The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-30
CHAPTER XVI.
s,A.y
The Island.

The Island.
Not more than twenty seconds could
have elapsed before Barcus recovered
from the shock of the motors treach-
cry sufficiently to reverse the wheel,
throttle down the carburetor and jump
out of the enginc-pit.
But in that small space Of time the
lifeboat and Alan Law had parted COM
pany as definitely as though one OF
them had been levitated bodily to the
far side of the earth.
1t could not have been more than
a minute after the accident before
Barcus was guiding the boat over
what, gcing on his sense OF location
and Judgment Of distance, he could
have sworn was the precise spot
where Alan had disappeared. but with.
out discovering q sign OF him.
And for the next twenty minutes
he divided his attention between at
tempts to eoothe and reassure the
half distracted girl and efforts to
cduce reply from Alan by stentorlan
hailing-with. as little success in the
one as in the other.
"Alan!" he shrieked at the top Of
his lungs. Alan! Give hail to tell
us you're safe!"
There was little pause; he was
racking. his brains for some more NOV
ing mode of appeal when the answer
;,,
of Judith Urine, clear. musical, effer-
vescent with sardonic humor:
BE at peace. little one-bleat no
more! Mr.. Law is with us-and safe
oh. quite. quite safe!"
In dumb CONSERVATION Barcus
sought the countenance of Rose. Her
eyes. meeting his, were blank with
despair. He shook his head helplessly
and let his hands dangle idly between
his knees.
With no way OH her. the lifeboat
drifted with current of unknown set
and strength.
What can we do?" Rose implored.
I'VE must do something. We can't
leave MIN VII, wien tLlllh
of him there, In her hands, could so
mad,"
IF only l knew" Barcus protested:
but my hands are tied, my wits are
as helpless as my eyes are blind.
There's nothing to go by--except the
bare possibility that the reef she
spoke of may be Nortons. 1t doesn't
seem possible, but we may have made
that much southing. In that case
we're about three miles off the main
land, somewhere in the neighborhood
of Katama island, a little, rocky. desc
late bump of earth. inhabited mainly
by fishermen"
The girl wrung her hands. But
how could Judith get there-and with
her men-and ammunition?"
Don't ask me. Going on my expe.
ricnce with the lady. I'd be willing to
bet that she was picked up by the
steamer that ran us down, and pro-
ceeded to make a prize Of tor try
to. One things certain-sha must
have found or stolen boat from
somebody; they couldn't have made
Norton's reef by swimming-it's too
far. That's the answer; they were
picked up, stole boat. and piled 1t
up on the reef"
"And there's no hope-!"
"Only of the fog relenting. If we
could make the mainland and get
help
His accents died away into discon-
solate silence that was unbroken for
upwards of an hour.
So slowly the current bore the life
boat toward the beach and SO still
the tide that Barcus never appreciated
they were within touch OF any land
until the bows grounded with slight
jar and grating sound.
With cry of incredulity he leaped
to his feet Land, by all that's
lucky!"-and STOPPING, lent hand to
the girl. aiding her to rise.
Hardly had Rose had time to com.
prehend what had happened. when
Barcus was over the side and wres-
Ting with the bows dragging the boat
farther upon the shoals.
She WIS, however. more than one
man could manage; and when her
stem had bitten little more deeply
into tho sands, Barcus gave over the
attempt and, lifting Rose down. set
her on dry land, then climbed back into
the vessel. rummaged out her anchor
and cable, and carried them ashore,
planting the former well up towards
the foot of the cliff. ..,..,.
And us he rose from this last labor
he YVES half blinded by the glare of the