The state herald., 1913-05-09
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while he drank, almost greedily. As
he sank back on lis bed he whisper
ed: you are very good to take care
OF me-"
"Oh. no: I'm only too glad! And
now I'm going to build up the fire
again: your hands are quite cold"
mo. don't Co." he pleaded. please
stay here; I'm not cold any more.
And you must go to sleep again. I
ought not to have wakened you; and.
really. didn't mean to-"
Yes. you ought I've had lots Of
sleep: / don't want any more"
TITS dark. but it's better than 1t
was that other night, isn't IT." said
James.
Much better" answered Agatha
James visibly gathered strength
from the milk. and presently he took
some more. Agatha watched. and
when he had finished. patted him
approvingly on the hand. Good boy!
You've done very WELL" she cried.
II was so thirsty. thought the
whole earth had run dry. Win you
think mS very ungrateful II I say now
I Wish Il had been water?"
"oh, no: wish SO. too. But Mr
Hand could only get us . little BIT
from q spring. for there isn't any
other pail"
II was some time before Jim made
out to inquire. who's Mr.. Hand?"
Hes the man that helped us-out
Of the water-when We became ex-
hausted."
Agatha hesitated to speak Of the
nights experience. uncertain how far
Jim's memory carried him. and not
knowing how q sick man. In HIS
weakness, might be affected. Still.
now that he seemed almost himself
again, save for the chill. she ventured
to refer to the event. speaking In
natter-offact way. A. II such endur-
ance tests were the most natural
events in the world. James speech
was quite coherent and distinct. but
very slow. as II the efforts to speak
came from the depths Of profound
fatigue.
"Hand-that's . good name for him.
thought It was the hand Of God.
which plucked me. like David. or
Jonah. or some such person. out Of
the seething billows. But I didn't
think Of there being a man behind"
Then. after = long silence. Where
Is hef"
Hes gone Oh to hnd somebody to
help us get away from here; q car
riage or wagon Of some sort. and
some food and clothes"
Something caused Jim to calculate.
though quite feebly. you poor
thinG'" And then he asked. very slow.
ly, where IL here'Y
Z don't know: and Mr.. Hand
doesn't know"
"And we've lost our tags" laughed
Jim family.
Agatha couldn't resist the laugh.
though the weakness In Jims voice
was almost enough to make her weep
as well
yes. we've lost our tags. more's
tho pity. Mr.. Hand thinks we're
either on the coast OF Maine. or on
sn island somewhere near the coast.
myself think II must at least be
Nova Scotia. or possibly Newfound.
land. But Hand will fnd out and be
back soon. and then wc'il get away
from here and 10 to some place where
veil all be comfortable"
Agatha stole away. and with much
dif,cuity succeeded in kindling the
fre again. She tended II until n good
steady heat spread over tho rocks. and
then returned 10 James She curled
up. half sitting, half lying. against
the rocks.
| Clouds had risen during tho recent
hours and II was much darker thno
the night before Ind beon. Tho ocean.
washing its million pebbles up on the
MT" beach. moaned and complained
inccstantly In tho long interval be-
tween their talk. Agathns head would
.nll, hoi eyes would close. and ahe
would almost sleep. but nm under.
current OF anxiety concerning her
companion kept her always nj the
edge OF conRoiounncas James him.
| fflf upDfNF'u w h' w
sleep. He was trying TO piece to-
gether. in his mind his conscious and
unconscious memories A. last he
snid'
II guess I haven't boon much good
for n while-havo ~"
Agatha considered before replying.
"You were quite exhausted. I think:
and We feared you might be ili'
And Handy Andy got my job7"
She laughed outright at this. ns much
for tho feeling OF reinsurance II gnvo
hcr ns for tho jcst itself
Handy Andy certainly had n job.
with us two on his handai" sho laugh
ed
II bet he didi" cried James. with
more vigor than he had shown before.
Hes a great man. I'm for himi
when's ho comi-x baek7'