Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-04


him for having raised mp defense
for her in my poor person. only she did
NOT so describe 1t. listened very hum
bly,. saying a heartfelt Amen" at the
end.
There was a silence for little space
when she had finished. and in that ST.
lence devoted myself before God TO
her service again, and then she rose
and gave me her hand
"You have been true knight and
gentleman" she said softly. her eyes
shining, land / thank you
could only take It dumbly and
stare at her like the great fool was. !
whereat she smiled brightly. although
her eyes suddenly dIled With tears.
And now she added: God keep
you. Good night"
I then kissed her extended hand.
which she suffered without resistance.
I sat for long time before the fire.
thinking and making plans for our es-
cape. The ship didn't give me much /
concern, because was sure she ,
couldn't come at US and In the end she |
must go away and leave Us.
long time sat there until |
finally fell asleep. ] must have slept !
some time and soundly for was |
wearied. 1t was she who awakened |
me. When | opened my eyes and saw
her sweet face bending over me and
heard her dear voice calling me de-
clare I almost felt as II had died aud
gone to heaven and was being vel.
coined by an angel.
Our first waking thought. was for
the ship. She was still there in the
offing She had been hove to during
the night. could imagine what fierce
debate and wrangling there were
aboard her.
The Cay that passed was much like
the afternoon before. Although we
were by this time persuaded that the
reef was an absolute protection,
vague possibility that they could de-
| wise means to pass it In some way
/ kept US uneasy on the sand. We must
have them under observation. We
| were eager to explore the beautiful
vale inclosed by the huge rampant, but
we did not dare to be where we could
not watch the ship. We did walk
along the shore and ascend the giant
stairs in the afternoon, then, while she
watched the sea within calling dis
lance Of me, l managed to penetrate
the jungle with ak in hand, so that
finally / made shift to cut down q
cocoa palm tree, and we gathered as
many delicious nuts as we could carry
and returned to the shore.
That night the sun set amid lowering
clouds. With sailors weather sense,
was sure that we should have
storm, Pimball and Glibby sensed it
too. We could see them making things
snug allow and aloft They were good
enough seamen, as far as that goes
The wind, If it came. would be off
shore. and there would be no danger
of the ship being driven upon our reef,
but there were islands to leeward,
which they seemed to have forgotten,
which / remembered
explained all this to my little mis-
tress as l made things snug FOR the
night. She would be perfectly protect
, ed by the overhang of the cliff and the
| overturned boat, and l told her, al
, though / left her alone in the boat,
that the same overhang of the cliff
! would protect me from the wind and
, the rain If the storm broke. And so
, after prayers again and a long look
seaward we went to sleep.
About midnight, so far as could
, judge, l was awakened. The storm
broke with all the suddenness and in
, tensity of the tropics. Such peals OF
thunder and such flashes of lightning
= have never witnessed, although had
+. been in many storms throughout the
, world. To sleep was impossible Mis-
, tress Lucy came out from her boat and
stood beside me as we leaned against
the cliff while the storm drove harm
, lessly over our heads.
o We could see the ship at intervals by
!. the vivid flashes of lightning. She was
A making fearful weather of It. She
= was always wet ship. and the huge
4 waves fairly rolled over her. Once she
= went over nearly on her beam ends
!, and I thought she was gone. didn't
!. view her position with a great deal OF
!. regret either. Presently she drove of
!. before the wind with a rag of her fore
o topsI still showing, and that was the
: last we saw of her or her men, W.
|, thought
4 Storm bound under the lee of tn,
II cliffs, we passed long and anxiou!
k hours the next day, although our onl,
O misfortune was the inclemency of tn,
Il weather, for we were completely shell
tered, and we had plenty of the refresh
ing milk of the cocoanut to vary on
y other food. The second day after (
4 began the tempest finally blew ftsel
. out, although the great surging sea
> still broke tremendously over the bar
4 rier reef and the spray shot score o
feet or more abov, the crests of IN
highest waves. 1t was only the refie.
-. Of The storm. however, for during tn
= night the wind had subsidized into
J, gentle breeze
When we scanned the sea next morn
. ing there was, Of course, no sign o
- the ship. Our first inclination, AM
there was none to say Us nay now, wa
to mount the stairs, cross the wall en-
look for that cave. We had neithe
A. chart nor record left, we had but on
.e memories to trust TO, but we were bot
a. &hok