Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-15

that could scarcely credit that l had
heard anything real. Presently, how
ever, staggered to my feet again. She
had forgotten the lantern, but l went
back after il.
We were in a more spacious cave.
The stream. fed by other brooks. had
become larger. The descent was much
more rapid. The cliff wall was. be-
lieve. narrower at the treasure cave
than anywhere else in the island. 1t
was, perhaps. not more than half
mile wide We stumbled rapidly down
the long vaulted passage 10 the other
wall. AS we approached it half fear
ed that the rock might be solid. and
that the brook might plunge beneath
II, but fortune did not do it's worst for
US. There was a rift in the wall,
around which the brook ran. A long
distance away appeared TO me n spot
1 Of dimness. Recklessly we clasped
( hands and ran to the opening.
Alas. when we reached the light we
/ found that the entrance was closed by
/ a huge stone. 1t did not exactly fit the
/ opening. and the light filtered around
. 4.
Are we to be ended now" l cried.
after having come thus far? Stand
/ clear" l shouted, not giving her time
/ TO answer.
Then with all my strength swung
/ the ak and struck the rock fair and
/ square and by good fortune upon some
/ assure. for II shivered and a crack
/ started. Once again, this time with
/ tremendous force. swung and struck.
/ The az sank into the stone, the helve
/ shivered IN my hand. 1t was right
good blow, If l do say it myself, for
the rock was by this time fairly split
in two, the pieces falling to the right
and left. Still it was we'll in the en-
trance. We had not yet a clear pas
sage.
! was mad now, as mad as l had
been in the inner cave fighting for her.
The blood rushed TO my face, mist to
my eyes. / stopped down and with
my hands I seized one piece OF that
rock and, with such strength as Her
eues might have used. thrust it aside
My mistress stood staring at me in
awe, also in terror. The way was
/ opened.
We stepped out upon the sand. Ny
clothes were torn TO rags; blood was
clotted in my hair and on my fore
head; my face was black with sweat
and dust There were wounds on my
arms and legs. was a CORY and hor-
rible spectacle. Mistress Lucy had
suffered no wounds, but her clothes
were rent and torn. Her face was
grimy and beneath the dust and earth
stain ii was as white as the cap of a
wave.
Thanks to God" she said at last.
"and you. we have won
l thought she would have tainted. |
caught her by the arm. sat her down
upon the island and sprinkled the wa
ter from the brook in her face until
presently she revived.
I'VE are not safe yet" ] urged.
There were hundreds OF savages upon
the island. They could not all have
been in the cave We must go warily.
, We cannot rest now"
II am ready" she said with great
esprit. getting to her feet and stretch
ing out her hand; IF you will help ME
; can go anywhere"
: Istill had my sword. ! drew it anG
led on. keeping we'll under the shelter
Of the cliffs. We walked up the enc
: toward the giant stairs. There were
men. islanders, at the top Of the wall
but my first glance told me that We
had nothing to fear from them. for thi
stairs were gone They were but ;
scattered heap OF stones. The earth
quake had crumbled the work of th'
builders Of bygone years. and as thu
stairs had fallen away they had lief
the cliff sheer and bare for hundret
feet. They couldn't come at US.
at is an act Of Cod, said |. tina
has broken down the stairs
But there may be another way o
descent" she said after a moment
"Oh. let US leave this dreadful island.
had no hope that the dinghy hat
been spared. but its place was not fa
away. and we walked to II in silence
1t was gone. A tidal wave had follow
ed the earthquake. The eanoA. 4
= which the islanders had come had ioee
'. dashed 10 pieces and their keepers Kill
ed. The survivors were prisoners o
<. the island unless their friends came I
their help and even then until the
could devise some way OF getting dow
al the cliff. And we. too. were prisoners
81 Some OF our gear. the compass. som
n, provisions which | had stored in tn
d. craunies Of the rock were still Their
Of but they were useless TO us. Some
,h thing else had happened. The earti
h quake had broken the vast barrie
o. reef. Before US was a practicable pa
n sage to the sea.
d. II we only had a boat, turned I
is the canoes hopeful OF finding one sc;
nd worthy, and as / did so my little mi
lie tress caught me by the arm.
Look" she cried. pointing far U
nd the horizon.
he / turned. and there. bottom upvarl
di. hoated the dinghy. The sight Of b.
II was like a draft OF wine. / turned an
ne ran up the sand, followed by my lad
w. When opposite the boat ! kicked o
IN. my shoes--I had on little else but shi
N. and trousers-jumped into the lagoo
in. swan 10 the dinghy and towed h,
re ashore. Assisted by Mistress Lucy.