprisonment
must have been a bit delfrious. for began to
imagine I heard voices calling me, and at
length I fancied saw people quickly fitting
about as II to avoid my vision.
The pain In my wounded leg was very
great but sometimes forgot this because OF
mental tortures far more acute. Another hor-
rid might, and another boisterous day without
the smallest comfort, left me still more help
less. Reason, believe. was on the verge OF
collapse. when my remaining physical strength
suddenly gave way. Sleep. delirium, or prob
ably prolonged Inconsistencies. at length re-
leved me.
Of a tropic sunrise. the great orb soon shining
directly In my face. My leg was much better
for the enforced rest It had had. and. strang-
est of all was not so hungry as had been.
Melancholy forebodings that perhaps I was
fated to die there like dog and lie unburieds
feast for crabs and noxious vermin. spurred
me to further effort. Pride and every primal
instinct urged me forward. and at length, ex-
hausted with fatigue and in great pain. ]
- h. fall M n
and after resting sufficiently. food and drink
were again my portion. and later In the day
was enabled to stagger along the deserted
beach upon a rude crutch which ! had Inn
provised
Onward, painfully onward. went. craving
satisfying food and rest Eventually passed
q sandy place marked all about by turtles
nippers-a depression where eggs had surely
been deposited. More than, a hundred eggs
were in the nest, all closely packed together
and covered from marauders. Gathering
some dry wood and bark. / built q little pile
and drew forth my treasured matches.
What an appalling disappointment was to
suffer- The box in which they were contained
was crushed quite fat. and the matches them
selves were loose In my pocket Some. being
wet. had lost their black heads. ! must dry
the matches carefully before one Of them
should be rlsked. / did not dare to take any
Chances
would have to keep a smoldering fire or lose
this great necessity A nat coral stone ex
posed to the sun was selected. and my treas
ure was spread out in the genial warmth. The
ignition papers from the dilapidated box were
turned and turned until quite crisp. while eaci
individual match was given careful attention
When all was ready tried to strike light
tried and tried again until the whole stool
was DONE and this with never a glimmer q
success!
Raw turtle eggs are not to be commended al
steady diet, but they win serve q turn. II
due course | was able to get to the rookery
but most Of the birds were gone. dispersed nj
doubt by the violence Of the gale None o
their eggs that could find were eatable.
I now tried Intellectually to produce nre b,
rubbing two sticks together as I had otter
seen the Samoan natives do. No. could no
do the trick
I began to think Of preparing myself som.
sort of shelter-at least Judgment where
might sleep in comparative comfort. Ny ear
Hest effort produced kind OF windbreak only
Raw turtle eggs when steadily adhered Il
become absolutely disgusting as a diet, ant
on the recovery Of my leg sought many ex
pedients that might serve my turn. Raw un
sailed meat could not abide. even when
knew that Il was sweet and wholesome. 81
now when caught bird or turtle, cut tn
flesh into thin strips and hung them in tn
sun. or placed them on heated rocks until the.
received a sort of natural cooking.
Dressed in WORKOUT suit of thin pajamas
my only other possessions were q pocket
knife. notebook and pencil. and useless
pipe. for the small fragment of tobacco hai
been possessed of had been nibbled away as
makeshift stimulant