The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-03-05

less whose uncouth putterngs turn the great
steamship from her path and bring the right girl
in the bargain.
But this is a story of Swan Island. Despite
the name you would not to live on Swan
island There no swans, nor are there any
dainty oX-eyed Junos or peroxide Junos to marry
the castaway earl.
Swan island lies in the tropics some hundred
miles off Honduras-f you insist getting out
your atlas-and by common report is the most
forsaken thing in the Caribbean sea, which is
saying much.
1t would be hard to imagine more drear2 place
or one less suited for the local color to story
with a thrill A few huts scattered over the
swampy ground some palms. some cocoanut
trees, and the tally is complete all but the wire
less station.
Commerce must be served and the United
Fruit company has erected Swan island lit
tie station that keeps in touch with steamships
passing 500 miles out to sea. The station also
relays messages from Port Lmon, Costa RIGA
(see your map AGAIN., over to Jamaica.
Nothing else remains in the summing up OF
Swan island but scorpions, trantulas and multi
tude of carnvorous insects whose execution would
drive the New Jersey product to envious suicide
Thither at the close OF a sWelter1ng day IN
autumn came wireless operator and WISH
| tor. Necessity brought the operator, curiosity
brought the visitor The same steamship depos-
tied both on the white beach, to call month later
with another operator. keenan,, the wireless man,
was in luck for after month alone on Swan
| island-that u.s. alone SO far as white companions
are concerned except for single beach comber
which is deemed sufficient by the company-men
show the beginnings of line of seladdressed
conversation which would not entitle them any
| too firmly to the major premise, Man is ration
al animal"
Curiosity and scorpions brought the visitor one
Warren Carew, who hailed from New YORK ana
should have known better. CareW had money
and troops of friends, picked up in odd parts of
the globe, but he preferred to list scorpions. lie
was naturalist he told the wireless man, and
Keenan,, accustomed to strange men and strange
places, shrugged his shoulders and was glad for
the companionship the naturalist brought.
At daylight, before the heat of the sun made
life burden, Carew collected his ugly specimens,
and later he talked with keenan,, who furn1shed
gossip OF the world snatched from the passing
craft. Two weeks passed in desultory fashion,
with morning searches and afternoons looking
over the hot blue sea before and the lagoon be-
hind that lay like spot OF tarnshed silver
showing through the scrawny palms,
Clrew careless and one morning 1t hap"
penad. The lobster-like claws of the scorpion
nipped and Carew went off balance. The nip was
not Dangerous but the sprawl threw him into
Zine tor the singing tail Of the holder OF venom
that meant death-death unless heroic measures
we're adopted Whatever else Carew was he was
not coward. The report OF Keenan, and all IN
formation that be gathered shows he actet
with Spartan courage but again he was careless.
The small spot in the calf OF the leg where the
poison entered barred by him and common
iackknife brought into play. Quickly Carew Gu
t at the place. and sashed until there was a FREE
u aow from wound three inches long. He boun
up the leg with strips of clothing and hobble'
back to his hut
Keenan, saw him and hurried to his assistance
- ! Carew made comfortable in bunk, an
sweitered cheerfully through the afternoon, be
lievng he had saved himself. Copious doses Q
brandy muddled his senses and Keenen returne
to his post There were no signs OF the swi1
y saatE that follows the sting of the scorpion.